Eligibility

U SPORTS ELIGIBILITY Q AND A

What are the academic requirements for students entering directly from a high school, CEGEP, or CCAA school?
· a minimum 60% average or equivalent on those courses used to determine your university admission.
· specific to CEGEP or CCAA, you must also have maintained your respective academic eligibility in the RESQ or CCAA.

What are the academic requirements to remain eligible?
U SPORTS student-athletes must:
· be enrolled in a minimum of 3 courses (minimum 9 credit hours or equivalent) in the term in which they are competing.
· successfully complete a minimum of 3 full courses, or 6 half courses (minimum 18 credit hours or equivalent) during the academic year.
· ALWAYS consult your athletic department prior to making any changes to your academic program or course load.

Are there any exceptions?
· exceptions are granted within certain academic programs and circumstances (please consult your Athletic Department).

How do I get charged with a year of eligibility?
· if your team does NOT have an exhibition schedule, you are charged with a year of eligibility when your name appears on the playing roster (or equivalent) of two or more regular season competitions; otherwise if your team DOES play in exhibition, you are charged a year for a single regular season competition with an exception in football and rugby (please consult your Athletic Department).
· for U SPORTS exhibition and playoff competition, CEGEP participation, as well as National Team and Professional participation, please consult your Athletic Department.
· men's basketball and hockey have sport-specific regulations related to non-U SPORTS participation which can result in the loss of eligibility; please consult your Athletic Department.
· within related jurisdictions, such as the CCAA or NCAA, you are charged with eligibility in accordance with that jurisdiction’s rules.

How many years of eligibility do I have?
· U SPORTS allows you to compete for 5 years.  In the sport of football, those 5 years must be used within an 8 or 7-year period following the earlier of high school graduation or the completion of high school eligibility (for Quebec and non-Quebec high school graduates respectively).
· athletes who have completed their eligibility to participate in another post-secondary jurisdiction, such as the CCAA, are ineligible for U SPORTS competition.
· athletes who have been charged with a year of eligibility or a season of competition in four separate academic years within a non-Canadian post-secondary jurisdiction, such as the NCAA, are ineligible for U SPORTS competition.

Thinking About Transferring?

As a current U SPORTS student-athlete, how soon can I play after transferring to another U SPORTS school?
· one year must pass from your last participation in that sport, subject to all other rules.

Are there any exceptions?
· when either the sport you play or your academic program of study has been discontinued at your school, subject to all other rules.
· if you enroll in a graduate or first professional degree program at a school different from the one you attended the previous year, you may be able to participate immediately in U SPORTS competition (please consult your Athletic Department).
· specific to the sports of swimming, track & field, and cross-country running, a student-athlete can transfer to a U SPORTS institution from any degree granting post-secondary institution without restriction in an immediately subsequent academic year under certain conditions (please consult your Athletic Department).

What else should I know?
· if you contact another school’s coach or Athletic Department representative regarding a potential transfer, the Athletic Director of your present school will be notified.

What if I’m contacted by another coach?
· U SPORTS coaches and Athletic Department representatives are not permitted to contact athletes already attending a U SPORTS school.

As a CCAA student-athlete, how soon can I play after transferring to a U SPORTS school?
· you can participate immediately in U SPORTS competition, unless:
1) you have participated in any game(s) in that semester or term; or
2) you have not achieved a minimum 60% average or equivalent on those college courses utilized to determine your university admission; or
3) you have completed your CCAA eligibility; or
4) you have not maintained your academic eligibility in the CCAA.

As a NCAA or NAIA student-athlete, how soon can I play after transferring to a U SPORTS school?
· subject to all other U SPORTS rules including academic requirements, and provided you have not been charged with a year of eligibility in four separate academic years within the NCAA or NAIA, one year must pass from your last participation.

ELIGIBILITY QUICK CHECK
 
Please ask yourself the following three questions:

1.  Am I registered for 3 or more six credit courses OR 6 or more three credit courses?
- If the answer is NO, then you are NOT eligible to participate on a StFX varsity team.
- The actual U SPORTS rule states that a student athlete who is registered in a minimum of 3 full credit courses or 6 half credit courses has satisfied the requirement necessary to be classified as a full time student.

