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April 28, 2026, at 3 p.m. CT
Tune in to the Men's Tennis Selection and Women's Tennis Selection Show to see the teams competing in the 2026 NAIA Tennis National Championships.
May 4, 2026, at 4 p.m. CT
Tune in to the Women's Lacrosse Selection Show to see the teams competing in the 2026 NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Championship.
May 4, 2026, at 5 p.m. CT
Tune in to the Men's Lacrosse Selection Show to see the teams competing in the 2026 NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Championship.
May 6, 2026, at 4 p.m. CT
Tune in to the Baseball Selection Show to see the teams competing in the 2026 NAIA Baseball
National Championship.
May 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. CT
Tune in to the Softball Selection Show to see the teams competing in the 2026 NAIA Softball
National Championship.
May 25, 2026
The NAIA National Office, eligibility center, and InCred offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.
April 8-12, 2027
The 86th NAIA Annual National Convention will be held in San Antonio, Tx., at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the Riverwalk.
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2026 NAIA National Convention Recap
Thank you for joining us for the 2026 NAIA National Convention. If you were unable to attend or would like a refresher from the weekend, please see the convention recap below.
Looking ahead, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the 2027 NAIA National Convention, set for April 8-12, 2027, in San Antonio, Texas. We look forward to seeing you there.
| Be sure to grab your Right Way to Play apparel before the shop closes. |
Catastrophic Insurance Enrollment
The NAIA has finalized a two-year extension of our catastrophic insurance program with Mutual of Omaha and AHP Sports (formerly Risk Strategies). Coverage remains mandatory for NAIA member institutions and covers all NAIA student-athletes.
For 2026-27, benefits and the $35,000 deductible remain unchanged. Premiums will increase by 3% in 2026-27, with no increase in 2027-28. As a reminder, having coverage in place up to $35,000—whether through the student-athlete or the institution—helps avoid any gap before catastrophic coverage applies.
Enrollment is completed in NAIA Connect after submission of your Declaration of Intent (DOI). Sports selected on the DOI will pre-populate the insurance form; institutions must enter participant estimates. The form and payment are due July 15, 2026.
Additional details, including premiums, are available at naia.org/insurance.
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Welcome New NAIA Members
The Council of Presidents (COP) approved four new members. Welcome Champion Christian College (Hot Springs, Ark.), United States Sports University (Daphne, Ala.), Georgia Southern University – East Georgia Campus (Swainsboro, Ga.), and Nevada State University, in Henderson, Nevada, joining Wesleyan (Ga.) and Andrew (Ga.), both voted in during NAIA Fall Meetings in September 2025.
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The New ROA®: Clearer Insight. Greater Institutional Impact
The redesigned ROA platform has officially launched in NAIA Connect. The upgraded tool better empowers campus leaders with streamlined reporting, deeper analytics, and simpler data collection, strengthening the return athletics brings to your campus. For questions and assistance, contact Laura Schneider. Log into your NAIA Connect account to access this.
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MOAA Presents: NAIA Career Opportunities Webinar
MOAA is hosting a webinar for NAIA graduating student-athletes or graduate students seeking employment opportunities. Attendees will receive information about careers in the NAIA from individuals who have recently made the transition from student-athlete to working in NAIA Athletics departments. Additionally, senior NAIA athletics professionals will provide information regarding career opportunities in the NAIA. Contact Cam Trudell in the NACDA office for questions.
Tuesday, May 5 at 12:00 p.m. CT.
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Submissions Open for National Selection Committees (NSCs)
The NAIA is seeking qualified and engaged individuals to serve on National Selection Committees (NSCs), which play a key role in evaluating teams, reviewing data, and selecting championship qualifiers. Interested candidates are encouraged to complete the National Selection Committee Interest Form to be considered for future openings. Submissions will be kept on file and reviewed as positions become available. Individuals who have already submitted the form (since August 20, 2025) or are currently serving on an NSC do not need to reapply.
