Charlotte, NC - The NJCAA Board of Regents met Tuesday to pass necessary adjustments for sports during the spring 2021 semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes affect national tournaments for Division III men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball, team sports district qualification for national tournaments, district tournament structure for Division I and Division II men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball, and national meets for indoor track & field, swimming & diving, and wrestling, and a scrimmage/alternate season allowance.
Division III Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Volleyball Championships
The NJCAA will not host national championships in the sports of DIII men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball during the 2020-21 academic year. With the 2020-21 seasons permitted to begin competition this week, less than 20% of the Division III men's basketball, women's basketball, or volleyball programs expressed an intent to participate. After discussions with the National Office, on behalf of the remaining teams, region leaders voted to cancel the national championship events in these sports and conclude postseason competition at the regional level.
All NJCAA Division III men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball programs will be permitted to compete at the Division II level for the 2020-21 season if they wish to pursue competition at the district and national levels.
The association intends to host Division III championships for traditional spring sports during 2021, as participation permits. The NJCAA is committed to resuming hosting Division III championship events for men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball during the 2021-22 academic year.
Team Sport District Qualification for National Tournaments
For the spring 2021 semester only, the NJCAA will waive Article IX Section 1.A of the NJCAA Bylaws in the sports of men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball. Article IX Section 1.A states:
- When a team is the only participant in their region, in that sport division, sixty percent (60%) of that teams' competition must be against NJCAA/NWAC/CCCAA member schools. In addition, that team must have at least a .500 record (eliminating ties) against those teams (NJCAA/NWAC/CCCAA). That record must be determined 10 days prior to the start of district play.
The 60% and .500 record rules are waived for the spring 2021 semester. However, any team that is the only participant in their region should still inform the district's host region of their intentions to compete in the district tournament a minimum of 10 days prior to the event.
Division I and II Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Volleyball District Championships
Due to changes in participation numbers in each sport, the NJCAA has announced necessary adjustments to the district assignments for Division I and Division II national tournament qualification in the sports of men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball. The NJCAA is committed to moving forward with these district assignments. However, if any major participation changes occur during the course of the regular season, further adjustments may be necessary.
To view the most updated district tournament information, visit:
- 2020-21 NJCAA DI Men's Basketball District Championships
- 2020-21 NJCAA DII Men's Basketball District Championships
- 2020-21 NJCAA DI Women's Basketball District Championships
- 2020-21 NJCAA DII Women's Basketball District Championships
- 2020-21 NJCAA DI Volleyball District Championships
- 2020-21 NJCAA DII Volleyball District Championships
Indoor Track & Field, Swimming & Diving, and Wrestling Championships
The NJCAA will waive qualification standards for national championships in the sports of men's and women's indoor track & field, men's and women's swimming & diving, and wrestling for 2021 only. Each sport's Coaches Association provided clear procedures for their respective championships.
To view the most updated championship procedures, visit:
- 2021 NJCAA Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships
- 2021 NJCAA Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Championships
- 2021 NJCAA Wrestling Championships
Bowling Championships
The 2021 NJCAA Men's and Women's Bowling Championships will be held at Royal Scot Golf and Bowl in Lansing, MI, from April 7-9. Lansing will host the championships in 2022 and 2024.
Scrimmage / Alternate Season
Member colleges who are not participating during the spring 2021 competition season in the sports of men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, men's bowling, women's bowling, and wrestling will have the opportunity to compete in a scrimmage/alternate season during the spring 2021 semester. Teams must opt-in to participate in the scrimmage/alternate season and opt-out of their respective NJCAA competitive season prior to their first competition by communicating with the NJCAA National Office.
The scrimmage/alternate season may begin on April 12, 2021, and must conclude by the member college's last day of finals or May 22, 2021, whichever comes first. Teams will be permitted eight (8) hours of contact per week, including scrimmages. Teams will be permitted to participate in five (5) scrimmages against outside competition. Scrimmages are limited to no more than two (2) outside opponents. Student-athletes must be enrolled in a minimum of one (1) credit hour and have a valid physical on file to compete in a scrimmage.
For all NJCAA COVID-19 updates, visit: NJCAA COVID-19 Homepage