Compliance

PBA Compliance

Palm Beach Atlantic University Athletics competes in NCAA Division II as a member of the Sunshine State Conference and sponsors 18 intercollegiate varsity programs. We are committed to developing Christian Game-Changers through academic and athletic success, spiritual growth, and service to others on and off the field.

The Sailfish Athletic Department strives to maintain a high-quality, competitive program consistent with the mission and traditions of the University, operating within the framework of institutional control and full compliance with all NCAA and conference regulations. Grounded in honesty, sportsmanship, and ethical conduct, we hold our administrators, coaches, staff, student-athletes, and prospective student-athletes to the highest standards of integrity and personal accountability, upholding the honor and dignity of Palm Beach Atlantic University and intercollegiate athletics.

Prospective Student-Athletes Resources

Prospective High School Student-Athletes

Prospective Transfer Student-Athletes

Prospective International Student-Athletes

Eligibility Requirements

At the start of each semester, student-athletes must be certified as eligible for intercollegiate athletic practice and competition based on each student-athlete’s NCAA progress towards degree and academic standing.

Full-time Enrollment

To participate in intercollegiate athletics, a student-athlete must be enrolled full-time. Full-time is defined as a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours for an undergraduate student-athlete and a minimum of six (6) credit hours for a graduate student-athlete. (Note: graduate student-athletes’ minimum enrollment is dependent their program.)

If at any time your enrollment drops below full-time status, you are immediately ineligible to practice or compete.
In the final semester of a baccalaureate or graduate program, a student-athlete may still be eligible if enrolled less than full-time, provided the certifying officer has confirmed student-athlete is enrolled in all coursework necessary to complete degree requirements and student-athlete has applied for graduation.

Continuing NCAA Eligibility Requirements

Freshmen

Meet good academic standing
Earn at minimum 9 credit hours per semester
Earn at minimum 24 credit hours at the end of an academic year
Maintain at minimum a 2.00 cumulative GPA

Sophomores(Entering 3rd Full-Time Semester)

Meet good academic standing
Earn at minimum 9 credit hours per semester
Earn at minimum 24 credit hours at the end of an academic year
Maintain at minimum a 2.00 cumulative GPA

Juniors (Entering 5th Full-Time Semester)

Must declare a major before entering 5th full-time semester
Meet good academic standing
Earn at minimum 9 credit hours per semester (all credits hours must be degree-applicable)
Earn at minimum 24 credit hours at the end of an academic year (all credits hours must be degree-applicable)
Maintain at minimum a 2.00 cumulative GPA

Seniors (Entering 7th Full-Time Semester)

Meet good academic standing
Earn at minimum 9 credit hours per semester (all credits hours must be degree-applicable)
Earn at minimum 24 credit hours at the end of an academic year (all credits hours must be degree-applicable)
Maintain at minimum a 2.00 cumulative GPA

Graduate Students

Must be enrolled full-time according to their program standards
Meet good academic standing according to their program standards

Good Academic Standing

Good academic standing is based on the student-athlete’s cumulative GPA prior to the start of each academic year as well as meeting Chapel and Workship hour requirements.

If a student-athlete is suspended from the university at the conclusion of the fall or spring semester, he/she is immediately ineligible for practice or competition, including between semesters and post-season.
Chapel requirements (undergraduate student-athletes only): Students must earn at minimum 12 Chapel credit hours per semester; totaling at minimum 24 Chapel credits per academic year.
Workship requirements (undergraduate student-athletes only): Students must earn at minimum 45 Workship hours per academic year. Workship hour requirements are based on semesters enrolled. Below is a breakdown of the accrual rate and requirements.

