Georgetown University Athletics

Patriot League Announcement
Georgetown University Fall 2020 Plan and FAQs
Georgetown student-athletes should work directly with the Compliance Office to address any specific questions or concerns.

Eligibility Rules and Waivers – Patriot League and NCAA
Per Patriot League policy, a student-athlete shall complete his or her seasons of participation within four calendar years from the beginning of the semester or quarter in which the student-athlete first registered for a minimum full-time program of studies in a collegiate institution. For purposes of starting the count of time under the four-year rule, a student-athlete shall be considered registered at a collegiate institution (domestic or foreign) when the student-athlete initially registers in a regular term (semester or quarter) of an academic year for a minimum full-time program of studies, as determined by the institution, and attends the student's first day of classes for that term.

Question No. 1: If a student defers their initial full-time enrollment at a collegiate institution during the 2020-21 academic year, when does the NCAA five-year rule apply?

Answer: The NCAA five-year period begins when a student-athlete registers at a collegiate institution (domestic or foreign) during a regular term (semester or quarter) of an academic year for a minimum full-time program of studies, as determined by the institution, and attends the student's first day of classes for that term.

Question No. 2: If a student-athlete’s playing season is canceled during the 2020-21 academic year due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, will the individual be eligible for a season of competition waiver?

Answer: Yes. Per Patriot League policies, an additional semester(s) of eligibility may be granted for a student-athlete that presents sound academic rationale for continuing in their academic program and who misses a season of competition due to circumstances beyond the student-athlete’s control (see Patriot League Article 7.4.f.1.b (Years of Eligibility due to Circumstances Beyond Control)). The cancellation of sports due to COVID-19 is considered a circumstance beyond the student-athlete’s control.

Question No. 3: Will a student-athlete which qualifies for a League eligibility waiver automatically be granted a fifth-year exception?

Answer: No. The League eligibility waiver exception shall be administered by the Policy Committee representative of the certifying institution, in accordance with institutionally developed review procedures. The exception must be granted prior to the student-athlete’s first day of classes for the term in which the exception is to be utilized, and the institution’s Policy Committee representative shall sign and file with the Patriot League office the specific exception on a reporting form designed by the Patriot League office. The Policy Committee will annually review institutionally granted exceptions in order to monitor compliance with the spirit of the rule. [See Patriot League Article 7.4.f.1 (Waivers – Exceptions Administered by the Institution’s Policy Committee Representative)]. Granting of the exception would allow a Patriot League student-athlete to compete during his or her fifth year as an undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student as detailed in the Patriot League waiver guidelines. All other institutional, Patriot League and NCAA academic requirements would need to be met.

Question No. 4: May a student-athlete receive a Patriot League eligibility waiver beyond the NCAA five-year period, if the individual’s sport is canceled during the 2020-21 academic year due to COVID-19?

Answer: Yes. If a student-athlete is granted an NCAA extension of the five-year period eligibility, Patriot League policies would require that the institution submit a waiver to the Policy Committee for its review prior to that student-athlete being eligible at a Patriot League institution during his or her sixth year (or beyond) of enrollment. (Note: This only applies to situations in which a student-athlete may need an extension of the NCAA five-year period in order to take advantage of the additional season of competition.)

Question No. 5: If a student-athlete does not enroll (leave of absence, withdraws, etc.) for a semester(s) during the 2020-21 academic year due to COVID-19, will the individual use a season of competition?

Answer: No. Per Patriot League policies, an additional semester(s) of eligibility may be granted for a student-athlete that presents sound academic rationale for continuing in their academic program and who misses a season of competition due to circumstances beyond the student-athlete’s control (see Patriot League Article 7.4.f.1.b (Years of Eligibility due to Circumstances Beyond Control)). The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is considered a circumstance beyond the student-athlete’s control.

NCAA Division I Bylaw 12 – Amateurism and Athletics Eligibility

Question No. 1: May an incoming student-athlete continue to participate in practice or competition in their sport with an outside team during the time in which initial full-time enrollment has been deferred for a semester(s) during the 2020-21 academic year?

Answer: During a period of delayed enrollment, incoming student-athletes should contact the institution’s compliance department prior to participation in outside athletics competition. NCAA legislation limits such activities and the time periods for such limitations vary by sport. An individual’s eligibility may be negatively impacted when participating in such activities after the permissible date. A violation of the NCAA rule may result in a requirement to serve a year-in-residence upon enrollment or even loss of a season of competition in the student’s sport.

Question No. 2: Do NCAA rules regarding amateurism and extra benefits continue to apply to student-athletes while on a leave of absence from an institution?

Answer: Yes. A student-athlete on a leave of absence from an institution who intends to return and represent any NCAA member institution in intercollegiate athletics should continue to follow all NCAA legislation while not enrolled at their institution. 

NCAA Division I Bylaw 13 – Recruiting

Question No. 1: May an incoming student-athlete who defers initial full-time enrollment for a semester(s) during the 2020-21 academic year participate in countable or voluntary athletically related activities with an institution’s team or staff members?

