Nonchampionship Segment Competition (Cross Country without Track and Field)

In the sport of Division 1 cross country, at institutions that do not sponsor indoor or outdoor track and field, athletes are permitted to compete in up to five dates of competition in the segment not concluding with the NCAA championship. However, competition in this segment triggers a season of competition, even if the athlete redshirted during the fall cross country season. In other sports where the NCAA allows an allotted number of nonchampionship segment competition dates, including field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s water polo, baseball, beach volleyball, lacrosse, softball, men’s volleyball, and women’s water polo, NCAA exceptions in Bylaws 12.8.3.1.2 and 12.8.3.1.3 allow athletes to compete in their sports’ nonchampionship segment without using a season of competition. Our proposal is to add men’s and women’s cross country for institutions that sponsor cross country but not track and field to also receive this exception. Below is the specific intent of the change and proposed amended bylaw:

Intent: In men’s and women’s cross country for institutions that sponsor cross country but not indoor or outdoor track and field, to permit a student-athlete to compete in an institution’s nonchampionship segment without using a season of competition, provided the student-athlete was academically eligible during the championship segment. Additionally, to apply this legislation prior to the 2024-25 academic year.