INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Administrative Committee on Thursday, May 6, voted to permit voluntary summer workouts at the request of the student-athlete in all team sports beginning July 5 until the start of the school’s fall 2021 term.
The committee made this change via a blanket waiver to balance the need for student-athletes to get a break between semesters/quarters and to create more opportunities for them to prepare for their upcoming season, especially for schools and teams that have not competed this academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This waiver is permissive and does not allow full team practices. Student-athletes in individual sports are already permitted to request voluntary workouts during the summer.
The committee also approved a blanket waiver allowing certain student-athletes to compete while enrolled less than full-time for both semesters or three-quarters of the 2021-22 academic year.
The waiver applies only to student-athletes who will exhaust their eligibility after the 2021-22 academic year and who use the additional season of competition and/or extension of eligibility relief provided due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Student-athletes who have graduated or will graduate during the 2021-22 academic year will be able to use this blanket waiver as follows:
- Student-athletes who have graduated may participate in practice and competition provided they are enrolled in a minimum of six semester hours or six quarter hours in a second baccalaureate or graduate program.
- Student-athletes who will graduate during the 2021-22 academic year may participate in practice or competition provided they are enrolled in a minimum of nine semester hours or eight quarter hours.
This waiver applies in addition to currently legislated full-time enrollment exceptions. Student-athletes are not permitted to be enrolled part-time and continue to compete in athletics unless they meet this waiver’s requirements, are enrolled in the final term of a degree program or have been provided relief through a traditional waiver process. Full-time enrollment is considered at least 12 hours.
The Administrative Committee is composed of the chairs and vice chairs of the Division II Presidents Council and Management Council and one additional member of the Presidents Council. The committee is tasked with handling important Division II business in between quarterly meetings of the Presidents Council.
Release courtesy National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
