NAIA Athletics Directors Role in the Process

Make the NAIA Eligibility Center part of your athletics program education efforts. Check out the line-up of valuable resources to assist you in that training.

Communicate with staff and coaches that the NAIA Eligibility Center is opening September 1 and that initial eligibility for all first-time student-athletes must be determined by the Center. 

Use NAIAHelp to make sure your institution’s information (sports sponsored, coaches contact info, etc.) is up-to-date. PlayNAIA.org pulls data about your school from NAIAHelp to help students find NAIA schools. It's vital that your academic and athletic programs are current.

How to grant your staff access to PlayNAIA Manager in NAIAHelp (PDF)

Become familiar with the Short List and the Connections Service.

Each institution will have its own PlayNAIA Manager section of PlayNAIA.org where the staff members you authorize can log in to manage your school’s Short List, monitor prospective students’ progress through the process and view their eligibility determination.  Connections Service inquiries are also accessible in your school's PlayNAIA Manager. 

Determine who on your staff will be responsible for managing the Short List and Connections Service inquiries. You'll be able to use NAIAHelp to add the permissions for sport specific coaches, faculty athletics representatives and admissions offices to have access to PlayNAIA Manager. 

Tell your coaches to remind their recruits to register at PlayNAIA.org. Students are encouraged to register well in advance of their enrollment/participation date.

Review this new process, roles and responsibilities with your FAR and the athletics and admissions staff. 

Be sure the admissions office representative assigned to the Connections Service understands the service and is ready to follow up with prospective students.