2.  Am I currently in my 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th year as a member of a StFX varsity team in any sport(s)? 
- If the answer is YES, then you must have passed 3 full credit courses or 6 half credit courses in the last calendar year (12 consecutive months) to be eligible to participate as a StFX student athlete.
- The U SPORTS rule states that a continuing student, who has previously been a registered U SPORTS athlete, must be a ‘student in good standing’ in each subsequent year of participation in a U SPORTS sport.
- You are eligible to participate once you have achieved the status of ‘a student in good standing’ – having attained 3 full or 6 half credit courses in a 12 month period.

3.  Have I been a member of an interuniversity team at another university during the past season? 
- If the answer is YES, notify your coach immediately.  You may NOT be eligible to participate as a StFX varsity athlete.
- The U SPORTS rule states that any athlete who transfers from one degree granting institute to another member institute, must not participate for a period of one calendar year in the U SPORTS sport in which the athlete participated at the previous institution.
- Transfers to a master’s degree are excluded from this rule and may participate immediately.
- A student who transfers from a degree granting institution to a member institution who, during the immediate previous calendar year, did NOT participate in a particular sport is eligible for participation in that U SPORTS sport.

COVID-19 ELIGIBILITY 2020-21

Transfer & Non-Post Secondary Participation Information

Any U SPORTS student-athlete who receives an Athletic Financial Award (which requires being listed on the Eligibility Certificate) during the 2020-2021 academic year is subject to a transfer restriction (sit-out) until the conclusion of the regular season of the sport in question’s 2021-2022 athletic season, regardless of whether or not they exceed the traditional Participation Threshold (U SPORTS Policy 40.10.4.1.3).

Any U SPORTS student-athlete who does not receive an AFA (is listed on the Eligibility Certificate), but who exceeds the traditional Participation Threshold (U SPORTS Policy 40.10.4.1.3) during the 2020-2021 academic year is subject to a transfer restriction (sit-out) until the conclusion of the regular season of the sport in question’s 2021-2022 athletic season.

There will be no exceptions other than those pre-existing in the regulation, though the traditional Compassionate Appeals process will be available should an institution wish to submit one on behalf of an incoming or departing student-athlete.

EXAMPLES

• Student-Athlete A accepts an AFA for the 2020-2021 academic year. Regardless of their participation, they’re required to sit out the entirety of the 2021-2022 season should they chose to transfer.
• Student-Athlete B does not accept an AFA for the 2020-2021 academic year, and is free to transfer for the 2021-2022 season. They are eligible immediately, unless they’ve consumed eligibility by exceeding the Participation Threshold (which would result in a 365 sit-out).
• Student-Athlete C accepts an AFA, but graduates. Student-Athlete C then goes on to a Master’s program at another institution. This student-athlete is eligible immediately, because they’re accessing the Master’s exemption. 

Non-Post-Secondary Participation Information

MEN’S SOCCER

1. Student-Athletes listed on a 2019-2020 Official Eligibility Certificate; or,
2. Confirmed Recruits with an Officially Registered Letter of Intent (LOI) on U SPORTS Central for 2020-21.

FOOTBALL

U SPORTS is beginning its consultation process with member universities and stakeholders to review its football eligibility policies.

“After discussions with our membership, we have determined that it’s an appropriate time to explore ways to improve the current safety and participation policies in football with an anticipated completion date of February 2021,” said Dick White, U SPORTS’ Interim Chief Executive Officer. “Although there are many negative impacts of the COVID pandemic, there are also opportunities to make some changes.”

As a result of the timeframe required to conduct the review, U SPORTS will provide a one-time exception to Policy 40.10.4.3.1.1, thereby permitting all currently eligible student-athletes to participate in the 2021 football season, even if they exceed the current policy before the start of the 2021 campaign.

Athletic Financial Awards (AFAs) and Eligibility for 2020-2021