Deadlines

July 15:
COVID-19/Fall 2020
NEW: Fall 2020 Guidelines & Recommendations

The NAIA shared the Fall 2020 Guidelines and Recommendations on July 1. As stated in the document, members are welcome to share feedback at [email protected] . Testing FAQs will also be available later this week.

NEW: Cleared to Play Threshold Update

Based on information provided by members, we are currently above the 50% threshold for all fall sports programs that have been cleared by their local jurisdictions to play on or before the competition start date.

  • Football: 70%
  • Women's Volleyball: 55%
  • Cross Country: 54%
  • Men's Soccer: 55%
  • Women’s Soccer: 56%

Because state and local gathering regulations are changing rapidly, the cleared to play status of member institutions will continue to be monitored as we approach the beginning of the season. If you have any questions about cleared to play status, contact Jen Saab .

COVID-19 Resources

Below are membership resources currently available:

FAQs related to the impact of COVID-19 on:
News
NEW: Update NAIAHelp Information
As a new fiscal year begins, it's a great time to login to NAIAHelp and verify your institution's contact information. Please update any personnel changes to help insure the correct individuals are receiving the most relevant communications from the NAIA.
NEW: Live5 Courses Discontinued
After assessing the appropriate audience intended for the Live5 courses, the NAIA has made the decision to discontinue Live5 for student-athletes. The NAIA Academy will continue to offer myPlaybook courses to support our champions of character philosophy.
NEW: Student-Athlete Health & Wellness Resources Available
The NAIA is dedicated to meeting the health challenges that COVID-19 has presented to our members and student-athletes. The Student-Athlete Wellness Center provides resources that offer valuable information for a wide range of health and wellness topics including mental health, which has been identified by student-athletes as a top concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Changes Coming to the Year-End Report
The NAIA's Year-End Report (YER) is undergoing changes in 2020. Traditionally, the YER has been due on September 30. Beginning in 2020, the deadline will be moved to December 1 .

The extended deadline is to help schools prepare for the YER's new requirements, which will include Return on Athletics ®
(ROA) data. Institutions that have previously submitted ROA data will already be familiar with the process. For institutions that have not participated in ROA, resources are available to assist with the submission process.

A benefit to the new data submission process is that all institutions will have access to the ROA Insights data analytics tool in spring 2021. For more information, contact Alan Grosbach at 816.595.8120.
Eligibility
NEW: COVID-19 Freshman Exception

As a reminder, please notify the eligibility center at [email protected]  of any of your recruits who qualify for the COVID-19 entering freshmen exception with the following information. Once we receive this information, our team will update the students profile to apply the exception. We must receive this information after the student has submitted their PlayNAIA application to ensure they move through the system appropriately .

  • Subject line: COVID Test Score Exception
  • In the body, please include the students full name and ECID number. 
 
Additionally, the eligibility center is making a few operational adjustments to support getting the right students on the field at the right time, as we anticipate high volumes this summer. Read last week’s update from the eligibility center for details. 
Partnerships
NEW: Daktronics Podcast with Bethel College
To hear about the LED technology transformation at Bethel College in Newton, Kansas, check our Daktronics' recent podcast . Bethel Athletic Director Tony Hoops talks about his role at Bethel, installing a video display at their stadium to support football and other sports and events, how they manage their sponsorships with the display, and its overall impact.
Championships
Opening Round Facility Certification
Member schools who wish to bid to host a national championship opening round for the 2020-21 year must have completed their facility certified to host. (Once approved, certifications last for five years.) The deadline for the certification application is September 1, 2020 for all sports. Facilities that were denied previously and have made facility improvements are encouraged to reapply. 

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