Eligibility Question

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I have a former player who is in a situation that I have not heard about before.

Last Fall (2013) he was enrolled and a member of the Football Team at Campbellsville University (NAIA).
He didn't play in any games (JV/V) and was Redshirted.

He moved to Orlando last Spring and didn't attend college (worked)

This fall he has enrolled at Hillsboro Community College (they don't have a football team) and is playing for the Gattaca Football Club.
He is taking 9 hours at HCC.

Assume he competes for Gattaca this fall (they play NAIA and NCAA JV Teams), how many seasons of eligibility will he have left and how many semesters will he have remaining to compete?

This is what I think:
His NCAA/NAIA Clock started last fall so he is in his 3rd Semester now, even though he didn't attend school last Spring.
He plays this Fall so he has 3 seasons of eligibility left.
He'll still have 7 semesters left to play those 3 seasons if any NAIA/NCAA School wants him.

Any other thoughts?

[Anon E Moose]

He'll be subject to the "4-2-4" rule which has subtle differences for divisions I, II & III.  If he earns his degree from the community college or a requisite number of credits, he may be immediately eligible. If he doesn't get those credits, he has to wait a year.

The student-athlete must earn 24 semester/36 quarter hours of credit (with a
2.000 grade-point average) at the two-year college that may be transferred to a degree at
the four-year college. One calendar year must pass since the student-athlete left the first
four-year college before the student-athlete competes at the second four-year college. The
student-athlete also must graduate from the two-year college.

additionally Division III has the following rule about burning years of eligibility:

6. Seasons of Participation – All Sports.
a. A student-athlete must count a season of participation when he or she practices or competes during or after the first contest following the student-athlete's initial participation at that school. [Bylaw 14.2.4.1]
b. A season of participation shall not be counted when a student-athlete participates in a preseason scrimmage or preseason exhibition conducted prior to the first contest in the traditional segment following the student-athlete's initial participation at that school, or when a student-athlete participates in the one date of competition during the nontraditional segment in baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball and women's volleyball. [Bylaw 14.2.4.1.1]
c. A season of participation shall not be counted when a student-athlete practices in the nontraditional sports segment. [Bylaw 14.2.4.1]

The "clock rule" reads as follows:

9. Other Rules Concerning Eligibility  All Sports.
a. You are not eligible to participate in more than four seasons of intercollegiate participation. [Bylaw 14.2]
b. You are not eligible after 10 semesters or 15 quarters in which you were enrolled at a collegiate institution in at least a minimum full-time program of studies as determined by the school, except for any extensions that have been approved in accordance with NCAA legislation. [Bylaw 14.2.2]
c. You are eligible if you are seeking a second baccalaureate or equivalent degree or you are enrolled in a graduate or professional school provided you received your undergraduate degree from the same school, you have seasons of participation remaining and your participation occurs within the applicable 10 semesters or 15

He'll have to be cleared by the compliance officer at whatever next school he chooses.  I don't think the clock runs when you're taking a hiatus at a two year institution that doesn't offer the sport you are participating in, but don't hold me to that. I don't think the club team has any bearing on it. I think he burned a year at Camblesville by practicing after the first date of competition.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

He'll be subject to the "4-2-4" rule which has subtle differences for divisions I, II & III.  If he earns his degree from the community college or a requisite number of credits, he may be immediately eligible. If he doesn't get those credits, he has to wait a year.

The student-athlete must earn 24 semester/36 quarter hours of credit (with a
2.000 grade-point average) at the two-year college that may be transferred to a degree at
the four-year college. One calendar year must pass since the student-athlete left the first
four-year college before the student-athlete competes at the second four-year college. The
student-athlete also must graduate from the two-year college.

additionally Division III has the following rule about burning years of eligibility:

6. Seasons of Participation – All Sports.
a. A student-athlete must count a season of participation when he or she practices or competes during or after the first contest following the student-athlete's initial participation at that school. [Bylaw 14.2.4.1]
b. A season of participation shall not be counted when a student-athlete participates in a preseason scrimmage or preseason exhibition conducted prior to the first contest in the traditional segment following the student-athlete's initial participation at that school, or when a student-athlete participates in the one date of competition during the nontraditional segment in baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball and women's volleyball. [Bylaw 14.2.4.1.1]
c. A season of participation shall not be counted when a student-athlete practices in the nontraditional sports segment. [Bylaw 14.2.4.1]

The "clock rule" reads as follows:

9. Other Rules Concerning Eligibility  All Sports.
a. You are not eligible to participate in more than four seasons of intercollegiate participation. [Bylaw 14.2]
b. You are not eligible after 10 semesters or 15 quarters in which you were enrolled at a collegiate institution in at least a minimum full-time program of studies as determined by the school, except for any extensions that have been approved in accordance with NCAA legislation. [Bylaw 14.2.2]
c. You are eligible if you are seeking a second baccalaureate or equivalent degree or you are enrolled in a graduate or professional school provided you received your undergraduate degree from the same school, you have seasons of participation remaining and your participation occurs within the applicable 10 semesters or 15

He'll have to be cleared by the compliance officer at whatever next school he chooses.  I don't think the clock runs when you're taking a hiatus at a two year institution that doesn't offer the sport you are participating in, but don't hold me to that. I don't think the club team has any bearing on it. I think he burned a year at Camblesville by practicing after the first date of competition.

Thank you for the information!

[Anon E Moose]

Just to get to the heart of the question, If I'm reading this right he has 3 years left if he graduates from community college and can then start immediately at his new school, pending transfer of credits and verification of his transcripts. If he doesn't graduate and transfers, he still has 3 years left, but will have to burn 1 year (per the "clock" rule) waiting to be eligible  while enrolled at his new school- essentially meaning he can play two more years. In any event, the compliance officer will have to clear him before participation. He's not playing this year, so his best bet is to probably to get his associates degree then transfer. That preserves his maximum opportunity to play. If he transfers in the fall he can take 5 semesters to get his bachelor's degree and play three seasons. Plus his parents will appreciate the cost savings of getting two years worth of credits at community college prices. At the end of the day his bachelor's will be from whatever the new school is (not to diminish the value of the associates degree) which is what he's going to school for in the first place.