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Academic Eligibility

In order to participate in athletics, all students must be enrolled in a full course of studies (12 credits minimum,) be in good academic standing, and be making satisfactory progress as defined by the University. A student athlete in his/her final semester can carry less than 12 credits, but this MUST be approved in advance by the Compliance Coordinator.

Satisfactory Academic Standing

Students must meet the following minimum criteria to be eligible to participate in athletics:

Any student who falls below 12 credits will become immediately ineligible; participation as an ineligible athlete will cause the team to forfeit the game and can hold further consequences.

A student who falls below the academic standards will become ineligible to practice or compete at the start of the following semester (i.e.  A student-athlete who becomes ineligible after the Fall semester can continue to compete at the coach’s discretion, until the start of the Spring semester.)

Amateurism

In order to be eligible for NCAA competition, an individual must have amateur status in the sport he/she is competing. An individual loses amateur status if the individual:

• Accepts money for participating or competing in that sport (Exception – Before collegiate enrollment, prize money may be accepted for performance in an athletic contest.)
• Is paid/reimbursed for expenses incurred while participating/competing
• Enters into an agreement with an agent, signs a contract, enters a professional draft, or accepts a promise of pay even if such pay is to be received following completion of NCAA eligibility.
• Competes on a professional athletics team, even if no pay or remuneration of expenses was received (i.e. If any player on the team is receiving money or expenses, the team is classified as professional.)

Hazing

The term ‘hazing’ as it applies to RWU athletics is defined as:

Planning, directing, or committing acts which willfully or recklessly endanger the physical or mental health of a student, or subjects the person to ridicule, embarrassment, or unlawful activity for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization.

Any individual and/or teams taking part in any initiation or hazing will be subject to State Law, Department of Athletics, and Student Judicial Affairs penalties which would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

From NCAA/StopHazing.org

The following are some examples of hazing divided into three categories: subtle, harassment, and violent. It is impossible to list all possible hazing behaviors because many are context-specific. While this is not an all-inclusive list, it provides some common examples of hazing traditions.

A. SUBTLE HAZING

Behaviors that emphasize a power imbalance between new members/rookies and other members of the group or team. Termed “subtle hazing” because these types of hazing are often taken-for-granted or accepted as “harmless” or meaningless. Subtle hazing typically involves activities or attitudes that breach reasonable standards of mutual respect and place new members/rookies on the receiving end of ridicule, embarrassment, and/or humiliation tactics. New members/rookies often feel the need to endure subtle hazing to feel like part of the group or team. (Some types of subtle hazing may also be considered harassment hazing).

Some Examples:

• Deception
• Assigning demerits
• Silence periods with implied threats for violation
• Deprivation of privileges granted to other members
• Requiring new members/rookies to perform duties not assigned to other members
• Socially isolating new members/rookies
• Line-ups and Drills/Tests on meaningless information
• Name calling
• Requiring new members/rookies to refer to other members with titles (e.g. “Mr.,” “Miss”) while they are identified with demeaning terms
• Expecting certain items to always be in one's possession

B. HARASSMENT HAZING:

Behaviors that cause emotional anguish or physical discomfort in order to feel like part of the group. Harassment hazing confuses, frustrates, and causes undue stress for new members/rookies. (Some types of harassment hazing can also be considered violent hazing).

Some Examples:

• Verbal abuse
• Threats or implied threats
• Asking new members to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire
• Stunt or skit nights with degrading, crude, or humiliating acts
• Expecting new members/rookies to perform personal service to other members such as carrying books, errands, cooking, cleaning etc
• Sleep deprivation
• Sexual simulations
• Expecting new members/rookies to be deprived of maintaining a normal schedule of bodily cleanliness.
• Be expected to harass others

C. VIOLENT HAZING:

Behaviors that have the potential to cause physical and/or emotional, or psychological harm.

Some Examples:

• Forced or coerced alcohol or other drug consumption
• Beating, paddling, or other forms of assault
• Branding
• Forced or coerced ingestion of vile substances or concoctions
• Burning
• Water intoxication
• Expecting abuse or mistreatment of animals
• Public nudity
• Expecting illegal activity
• Bondage
• Abductions/kidnaps
• Exposure to cold weather or extreme heat without appropriate protection

Gambling

It is against NCAA regulations for student athletes to become involved in gambling activities related to intercollegiate or professional athletics. This includes:

• Providing information to individuals involved in gambling concerning intercollegiate athletics competition
• Soliciting or accepting a bet on any intercollegiate competition
• Engaging in activities designed to influencing the outcome of an intercollegiate contest or to affect win-loss margins (i.e., ‘point shaving.’)
• Fantasy leagues in which an entry fee is required and there is an opportunity to win a prize.

Use of Banned Drugs

The NCAA requires all student-athletes to submit to random drug testing. A student-athlete who is found to have used a substance on the banned drug list will be ineligible for one calendar year following the positive drug test. The student-athlete will lose at least one year of eligibility in all sports.

The list of banned drugs includes all illegal and ‘street drugs,’ stimulants, steroids, and all performance enhancers, and can be found in the Athletic Training Room.

“All nutritional/dietary supplements carry some risk of containing an NCAA banned substance because they are not well regulated and may be contaminated.  Failure to check out any supplement with your sports medicine staff prior to use may result in a failed appeal for a positive drug test. Student-athletes are responsible for anything they ingest.”

Any student-athlete who participates in these activities will become ineligible for all intercollegiate competition for a minimum of one year from the date of the violation and will lose at least one year of eligibility in all sports. After this time, the student can apply for reinstatement but it is not guaranteed.