Emerging Sports

Review

Background
The Emerging Sports sub-committee of the Council of Athletics Administrators (CAA) has been studying emerging sports for the past couple years. In June 2005, the CAA approved an emerging sports plan submitted by the sub-committee that creates three categories of NAIA sports: Recognized Sports, Emerging Sports and Championship Sports. In September 2005, the CAA presented the following re-port to the Council of Presidents (COP).

NAIA Recognized Sport – 15 or more institutions declare intent to participate.
NAIA Emerging Sport – Any sport currently “recognized” by the NAIA that follows all rules and regulations but does NOT include official national championship competition.
NAIA Championship Sport - Any sport currently “sponsored” by the NAIA that follows all rules and regu-lations and includes official national championship competition.

Conditions for Establishment of a Recognized Sport - The NAIA national office will send an emerging sports designation form. If 15 or more institutions designate in a particular sport, the sport will be recognized by the NAIA. Each school designating those sports shall certify eligibility and comply with NAIA rules and regulations beginning the following year after becoming recognized.

Conditions for Establishment of an Emerging Sport - 25 or more institutions designated will be considered an emerging sport. The sport will be in a “provisional” period of one year and must follow all rules and regulations but does not include official national championship competition. A coaches association will be mandatory to develop policies and procedures for the emerging sport during the “pro-visional” period.

Following the “provisional” period, the emerging sport may organize an NAIA “invitational” event. The NAIA will endorse but not sponsor or financially support the event. Institutions, along with the coaches association, will be responsible for the finances and organization of the NAIA “invitational” event. CAA must approve policies, procedures and qualification plans for all invitational events.

Conditions for Establishment of a Championship Sport - 50 or more institutions designated will be considered a Championship Sport. The sport will be in a “provisional” period of one year and must follow all rules and regulations but does not include official national championship competi-tion. A coaches association will be mandatory to develop policies and procedures for the emerging sport during the “provisional” period.

Following the “provisional” period, the championship sport may organize an “invitational” event. The NAIA will not sponsor or financially support the event. Institutions, along with the coaches association, will be responsible for the finances and organization of the “invitational” event. CAA must approve poli-cies, procedures and qualification plans for all invitational events.

Following the second year of declaring as a Championship Sport, the NAIA will sponsor national champi-onship competition.

After the second year, if fewer than 50 institutions but more than 24 institutions declare intent to partici-pate as of May 1, the sport shall be considered at-risk and the first warning will be issued. The sport will still be “sponsored” by the NAIA, follow all rules and regulations and include official national championship competition.

Following the first warning, if a Championship sport has fewer than 50 institutions but more than 24 insti-tutions, the sport shall still be considered “at-risk” and a second warning will be issued. The sport will still be “sponsored” by the NAIA, follow all rules and regulations and include official national championship competition.

A championship sport that has been issued a second warning and falls below the minimum of 50 institu-tions declaring intent to participate shall no longer be a championship sport. The national championship will be discontinued at the conclusion of the academic year and the sport immediately moves to emerging sport status.

NOTE: Wrestling and Swimming and Diving will be grandfathered in through 2011.

Council of Presidents Action
The Council of Presidents accepted the emerging sports report. The CAA was cautioned to give consideration to the hidden costs of adding NAIA sports.