Answer: No.  Per NCAA legislation, an incoming student who defers initial full-time enrollment remains a prospective student-athlete.  Therefore, the individual may not participate in any countable athletically related activities with the institution’s team or coaches prior to enrolling full-time at the institution, nor may they participate in voluntary athletics activities observed by the institution’s strength and conditioning coaches.

NCAA Division I Bylaw 15 – Financial Aid

Question No. 1: Is a student-athlete eligible to receive institutional financial aid during the 2020-21 academic year based on the League’s decision to not conduct competition during the fall 2020 semester?

Answer: Yes.  If all applicable NCAA and institutional regulations are met, the student-athlete may be awarded institutional financial aid during any semester in which the student-athlete was initially enrolled full-time (refer to NCAA manual for legislative exceptions) and has athletics eligibility remaining.

Question No. 2: May an institution reduce or cancel a student-athlete’s athletics aid during the 2020-21 academic year solely based on the League’s decision to not conduct competition during the fall 2020 semester?

Answer: No. Per NCAA legislation, institutional financial aid based in any degree on athletics ability may not be reduced or canceled during the period of the award for any athletics reasons.

Question No. 3: Is a student-athlete which does not enroll (defers admissions, leave of absence, withdraws, etc.) during the fall 2020 semester (and subsequent semesters) able to maintain their athletics aid?

Answer: No. A student-athlete must remain enrolled to receive institutional financial aid during the semester.

Question No. 4: Is a member institution required to provide athletics aid after the conclusion of the period of the award set forth in the financial aid agreement, if a student-athlete does not enroll (defers admissions, leave of absence, withdraws, etc.) during the 2020-21 academic year?

Answer: No. Per NCAA legislation, financial aid may be reduced or not renewed for any reason after the conclusion of the period of the award. Note: If a member institution provides financial aid, per autonomy provisions, please refer to NCAA Bylaw 15.3.5.3
 
NCAA Division I Bylaw 16 – Awards, Benefits and Expenses for Student-Athletes

Question No. 1: Do NCAA rules regarding amateurism and extra benefits continue to apply to student-athletes while on a leave of absence from an institution?

Answer: Yes. A student-athlete on a leave of absence from an institution who intends to return and represent any NCAA member institution in intercollegiate athletics should continue to follow all NCAA legislation while not enrolled at their institution. 

NCAA Division I Bylaw 17 – Playing and Practice Seasons

Athletically Related Activities
Incoming Student-Athletes
Question No. 1: May an incoming student-athlete who defers initial full-time enrollment for a semester(s) during the 2020-21 academic year participate in countable or voluntary athletically related activities with an institution’s team or staff members?

Answer: No.  Per NCAA legislation, an incoming student which defers initial full-time enrollment remains a prospective student-athlete.  Therefore, the individual may not participate in any countable athletically related activities with the institution’s team or coaches prior to enrolling full-time at the institution, nor may they participate in voluntary athletics activities observed by the institution’s strength and conditioning coaches.

Returning Student-Athletes
Question No. 1: May a returning student-athlete participate in practice or other countable athletically related activities during a semester in which the individual is enrolled less than full-time or not enrolled at the institution?

Answer:  No. Per NCAA legislation, a student-athlete must be enrolled full-time to participate in countable athletically related activities (practice and competition). Note: Please refer to NCAA manual for legislative exceptions.

Question No. 2: May a returning student-athlete participate in voluntary athletically related activities with head or assistant coaches during a semester in which the individual is enrolled less than full-time or not enrolled at the institution?

Answer:  No. Per NCAA legislation, such activities with a coach present would become countable athletically related activities. Countable activities are not permitted during a semester in which a student-athlete is not enrolled full-time.

Question No. 3: May a returning student-athlete participate in voluntary athletically related activities with a strength and conditioning coach during a semester in which the individual is enrolled less than full-time or not enrolled at the institution?

Answer:  Yes. Per NCAA legislation, strength and conditioning coaches may monitor voluntary activities for health and safety purposes during the academic year. Note: Please consider institutional policies (facility access, liability issues, etc.) prior to approval of a student-athlete’s participation in such activities.

Outside Competition
Incoming Student-Athletes
Question No. 1: May an incoming student-athlete continue to participate in practice or competition in their sport with an outside team during the time in which initial full-time enrollment has been deferred for a semester(s) during the 2020-21 academic year?

Answer: During a period of delayed enrollment, incoming student-athletes should contact the institution’s compliance department prior to participation in outside athletics competition. NCAA legislation limits such activities and the time periods for such limitations vary by sport. An individual’s eligibility may be negatively impacted when participating such activities after the permissible date. A violation of the NCAA rule may result in a requirement to serve a year-in-residence upon enrollment or even loss of a season of competition in the student’s sport.

Returning Student-Athletes
Question No. 1: May a returning student-athlete participate in outside athletics activities during a semester (s) will not enrolled at the institution?

Answer: Individual participation in outside competition may limit a student-athlete’s ability to be granted a missed term exception to NCAA academic eligibility standards. Student-athletes should contact the institution’s compliance department prior to participation in outside athletics competition.