A friend & teammate has been curious all year as to whether or not he'd have any more eligibility left next season. I'll try to explain it the best I can, anybody that can help would be appreciated.

Graduated in May of 1999.

Went to a NCAA D2 in fall of 1999, but didn't play sports.

Didn't attend school in spring of 2000.

Went to a D2 JUCO in the fall of 2000, he had surgery that semester so he didn't play ball. Only took one class.

In the spring of 2000, he went full time. Didn't play sports.

Played baseball in the fall of 2001 as a full-time student.

Transferred to a D3 JUCO in the spring of 2001. Took a redshirt that semester.

Played baseball in fall & spring of 2002, and was a full-time student. Made All-Region as a 1B.

Wasn't full-time in fall of 2003, but IS full-time this Spring and he's playing ball and was once again All-Region.

Excellent ball player, good attitude, very hard worker. He is wondering if he has eligibility in NCAA or NAIA. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

SBedwell33 -
It's a complicated process and we'd be only guessing, which won't help your friend. IMO, the best advice is to have him get all these details (include schools and coaches for verification) in writing to the NCAA and ask for an official ruling. That's the only way your friend is going to know for sure.

RHP hits it on the head-- 1999 to 2004 is a long time and I am sure that as much as you try to detail all the events something will have slipped thru the cracks

The simple thing to do is sit down with the coach and AD at the school and discuss it openly.

seems like he used only two years of eligibility-fall doesn't count. Check with NCAA

In the NAIA a student-athlete has 10 FULL-TIME semesters to play four seasons of a sport.

You need to sit down with whatever NCAA rep (or NJCAA, NAIA for that matter) and discuss this with them or call the NCAA directly.

I have come across a few circumstances where due to multiple injuries and transfers, a few playes were actually able to get a 6th year in somehow, by the good graces of the NCAA and two ACL surgeries!

Here is the 5-year rule for ncaa d1 that may be of use.


The 5-Year Rule - Division 1
You must complete all your athletic competition in college within five years from when you first enroll in college full time at any institution including a Junior College. This five-year clock doesn’t stop except under special circumstances (e.g., time spent in the armed services, on official church missions).

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If you originally attended college for one year as a full-time student and then stayed out of school for two years to work, you have two years remaining of athletic competition on your five-year clock. D2 or D3 has a similar 10 semester/15 quarter time period.