August 2nd: Exhibition Contests

Ocean State University and James River Institute Volleyball Coaches are finalizing their preseason schedules,  which include exhibition contests.  If a student-athlete only participates in one of these preseason exhibition contests, does she utilize a season of competition?

No as long as any specified conditions are met.

Division I NCAA Bylaw 12.8.3.1.4 states that a student-athlete may compete in preseason exhibition contests and preseason practice scrimmages (as permitted in the particular sport per Bylaw 17) without counting such competition as a season of competition. (Revised: 5/9/06, 7/31/14, 4/26/17 may be applied retroactively to a student-athlete with eligibility remaining in his or her five-year period of eligibility)

Division II Bylaw 14.2.4.1.5 states that during a student-athlete’s initial year of collegiate enrollment, he or she may compete in preseason exhibition contests or dates of competition and preseason scrimmages (as permitted in the particular sport per Bylaw 17) that occur prior to the first countable contest or date of competition in the sport without counting such competition as a season of competition. (Adopted: 1/19/13 effective 8/1/13)