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The Playbook: Why Emerging Sports is a Strategic Advantage for Small Colleges
Higher education continues to face pressure from declining enrollment, rising operational costs, and increased competition for a shrinking pool of traditional college-bound students. Click below for more information on the benefits and demands of emerging sports.
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National Office Promotion: Kayla Smith
The national office is excited to announce Kayla Smith has been promoted to Director of the NAIA Eligibility Center. Kayla joined the EC in 2020 and quickly advanced from her seasonal role through several full-time positions within the department. Kayla served as a GA with the University of Iowa, where she earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees. Kayla will bring her industry knowledge and passion for sport as she expands her leadership of the department. Congratulations, Kayla!
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National Office Promotion: Josh Smith
The national office is excited to announce that Josh Smith has been promoted to Associate Director of the NAIA Eligibility Center. Josh was a standout seasonal team member for two years before advancing to an international manager and then the domestic team lead. Josh then spent a year in international support services at KU, his alma mater, before returning to the NAIA. Josh will continue to positively affect even more people and processes in his new role. Congratulations, Josh!
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NAIA Committee Openings
Have you ever wanted to get involved in national committee service or leadership? Learn about the committees across the NAIA that currently have open positions at the link below. You’ll find more information about each committee, the current rosters, and their composition. Please note that many openings are specified for a particular type of representative. If you’re interested in a committee but don’t fit the specific position that’s currently available, feel free to submit your information, and we will keep it for a future opening.
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Make Your Right Way Forward Pledge
What’s one action your institution will take to move NAIA forward?
How to join:
- Record your 15–20 second pledge
- Post on social
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Tag @PlayNAIA + #TheRightWaytoPlay
Who can lead it?
Presidents, ADs, coaches, commissioners, or any campus leader ready to step up.
Keep it moving:
- Share across campus
- Engage + amplify others
✨ Top participants will be recognized (yes, a little friendly competition is encouraged).
👉 Get the toolkit: CLICK HERE
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The Right Way To Play® Storytelling Series: Same Court. Same Standard.
👉 Read the story here.
At Freed-Hardeman, it’s a family game.
Rachel + Jenna Satterly, different styles, one shared drive.
This is The Right Way to Play®.
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New Contest: The Right Way Forward Pledge Prize Drawing
The Right Way Forward Pledge campaign is turning commitment into action. Each week, members who share their pledge on their social media and tag @PlayNAIA are entered into a drawing. This week, we’re excited to recognize three members as our pledge picks of the week.
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Box Out Sports Webinar:
Wednesday April 29, at 12:00 pm C.T./1:00 p.m. ET
SIDs are saving an average of 8 hours every week using Box Out compared to Canva, Photoshop, and other graphics creation tools. Time that goes back to their families, their programs, and their athletes.
As the official recommended graphics tool of the NAIA, we want every member to experience it firsthand and compare the differences. That is why we have arranged a live walk-through on April 29 featuring Nick Buth of Morningside University, who will show exactly how he is putting it to work for his program.
🎁 BONUS FOR ATTENDEES: NAIA members get full access to Box Out through July 1st for free, plus a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card!
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Hudl Webinar Invite
Join the NAIA and Hudl for a webinar with the leadership at Hesston College to see how they moved away from fragmented, manual workflows and built a standardized departmental system — turning their facilities into smart environments that film and upload automatically.
🎯 The Departmental Blueprint: Automating ROI and Video Capture
📅 Thursday, April 23, 2026
🕛 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CT
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Did you know the NAIA ADvantage program supports new athletic directors through their first year in the role? It combines guidance on NAIA policies and processes, real-world insights from experienced ADs, and connections with peers across the association. The program also highlights key NAIA resources to help you lead and grow a successful athletics program. Reach out to Jordan Matheney at jmatheney@naia.org to learn more and get connected.
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April Eligibility Edge
Check out the most recent issue of the Eligibility Edge, a newsletter dedicated exclusively to NAIA eligibility topics. For questions regarding newsletter distribution or to add someone to the email list before the May issue, please contact Meg Smith.
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