Championships FAQs
FALL 2020 CHAMPIONSHIP QUESTIONS
A: The NAIA staff worked together with each fall sport coaches association Executive Committee to determine a set of dates that would be widely supported by the coaches in each respective sport. Additionally, the NAIA staff worked with existing hosts on potential dates to ensure their interest and availability to continue to host the championship on the suggested dates in the spring of 2021. The National Administrative Council (NAC) Executive Committee approved the coaches’ recommendations of the proposed dates and the full body of the NAC voted to approve each set of championship dates in a meeting on August 20, 2020.
A: Yes. Both the Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer National Championships are being relocated. The Men’s Soccer National Championship will be hosted by Columbia County at Blanchard Woods Park in Columbia County, Georgia. The Women’s Soccer National Championship will be hosted by Foley Sports Tourism at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex in Foley, Alabama.
A: The Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer National Championships were relocated due to scheduling complications with the original contracted hosts (Irvine, California and Orange Beach, Alabama).
A: At this time, the NAIA is working with each National Championship host to plan for both Teaming Up for Character and Student-Athlete Experience events to still take place at each fall sport National Championship. As we get closer to the dates of each National Championship, decisions regarding these events will be made and communicated with the membership.
A: Yes. As approved by the full body of the National Administrative Council on August 20, the following calendars were put in place for the fall sport National Championships:
Cross Country
Conference Deadline: March 28, 2021
Selection: Mary 29, 2021
Release of Qualifiers: March 30, 2021
National Championship: April 9, 2021
Women’s Volleyball – Sioux City, Iowa
Conference Deadline: April 10, 2021
Selection: April 11, 2021
Release of Qualifiers: April 12, 2021
Opening Rounds: April 17, 2021
Final Site: April 27 – May 1, 2021
Men’s Soccer – Columbus, Ga.
Conference Deadline: April 17, 2021
Selection: April 18, 2021
Release of Qualifiers: April 12, 2021
Opening Rounds: April 22 & 24, 2021
Final Site: May 4-10, 2021
Women’s Soccer – Foley, Ala.
Conference Deadline: April 10, 2021
Selection: April 11, 2021
Release of Qualifiers: April 12, 2021
Opening Rounds: April 15 & 17, 2021
Final Site: April 27 – May 3, 2021
Football – Grambling, La.
Conference Deadline: April 10, 2021
Selection/Release of Qualifiers: April 11, 2021
FCS First Round: April 17, 2021
FCS Quarterfinals: April 24, 202
FCS Semifinals: May 1, 202
National Championship: May 10, 2021
CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATIONS & CONFERENCE AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS (Updated 8/20/2020)
A: Yes. If conference sport participation numbers drop throughout the season due to COVID-related circumstances, the following automatic qualification thresholds have been adopted:
Conferences with 15+ members can drop to 12 members
Conferences with 12+ members can drop to 9 members
Conferences with 10+ members can drop to 7 members
Conferences with 6+ members can drop below 6 members
DECLARATION OF INTENT/ RE-DECLARATION PROCESS QUESTIONS (Updated 8/20/2020)
A: Yes. All member institutions will be allowed to modify or make any necessary changes to their declaration of intent documents to participate in postseason competition in each sport. The new deadline for members to make changes is September 15, 2020.
A: Yes. Once all modifications to the declaration of intent documents have been processed, updated conference sport qualification plans will be targeted to be available on October 15, 2020.
FORFEITS/NO CONTESTS QUESTIONS (Updated 8/20/2020)
A: At this time there will not be any modifications made to the forfeit policies and procedures due to COVID-related circumstances. All forfeits will be processed under the current NAIA forfeit policy through the NAIA Required Forfeit Form. Contests that are lost or canceled due to COVID-related reasons will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the National Administrative Council.
WINTER & SPRING 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP QUESTIONS (Updated 8/20/2020)
A: Not at this time. Similar to the decision to allow conferences and individual institutions the autonomy to determine the appropriate time for fall sport competitions, winter and spring sports will be afforded that same opportunity. At a later date, if modifications to that flexibility are deemed to be appropriate, the NAIA will communicate those changes at that time.
A: No changes to winter or spring sport National Championship dates have been made at this time. Our hope is that we will be able to proceed with winter and spring sports as normal, and no reductions in contest limits or changes to the championship dates will be necessary. However, we also understand that it is important to plan ahead for all contingencies. In the near future, the NAIA Council of Presidents, National Administrative Council and National Office and numerous councils and committees will focus our attention to winter and spring sports and contingency planning for those seasons.
A: The NAIA Council of Presidents, National Administrative Council and National Office will be turning their attention to winter and spring sports and contingency planning for those seasons. Should changes need to be made, the National Office and will be working with each coaches association at the appropriate time.
WINTER & SPRING 2020 CHAMPIONSHIP QUESTIONS
A: Yes. We have worked with each of our championship hosts to provide a one-stop-shop for fans to get information on how to get their tickets refunded. Please click HERE for refund policies for each of our winter national championships.
Q: I purchased an all-tournament ticket for DI men’s basketball. Can I roll this over for next year?
A: Yes. Anyone who purchased an all-tournament ticket is eligible to roll their ticket purchase over to the 2021 championship. We will include special incentives for those who choose this option. Contact agoetz@naia.org to begin this process or for further questions.
A: Yes. If you purchased a package for a specific winter sport or a day pass, you are eligible for a refund. The NAIA, along with its streaming partner at PrestoSports, has begun the process to refund both types of passes proactively. If you have questions about a specific charge to your credit card or a question about a specific refund, please contact help@prestosports.com.
Further, if you purchased a subscription to FloSports with the intention of watching the NAIA Women’s Wrestling Invitational, please contact FloSports Customer Care at: https://support.flosports.tv/s/ or by phone at 1-844-278-1870.
Further, if you purchased a subscription to FloSports with the intention of watching the NAIA Women’s Wrestling Invitational, please contact FloSports Customer Care at: https://support.flosports.tv/s/ or by phone at 1-844-278-1870.
A: All wins and losses from these two championships will remain as a permanent part of the record and should be counted both institutionally and as a part of an official coach’s record.
A: All records and statistics from these two championships will remain as a permanent part of the championship history and should be counted institutionally.
A: Yes. Any team that qualified for the championships in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, competitive cheer, competitive dance, and bowling, regardless of if they played or not, will receive a championship appearance per NAIA records.
A: No. Due to the fact the championship was not completed, the National Administrative Council (NAC) decided no champion was determined. Winter championships that were completed are not affected and include men’s wrestling, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and swimming and diving.
A: For winter sports, all basketball divisions and genders WILL have an All-America team. Both men’s and women’s division I and II basketball divisions have released its respective All-America teams. All-America teams in the sports of Bowling, Competitive Cheer and Competitive Dance will also be named. Indoor Track and Field, Men’s Wrestling and Swimming & Diving All-Americans have already been released.
For spring sports, Men’s Volleyball will be the only spring All-Americans that will be named.
A:Yes. All spring statistics counted. Statistical records not based on average that were achieved were added to the record books.
A:Yes. All wins and losses from any contests will remain as a permanent part of the record and should be counted both institutionally and as a part of an official coaches’ record.
A:Yes. Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete Awards will be released on September 15.
A: Each conference has the autonomy to make the decision to continue or cancel its spring awards program.
