There are numerous ways that a student-athlete can become ineligible to participate in NCAA-sanctioned athletics. Some of the most common ways include:
1. Academic Eligibility
The NCAA has rigorous academic requirements that student-athletes must meet to remain eligible to compete. This includes maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.0, passing a certain number of classes per semester, and progressing toward a degree.
2. Doping / Performance-Enhancing Drugs
The NCAA prohibits the use of certain performance-enhancing drugs and supplements. Student-athletes who test positive for these substances can face ineligibility.
3. Federation Rules
Federations such as the NCAA and NAIA have several rules and regulations that student-athletes must follow, including rules related to amateurism, recruiting, and ethical conduct. Violations of these rules can result in ineligibility. Ludius-Students Athletes will guide you through the process to make sure you are aware of these risks.
4. Team/Institutional rules
Student-athletes may be proclaimed ineligible if they violate team or institutional rules, such as breaking curfew before gamedays or failing to meet expectations set by the coaches or athletic department. Each team usually has different rules.
5. Accepting money or other benefits from agents, boosters, or other third parties
Federations have strict rules for accepting money or other benefits from agents, boosters, or third parties. However, things changed on June 30, 2021, with the NIL establishment. NIL allows student-athletes to accept monetary incentives from businesses in exchange for using them in products, advertisements, or public appearances. As of today, the policies to accept money are only restricted to international student-athletes.
Federations have established protocols for dealing with student-athletes who have lost their eligibility due to certain circumstances. Requests for reinstatement are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and both the athlete and their institution can make such requests to the federations. Additionally, federations have established procedures for handling rule violations and penalties. When a coach, student-athlete, or institution violates rules, the enforcement staff investigates the matter. If sufficient evidence exists, the case is forwarded to the Committee on Infractions for further examination.