Semesters Enrolled	Total Hours Needed
1	23
2	45
3	68
4	90
5	113
6	135
7	158
8	180

Practice and Competition

Countable Athletically Related Activities (CARA)

NCAA sets the daily and weekly hour limitations of CARA. A student-athlete’s participation in countable athletically related activities (required practice, film review, weight training, team meetings, and competition) shall be limited to:

Championship Segment
- 20 hours/week
- 4 hours/day
- 1 day off/week
Non-Championship Segment
- 15 hours/week
- 4 hours/day
- 2 days off/week
Out-Of-Season Segment
- 8 hours/week (limited to weights; conditioning; practice)
- 4 hours/week (practice only)
- 2 days off/week

The chart below provides a partial list of common activities and indicates which count against your daily and weekly time limits as well as those that do not count against the limits.

Countable Athletically Related Activities	Non-Countable Athletically Related Activities
Practice	Meetings on non-athletic matters (compliance, academic, etc.)
Workouts/meetings initiated or required by coach	Meetings with coach initiated by student-athletes
Competition	Study hall hours/tutoring
Required weight training and conditioning	Training room treatment
Required tryout participation	Traveling to and from competition site
	Recruiting activities (e.g. student hosts)
	Activities organized by other student-athletes without direction from the coach (ie. captain’s practice)

Competition

A season of competition is used when a student-athlete participates in intercollegiate contests or scrimmages against outside competition regardless of the level of play or the length of participation (one inning, one second, etc.) with the exception of NCAA Bylaw 14.4.3.4.1.6 Preseason Exhibition Contests or Dates of Competition/Preseason Scrimmages. A student-athlete is limited to four seasons of competition in 10 full-time semesters.

Redshirt: A “redshirt” year is one in which the student-athlete is withheld from all scrimmages or contests against outside competition (except when permissible by NCAA). While eligible and practicing with the team, the student-athlete does not use a season of competition.
Medical Hardship: A “medical hardship” occurs when a student-athlete that has competed during the season has suffered an incapacitating injury or illness and is not able to complete the remainder of the season. To receive consideration for a “medical hardship,” the student-athlete must have sustained the incapacitating injury or illness in the first half of the playing season. Additionally, the student-athlete must have played in no more than three (3) events or 30% (whichever is greater) of the institution’s scheduled contests or dates of competition in his/her sport, and must not have returned to play for the remainder of the season. A physician’s statement, which attests to the validity of the injury and rehabilitation, is submitted along with the trainer’s notes to the ASUN, who determines the outcome.

Competition on an Outside Team

During the Academic Year: Student-athletes with eligibility remaining may not practice or compete as members of any outside team or all-star squad in any non-collegiate, amateur competition in their sport except as allowed by the NCAA (e.g. national team exceptions, HS alumni game, etc). Any questions about such participation should be referred to the Compliance Office. Some outside competition may be permitted during official vacation periods such as winter or spring break. Each sport has its own set of rules regarding outside competition so be sure to seek permission before participating in any outside competition -- especially over vacation periods. Any violations of this could jeopardize eligibility. All outside competition must first be pre-approved by the Compliance Office. The Outside Competition Approval Form can be found in ARMS. Please fill out and submit completed form to the Compliance Office who will review to ensure your continued eligibility prior to your competition.
Summer Participation: Please check with the Compliance Office before participating in any summer events. All participation must be approved by the Athletic Director or designee prior to participation. Approval can be obtained by completing the Outside Competition Approval Form submitted through ARMS. The form must be submitted to the Compliance Office prior to any participation.

Participation in non-sanctioned leagues or events could jeopardize remaining eligibility.

Information for Current Student-Athletes

General Resources

NCAA Resources

Financial Aid Resources

Athletic Training Forms

Boosters, Fans, Alumni and Friends

Once you contribute to the Sailfish Booster Club you become a representative of the institution’s athletics interests (booster). Once an individual is identified as such a representative, the person retains that identity indefinitely. Please note that all boosters are subject to NCAA recruiting regulations (Bylaw 13.02.10) and an institution is subject to penalties for any violation of NCAA rules by boosters of their support organization.

Become part of the Sailfish Booster Club today!