Important Dates
SEPTEMBER 1: Facility certification deadline for hosting an opening round in any sport.

SEPTEMBER 15: Deadline to resubmit an updated Declaration of Intent. Email Nathan Docter with any questions.

OCTOBER 6: Virtual Business Meeting to vote on 2019-20 legislative proposals. More details will be shared in the coming weeks. (See complete fall meetings itinerary in the News section below.)

DECEMBER 1: Year-End Report Submission Deadline. New data pertaining to Return on Athletics will be required. Click here for more information.
COVID-19/Fall 2020
NEW: 2020-21 COVID-19 Response Manual Now Available

Since the fall 2020 return to play guidelines and recommendations were shared in July, significant changes have occurred. The original guidelines have been updated to reflect the decisions made in the past six weeks and renamed 2020-21 COVID-19 Response Manual.


NEW: Designate COVID Screener in NAIAHelp

There is a new position on NAIAhelp called COVID Screener so a school can designate a non-healthcare professional as their COVID Screener. This allows those designees to receive the NAIA screening training, which will provide education on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The training will be in the NAIA Learning Center so it is imperative that any non-healthcare professionals be designated as a COVID Screener in NAIAHelp. 


Updated FAQs

The FAQs on the NAIA’s COVID-19 web page have been updated with information specific to the postponement of fall championships. Please email any questions to [email protected].
News
NEW: Fall Meetings Move to Virtual Format

Due to the continued travel restrictions, the NAIA has decided to move the fall meetings to a virtual format. The meetings will be held on the originally scheduled dates of October 5 - 7. For the complete itinerary, click here. We will be sharing more detailed information about the various sessions in the next few weeks.
NEW: Student-Athlete COVID-19 Digital Awareness Toolkit
To help support student-athlete health and well-being, the NAIA has created a digital toolkit that can be shared on our members' websites and social media accounts. When posting, remember to use #NAIATogether. Click here for the NAIA Digital Toolkit.
NAIA Kicks Off Strategic Planning Initiative
The NAIA recently launched an initiative to update its current strategic plan, which will be brought to COP for final approval in April 2021. Several membership groups will receive a survey in the next couple of weeks to provide a greater understanding of key challenges and opportunities our member institutions anticipate in the coming years. In October, the COP will review the plan's proposed, high-level focus areas, which will have incorporated the survey feedback. The pandemic has presented new challenges and opportunities in higher education and collegiate athletics and this strategic plan will chart a path for the NAIA’s future. 
Fundraiser for the ASA
As we continue to raise funds for the Association of Student-Athletes' well-being campaign, the NAIA is selling #NAIATogether t-shirts. You can order your t-shirt here OR you can also purchase for your school in bulk here.
Eligibility
NEW: CFAR Exception to Reapplication Requirement

Students who receive an eligible fall 2020 decision will not be required to reapply for winter/spring 2021 eligibility center decisions even if they do not identify at their NAIA institution during the fall 2020 term. We have updated the situation analysis to reflect the situations this exception applies to. Please note, eligibility rules will still need to be met, but eligibility will be handled during on-campus certification. The exception to reapplication is only applicable for students who received fall 2020 decisions and would normally need to reapply for winter/spring 2021.
 
NEW: PlayNAIA Enhancements

The eligibility center released enhancements to PlayNAIA on August 14. Specific information about the enhancements is available in the release notes. This release included: providing students with additional information on their tasks, functionality needed for the COVID test score exception, and changes to the eligibility status update email. Athletics directors now have the ability to edit the recipient list of the eligibility status update email; a guide on this feature is being added to the Resources page for athletics directors.
 
Submitting Summer Transcripts

Students enrolled in classes this summer will be required to submit final summer grades beginning August 31, 2020 in order to receive an eligibility decision. Students with summer 2020 enrollment who do not submit transcripts complete through summer 2020 will not be placed in line for review.
Rules
NEW: Rule Modifications
On August 20, the National Administrative Council passed additional rule modifications for several fall sports to help with physical distancing and student-athlete safety.
Championships
NEW: Last Chance for Basketball Opening Round Facility Certification
The deadline to certify your basketball facility to host a 2021 Opening Round is September 1, 2020. An application for facility certification can be found here. If you have any additional questions about the process, please email Nathan Docter.

NEW: Dates Announced for Postponed Fall Championships

The NAC approved new national championship dates for fall 2020 sports. More details can be found here.

  • Cross Country - April 9, 2021
  • Football - May 10, 2021
  • Men's Soccer - May 4 - 10, 2021
  • Women's Soccer - April 27 - May 3, 2021
  • Women's Volleyball - April 27 - May 1, 2021
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