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RCSJ-CUMBERLAND ATHLETICS

NJCAA Eligibility Resource Page

Welcome to the RCSJ-Cumberland NJCAA Eligibility Resource Page.  Below you will find a list of FAQs that may answer all of your questions regarding your eligibility to participate in NJCAA Athletics.  The FAQs below may not answer all of your questions as each student-athlete's situation is unique.  We encourage you to please contact the following associates for more detailed information:

Assistant Director of Athletics - Christopher Lopez - CLopez10@rcsj.edu

Director of Athletics - Jonathan Dijamco - JDijamco@rcsj.edu

NJCAA Eligibility Document Requirements

1) Completed NJCAA Eligibility Packet (Link: NJCAA Eligibility Packet)

2) Official High School Transcript

(Must include Graduation Date, School Seal, and/or signature from School Administrator)

3) For Transfers: Official College Transcript

(Must include School Seal and signature from College Administrator/Registrar)

 

For questions contact the following associates:

Assistant Director of Athletics - Christopher Lopez - CLopez10@rcsj.edu

Director of Athletics - Jonathan Dijamco - JDijamco@rcsj.edu

 

NJCAA Eligibility FAQs

(Please note: Eligibility requirements are subject to change, please consult with Athletic staff)

(For the complete NJCAA Eligibility pamphlet, please click the following link: 2021 NJCAA Eligibility Pamphlet)

Q:         Must I be a full-time student during the season?

A:   Students must maintain full-time status during the season of the sport(s) in which they have chosen to participate (full-time status being 12 credit hours or more).  In addition, all students must have a valid physical on-file in order to participate in off-season and in-season activities.

Q:   What determines my eligibility for my 1st season of participation?

A:   Eligibility is determined prior to the last official date to register for the term as published in the college catalog.  At that time, the student must have:

  1. At or after the fifteenth calendar day from the beginning date of the term for the first full-time semester, as published in the college catalog, a student-athlete must be enrolled in 12 semester credits with at least 6 credits beginning prior to the fifteenth calendar day.

OR

  1. Pass an accumulation of semester hours equal to 12 in which the student-athlete was previously enrolled full-time in one semester with a GPA of 1.75 or higher

OR

  1. Pass an accumulation of semester hours equal to 12 in which the student-athlete was previously enrolled full-time in one semester with a GPA of 2.00 or higher

OR

  1. A first season participant must have passed a minimum accumulation of 24 credit hours with a 2.00 GPA or higher for the initial term of participation, regardless of previous term or other accumulation requirements (NOTE:  This only establishes eligibility for the initial term, not subsequent terms.),

OR

  1. A first or second season participant must have passed a minimum accumulation of 36 credit hours for a fall sport, 48 credit hours for a spring sport, with a 2.00 GPA or higher, regardless of previous term or other accumulation requirement.

Q:   What determines my eligibility for my 2nd season of participation?

A: At student must satisfy the requirements for a first season participating student and the following:

     1. Earned at least 24 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.0

Q:   Are there additional requirements I must meet to participate?

A:   A student must also make progress towards graduation.  Before participation in a second season in any certified sport(s), a student must have:

  1. Obtained at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours with a 2.00 GPA or higher and one of 2-3 below:
  2. Pass a minimum of 12 semester hours with a 2.00 GPA or higher during the previous semester of full-time enrollment,

OR

  1. Pass an accumulation of semester hours equal to 12 multiplied by the number of semesters in which the student-athlete was previously enrolled full-time with a GPA of 2.00 or higher,
  1. A first or second season participant must have passed a minimum accumulation of 36 credit hours for a fall sport, 48 credit hours for a spring sport, with a 2.00 GPA or higher, regardless of previous term or other accumulation requirement.

Q:   I played one year on a club team, how many years of intercollegiate eligibility do I have left?

A:   Participation on a designated collegiate club team in a NJCAA certified sport will constitute one (1) season of participation.

Q:   I took a semester off to earn money for college, will I be immediately eligible to play once I enroll as a full-time student?

A:   Students must be enrolled full-time (twelve or more credits) at the college where they have chosen to participate when the regular season schedule of a sport begins.  Students not enrolled during the term when the season begins remain ineligible throughout the season schedule unless they enroll on the first possible enrollment date following:

  1.  Their release from Active Armed Services of the United States with a discharge other than dishonorable.
  1. Their return from a religious mission.
  2. Their graduation from a high school or receipt of an equivalency diploma. An official high school transcript must be on file.
  3. Their transfer from an NJCAA member college which has dropped a sport after the school year begins.

Students that satisfy one of the four exceptions become eligible after the previous term has ended upon registration as a full time student for the new term. (Students must be added to the eligibility form before participating.)

Q:   What if I start college and then withdraw?

A:   The following withdrawal policy applies to students that are attending any college. 

  1.  Students are allowed fifteen (15) calendar days from the beginning date of classes to withdraw completely or to withdraw to less than twelve credits (part-time) and not have that term affect their future eligibility, provided they have not participated in any athletic competition. (Refer to Section 4.G.)
  2. Students that have participated and withdraw within the first fifteen (15) calendar days of a particular term are not eligible for athletic participation and must re- establish their eligibility in accordance with the provisions of section 4.D or 4.E.  The term in which the student participates must be considered the same as a term of full-time attendance.

Q:   Upon returning to college following an extended absence, must I meet the current eligibility requirements?

