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Division III Subcommittee for Legislative Relief Blanket Waivers

The NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief (SLR, formerly ARS) may issue a blanket waiver in order to temporarily provide relief from NCAA legislation for specific extenuating circumstances that have a reasonably demonstrated widespread impact.  Please note that the following summary of waivers is for a specific division (Division III), a specific time period and for a specific set of circumstances.  If the waiver circumstances and the time period of the waiver apply, submission of a separate waiver application is not necessary.  If an institution, conference or committee's circumstances do not meet the requirements of, or are dissimilar to, the blanket waiver, a Legislative Relief waiver application will need to be filed with the NCAA staff.

NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief Approves Blanket Waiver – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Review - NCAA Division III Bylaws 20.8.4.22 and 20.9.4.6 - Approved February 21, 2025.

The NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief issued a blanket waiver providing relief of the following Division III legislation:

  • Bylaw 20.8.4.22 -- Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee.
  • Bylaw 20.9.4.6 -- Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee.

In granting the request, the Division III Subcommittee for Legislative Relief noted:

  1. More than 20 states have passed legislation over the last two years that prevents dozens of member institutions in all three divisions from complying with these requirements. In turn, the NCAA has previously provided relief to these requirements on an individual basis as the laws become effective and member schools make operational adjustments to comply.
  2. On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity”, EO 14173. EO 14173 calls for the federal government to develop plans to investigate and consider significant enforcement actions against any college or university that may engage in “DEI discrimination” actions. Given the nationwide impact of the EO, blanket relief for all member schools from these requirements is necessary.

The blanket waiver is effective through the 2025-26 academic year.

See RSRO Case No. 1239044 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[References: NCAA Division III Bylaw 20.8.4.22 (athletics diversity and inclusion designee); and Bylaw 20.9.4.6 (athletics diversity and inclusion designee).

NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief Approves Blanket Waiver – Men’s Water Polo Playing and Practice Season - NCAA Bylaw 17.1.2.1. Approved March 14, 2025. 

The NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief approved a blanket waiver to allow Division III men’s water polo programs to apply current Division III fall playing and practice season rules for the 2025-26 academic year.

In granting this request, the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief noted:

  1. Aligning the first competition date ensures equal opportunities and competitive equity for Division III student-athletes competing against Divisions I and II students; 
  2. As a national collegiate sport, the start dates for the men’s water polo season were structured differently from other fall sports to align with Division I and II and with the change to the legislation in the other divisions, Division III programs should have the option to apply the start dates legislation for fall sports other than football during the 2025-26 academic year; 
  3. The first permissible competition date should align with Divisions I and II because of cross divisional competition. Applying Bylaw 17.1.2.1-(a)-(2) during the 2025-26 academic year will align the competition dates; 
  4. The first practice date should be adjusted accordingly to ensure adequate practice opportunities before the first permissible contest; and
  5. The affected programs are pursuing a legislative change.

See RSRO Case No. 1240014 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[References: NCAA Division III Bylaw 17.1.2.1 (Sports with a Fall NCAA Championship, other than Football), Bylaw 17.28.2 (Preseason Practice) and Bylaw 17.28.3 (First Date of Competition)]

NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief Approves Blanket Waiver – Stunt Playing and Practice Season - NCAA Bylaw 17.1.2.3. – Approved November 4, 2024. 

The NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief approved a blanket waiver to allow Division III stunt programs to start the traditional segment in the spring 15 weeks prior to selections for the established national championship during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years. 

In granting this request, the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief noted: 

  1. Using the national championship selection date instead of the last date of spring sport NCAA selection does not extend the overall playing and practice season, but rather aligns the dates with the sports normal operational schedule; 
  2. Stunt is considered a high-risk sport, and programs not having sufficient preparation for the season causes unnecessary exposure to potential injury; 
  3. Division I and II institutions are permitted to start competition on February 1st. Current legislation would not permit Division III from starting the traditional segment until after the stunt playing season begins if no non-traditional days are saved; and 
  4. As an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, stunt is expected to become a full NCAA sport with an NCAA championship within the next two years making a two-year waiver appropriate. 

See RSRO Case No. 1229834 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[References: NCAA Division III Bylaw 17.1.2.3 (Sports with a Spring NCAA Championship, except for Golf, Rowing and Tennis), Bylaw 17.2.1 (Length of Playing Season) and Bylaw 17.2.2 (Stunt)]

NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief Approves Blanket Waiver – Acrobatics and Tumbling Playing and Practice Season - NCAA Bylaw 17.1.2.3. Approved June 4, 2024.

The NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief extended a blanket waiver to allow Division III acrobatics and tumbling programs to move their start date to January 15th for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 spring season.

In granting this request, the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief noted:

  1. The traditional segment may begin no earlier than January 15th and is a reasonable accommodation that promotes student-athlete health and safety; and
  2. This is a one-time waiver and the affected programs are encouraged to pursue a legislative change to secure similar permissions in the future as similar requests of relief may be denied. 

See RSRO Case No. 1204435 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[References: NCAA Division III Bylaw 17.1.2.3 (Sports with a Spring NCAA Championship, except for Golf, Rowing and Tennis)]

NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief Approves Blanket Waiver - Women's Rugby Playing and Practice Season - NCAA Bylaw 17.1.2.1. - Approved February 1, 2024. 

The NCAA Division III Management Council Subcommittee for Legislative Relief approved a blanket waiver to allow Division III women's rugby programs to use a 19-week playing and practice season model without contest restrictions during the 2024 spring season. The blanket waiver will be effective through the 2025-26 academic year.

In granting this request, the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief noted:

  1. The spring season may begin no earlier than February 1st with no restrictions on the dates of competition during the spring, but may not exceed 15 total dates of competition; 
  2. The legislation providing flexibility in dates of competition and playing season during the nontraditional segment unintentionally impacted women's rugby with the restructuring of Bylaw 17;
  3. Allowing the additional days and dates of competition during the spring nontraditional segment, which was permissible under the previous playing and practice season model, is a reasonable accommodation and provides for developing opportunities for an emerging sport; and
  4. This is a one-time waiver and the affected programs are encouraged to pursue a legislative change to secure similar permissions in the future as similar requests of relief may be denied. 

See RSRO Case No. 1209389 in Requests/Self-Reports Online via the search tab. Additional information regarding blanket waivers can be found on the Subcommittee for Legislative Relief homepage.

[References: NCAA Division III Bylaw 17.1.2.1 (Sports with a Fall NCAA Championship, except for Golf, Rowing and Tennis)]