Membership Standards & Institutional Participation

Eligibility

  • Must be an accredited higher education institution with undergraduate programs
  • Must commit to ICAAA’s mission, policies, and values
    • Policies and Values will be shared with the universities.

Membership Types

  • Full Member – Full voting and participation rights
  • Provisional Member – In process of full integration
  1. Athlete Participation & Eligibility Criteria

Academic Eligibility

  • Athletes/artists must be admitted via standard university admissions
  • Institutions are responsible for academic certification
  • Continued participation requires steady academic progress toward a degree, as defined by the institution

Enrollment

  • Athletes/artists must be enrolled full-time at an accredited institution during periods of competition
  • Each student is limited to four seasons of competition within a five-year period starting from their initial full-time enrollment (the “five-year clock”)

Counting a Season of Competition

A season of competition is used when an athlete or artist:

  • Competes in any official intercollegiate event representing their institution (including one appearance in a game, performance, or meet)
  • Participates in any event against outside competition that is recognized as a countable contest under ICAAA standards
  • Receives institutional support or ICAAA recognition for participation in such competition

A season is not used if:

  • The athlete participates only in team practices or training without competition
  • They experience a documented medical condition or injury early in the season (participate in <30% of season), after which they do not compete again (may be eligible for a medical hardship waiver)
  • They compete in exhibition events, scrimmages, or non-countable contests, provided these are not included in official records
  • They sit out the year intentionally (a “redshirt” season), with no participation in countable competition

ICAAA reserves the right to grant or deny hardship waivers or retroactive eligibility relief, reviewed by the Director of Talent & Ethics.

Conduct

  • Athletes/artists must follow institutional and ICAAA conduct standards
  • Violations related to academic integrity, behavior, or ethics may result in suspension, disqualification, or removal from eligibility

Health & Wellness

  • Participation requires a pre-participation physical
  • Institutions must offer or provide access to mental health support
  • Athletes/artists must adhere to injury and concussion protocols
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