A:   Students who have not been enrolled in college in twelve (12) or more credit hours (full-time) for a period of eighteen calendar months or longer shall be exempt from previous term and/or accumulation requirements as set forth in Article V, Section 4.d or 4.e (not Section 4.f) of the NJCAA bylaws.  Students who have served eighteen calendar months in the Armed Forces of the United States, church mission or with a recognized foreign aid service shall be exempt from Section 4.d, 4.e and 4.f.  Note, this is a one-time exemption, available only for the first full-time term after the period of non-attendance.

Q:   What are the requirements for transfer students?

A:   All transfer students must adhere to the eligibility rules of the NJCAA to be eligible for participation at a member institution. Check Article V, Section 10 of the NJCAA Handbook to make sure you meet all transfer requirements of the NJCAA. All transfer student-athletes must have official transcripts of all previous college work on file at Brookdale Community College in order  to determine eligibility. Student-athletes transferring to Brookdale Community College from another NJCAA member school are subject to a probationary period unless a signed release is issued by their previous college.

Q:   What requirements will I have to meet to transfer from a two-year college to a four-year college?

A:   Questions relative to a transfer from a NJCAA college to a four-year program must be addressed by the four-year college and/or their national governing body (i.e., NCAA or NAIA).

Q:   Are the rules uniform throughout the entire membership?

A:   The various regions of the NJCAA may adopt rules which are more stringent than the national rules, but none that are less stringent.  It would be best for you to check the rules that exist within the region in which you are interested in attending.  Any member college can assist you with any regional differences, which may exist. 

Q:   I am a recent high school graduate and coaches have started to recruit me to play.  What is allowed?

A:   The following is permitted under NJCAA recruitment rules:

1.   No institution shall permit an athlete to be solicited to attend by the promise of a gift or inducement other than an athletic grant-in-aid.

 

For further clarification of the recruiting rules, see Article VIII, B.  If a student-athlete signs a NJCAA Letter of Intent, all NJCAA institutions are obligated to respect that signing and shall cease to recruit that student-athlete.  The student-athlete is obligated to notify any recruiter who contacts him/her of the signing.

 

Information for a Prospective Student

Q:   Whose rules do I abide by?

A:   Students participating on an intercollegiate level in any one of the certified sports of the NJCAA shall conform to the requirements of the Rules of Eligibility, the rules and regulations of the conference with which the college is affiliated, and also the rules of the college at which the students are attending and participating.

Q:   How do I determine my initial eligibility?

A:   Due to the unique academic and athletic situation of each individual, and the complexity of the NJCAA eligibility rules, it is recommended that each potential student-athlete discuss their athletic eligibility with the athletic personnel at the NJCAA college where they have chosen to attend.  Should the athletic staff have any questions in determining an individual's eligibility, the college may contact the NJCAA National Office for assistance.

Q:   Must I have graduated from high school?

A:   Students must be a high school graduate or must have received a high school equivalency diploma or have been certified as having passed a national test such as the General Education Development Test (GED).   Students must bring an official high school transcript to the athletic department, even though the admissions office may not require it.

Q:   How many seasons may I participate in a sport?

A:   Students are allowed two (2) seasons of competition in any sport at a NJCAA college, if they have not participated at any intercollegiate level during two (2) seasons previously.  Playing in one or more regularly scheduled contests prior to post-season competition uses one season of participation in that sport.

Warning:  Students who falsify their academic records and /or information about previous athletic participation shall be barred from any further competition in any NJCAA member college at any time.
Q:   Do I qualify as an amateur?

A:   Amateur players are those who engage in sports for the physical, mental, or social benefits they derive in participation and to whom athletics is a vocation and not a source of personal monetary gains.  Be sure of your amateur status by checking the NJCAA amateur rules (Article V, Section 11, NJCAA Handbook) or checking with a NJCAA athletic director.

Q:   While playing a sport I want to enter an open tournament or play with another team.  May I?

A:   While the season of any sport is in progress, as determined by the published schedule of the college, students are not allowed to participate in that same sport for any other team except in the following sports:   bowling, golf and tennis.  (Cumberland does not offer those athletic programs)

      If a student wishes to enter any open competition as a representative of their college, the competition must be listed on the published schedule of the college and the student must meet all NJCAA eligibility requirements.  If a student is not representing a NJCAA college, they may enter open or "exhibition" competition without NJCAA approval.  A college shall not, however, furnish the student with any assistance (equipment, transportation, lodging or meals) when participating in such events.

Q:   What about All-Star competitions?

A:   Student participation in athletic events such as All-Star games must be approved by the NJCAA National Office. The NJCAA does NOT restrict the number of All-Star games in which a High School student may participate prior to attendance at a NJCAA college.

NJCAA Transfer to NCAA Eligibility Information

We encourage all student-athletes to consult with an NCAA compliance associate for more detailed information regarding NCAA Eligibility.  Links below are generic information, considering each student-athlete's situation is unique, the information below may not pertain to your situation.

General NCAA Transfer Information Packet (All Levels): NCAA Transfer Information

NCAA Division 1 Transfer Information: NCAA Division 1 - Two-Year Transfer Requirements

NCAA Division 2 Transfer Information: NCAA Division 2/3 - Two-Year Transfer Information

NJCAA Transfer to NAIA Eligibility Information

We encourage all student-athletes to consult with an NAIA compliance associate for more detailed information regarding NCAA Eligibility.  Links below are generic information, considering each student-athlete's situation is unique, the information below may not pertain to your situation.

General NAIA Transfer Information: NAIA Transfer Information