ncaa-manual

31.2 Eligibility for Championships.31.2.1 Institutional Eligibility. To be eligible to enter teams or individual student-athletes in NCAA championships,an institution shall recognize the sport involved as a varsity intercollegiate sport (see Bylaw 17.02.12)and shall meet the institutional requirements set forth in Bylaw 18.4.2 applicable to the division in which the institutionis a member or for which it is petitioning for eligibility in a sport. An institution that holds membershipin a member conference may not enter teams or individuals in an NCAA championship unless they are eligible forsuch competition under the rules of that conference [see Bylaw 18.4.2.1-(a)].31.2.1.1 Commitment to Participate. Eligible members in a sport who are not also members of the NationalAssociation of Intercollegiate Athletics will participate (if selected) in the NCAA championship or in nopostseason competition in that sport. (Revised: 8/12/91)31.2.1.2 Deadline. The institutional eligibility requirements for entry into NCAA championships (see Bylaw18.4.2) must be met by the following dates [in addition to the deadline for the academic reporting form requiredfor Division I set forth in Bylaw 18.4.2.2-(c)]:(a) September 15 for fall championships;(b) December 1 for winter championships; and(c) March 1 for spring championships.31.2.1.2.1 Compliance with Deadline. Any dues check or approved form required shall be receivedin the national office by the applicable date or must have been postmarked not later than seven days priorto the applicable date.31.2.1.3 Deadline Waivers. Institutions that fail to meet a deadline for institutional eligibility in NCAAchampionships may appeal to the Championships/Sports Management Cabinet for a waiver. If the appeal isgranted, the institution may be restored to eligibility for NCAA championships. (Revised: 11/1/07 effective 8/1/08)31.2.1.3.1 Penalty for Additional Waiver. An institution that fails to meet a deadline again may begranted a waiver only on payment of a penalty of $150 for the second offense and $300 for each offensethereafter during the five-year period preceding the last offense. On approval of such waiver and receipt ofthe institution’s check in the national office, the institution may compete in NCAA championships, providedit is otherwise eligible. (Revised: 1/11/07 effective 8/1/08)31.2.1.4 Joint-Declaration Program. The NCAA and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athleticstogether administer a joint-declaration program in those men’s and women’s sports in which there is a date conflictbetween the national championships of the two organizations. In such championships, each institution thatholds membership in both organizations must declare by mid-September each year whether it will participate(if selected) in the NAIA championship, in the NCAA championship or in no postseason competition in thatsport. An institution that fails to submit the joint-declaration form by the established deadline shall be ineligibleto compete in both associations’ championships in the particular sport(s) that year. An appeal process exists forsuch institutions and such an appeal may be submitted to the Championships/Sports Management Cabinet.(Revised: 11/1/07 effective 8/1/08)31.2.1.5 National Collegiate Championships. In team sports in which the NCAA offers only one nationalchampionship, all member institutions in good standing are eligible to compete in accordance with therequirements of division membership (see Bylaw 20.9) and institutional eligibility (per Bylaw 31.2.1).31.2.1.6 Division Championships. In those sports in which national-championship competition is offeredin more than one division, only those member institutions that meet the membership requirements of the respectivedivisions or requirements applicable to institutions competing outside their membership divisions areeligible to compete in such division championships (see Bylaw 20).31.2.1.7 Eligibility Requirements. Institutional eligibility for all championships shall be limited to memberinstitutions that meet institutional eligibility requirements (see Bylaw 31.2.1) and any additional requirementsspecified in the applicable championships handbooks.31.2.1.7.1 Eligibility of Participants. An institution shall advise the NCAA championships staff if astudent-athlete who has participated in regular-season competition becomes ineligible before the date onwhich the governing sports committee selects championship participants, as indicated in the appropriatechampionships handbook.31.2.1.7.1.1 Failure to Report Ineligible Student-Athlete Prior to Selection. If an institutionfails to report an ineligible student-athlete prior to being selected to participate in the championship,the governing sports committee may declare the institution ineligible to participate in the tournamentfor one or two years.31.2.1.7.1.2 Discovery of Ineligibility of Student-Athlete After Selection. If an institutionfails to report an ineligible student-athlete and the omission is not discovered until after the institutionis selected to participate in the championship, necessitating the institution’s withdrawal from thechampionship, that withdrawal shall be considered as one of the years of ineligibility, provided anotherinstitution participates in the championship in place of the disqualified institution. If the discovery388