NCAA Issues FAQ

• What does "NCAA" stand for?
• What does the NCAA do, and how does that relate to hockey?
• What is the relationship between college hockey conferences and the NCAA?
• What is the relationship between the NCAA and USCHO?
• Where can I find a list of basic rules (e.g. icing, offsides) for hockey? How are the college rules different from the NHL?
• How many players can be on a team?
• What do I need to do (or not do) to preserve NCAA eligibility?
• How can I find out how much (or how little) NCAA eligibility I have left?
• What does the recent ruling on Canadian Junior leagues and the NCAA mean for me, in terms of my eligibility?
• How many games can a team play? What games/tournaments are exempted?
• We are putting together a tournament and would like a U.S. college team to attend. Can you help?
• If a game in a tournament goes beyond five minutes of overtime, does the outcome of the game count for NCAA considerations?
• How many teams are in the NCAA hockey tournament? How are those teams selected?
• Who makes up the NCAA Tournament selection committee?
• Where and when is this year's NCAA Frozen Four being held? What about this year's regional tournaments? How can I get tickets?
• What are the sites for future NCAA Frozen Four and regionals?
• Your PWR/RPI algorithm is not working properly, and my team should be higher. Can you update/fix it?
• What is the difference between D-I, D-II and D-III?
• What is the difference between club and varsity?
• When and where are the annual NCAA meetings? NCAA ice hockey meetings?

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Q: What does "NCAA" stand for?

A: National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Q: What does the NCAA do, and how does that relate to hockey?

A: The NCAA is a governing body for intercollegiate sports. Schools register to be members of the NCAA. The NCAA helps regulate playing rules, and eligibility rules. All legislation must pass through a number of levels, from committees, to Management Council, to Board of Directors. The voting members of the various levels are comprised of representatives from the member schools. The NCAA staff itself does not create legislation. The staff acts as an organizer and a liaison, and it helps organize and run championship events. The NCAA enforces the rules, it does not create them.

Q: What is the relationship between college hockey conferences and the NCAA?

A: As members of the NCAA, the schools in each conference must adhere to certain rules and regulations. They are also under the rules and regulations of the conferences in which they participate.

Q: What is the relationship between the NCAA and USCHO?

A: There is no direct relationship. USCHO is an independent media organization.

Q: Where can I find a list of basic rules (e.g. icing, offsides) for hockey? How are the college rules different from the NHL?

A: The NCAA site has college rules in PDF format. You can also find NHL Rules or USA Hockey rules.

College rules differ in few ways. The biggest difference between the college and NHL rules is, in college, they play "without a red line." That is meant figuratively. It means you are allowed to pass over two lines, whereas in the NHL, passing from your own zone, over your blue line and the red line, to a teammate, is considered a two-line, or offsides pass. College players are also required to wear face shields or cages. There are other minor differences.

Q: How many players can be on a team?

A: Men's hockey teams are limited by NCAA rules to 18 scholarships. Some conferences and schools impose further restrictions. There is no NCAA-imposed limit to the amount of players that can be on a roster, though there is restrictions when it comes to, for example, the amount of players in the travelling party for NCAA postseason tournament events.

Q: What do I need to do (or not do) to preserve NCAA eligibility?

A: Generally, for the time being, do not sign or pro contract, accept money, or sign with an agent. The rules, however, can get more complicated than that. A good source of information is the NCAA's site on eligibility.

Q: How can I find out how much (or how little) NCAA eligibility I have left?

A: Go to the NCAA web site and contact the Compliance Department.

Q: What does the recent ruling on Canadian Junior leagues and the NCAA mean for me, in terms of my eligibility?

A: The new proposal keeps changing. The most recent version says that players who played in Major Juniors are still eligible for future NCAA play. Players who competed in Major Junior before their regular high school graduation year will lose one year of NCAA eligibility per year. Players who competed in Major Junior after their regular high school graduation year will lose a year of eligibility, plus must sit out one season in residence per year.

Q: How many games can a team play? What games/tournaments are exempted?

A: NCAA teams are allowed to play 34 games during the regular season, not including conference postseason tournaments and the NCAA Tournament. Conferences may impose further restrictions. Some in-season tournaments, and other special games, are exempted from the 34-game limit.

Q: We are putting together a tournament and would like a U.S. college team to attend. Can you help?

A: Not really. Contact the schools directly by going to their team page (use the drop down menu on the left).

Q: If a game in a tournament goes beyond five minutes of overtime, does the outcome of the game count for NCAA considerations?

A: Any game played to a conclusion, under any circumstances, counts as that outcome for NCAA purposes. While it is true that most regular season games end after five minutes of overtime, if one team must win to advance to a second round of a tournament, the outcome of the game is official and "counts" for both teams. A team losing 10 minutes into overtime has a loss, just as if it had lost in regulation time. If tournament organizers choose to end the game after five minutes of overtime and play a shootout, then the game is recorded as a tie for NCAA purposes.

Q: How many teams are in the NCAA hockey tournament? How are those teams selected?

A: For more information, see our tournament selection FAQ.

Q: Who makes up the NCAA Tournament selection committee?

A: See the NCAA Tournament page for the level in which you are interested in: (Men's Division I, Men's Division III, Women's Division I), Women's Division III)

Q: Where and when is this year's NCAA Frozen Four being held? What about this year's regional tournaments? How can I get tickets?

A: See the NCAA Tournament page for the level in which you are interested in: (Men's Division I, Men's Division III, Women's Division I), Women's Division III)

Q: What are the sites for future NCAA Frozen Four and regionals?

A: See the NCAA Tournament page for the level in which you are interested in: (Men's Division I, Men's Division III, Women's Division I), Women's Division III)

Q: Your PWR/RPI algorithm is not working properly, and my team should be higher. Can you update/fix it?

A: Most likely, our algorithm is working properly. If there is a problem, please give us some specifics and we can investigate the situation. To understand what PWR is and how it works, please see our PWR explanation.

Q: What is the difference between D-I, D-II and D-III?

A: Division I and II schools can award athletic scholarships. Division III schools cannot. Division I schools also generally have larger operating budgets than the other two levels.

Q: What is the difference between club and varsity?

A: A varsity program competes at the NCAA level (either Division I, II or III) and is guided by the rules of the NCAA governing body. A club program does not fall under the jurisdiction of the NCAA, though there is a national club organization which holds a championship and has a set of rules similar to the NCAA's. Club programs are not considered a part of the school's athletic department.

Q: When and where are the annual NCAA meetings? NCAA ice hockey meetings?

A: The location of the annual NCAA ice hockey meetings vary. They are usually held in June. The NCAA convention is usually in January at its headquarters in Indianapolis. There are different levels in the NCAA hierarchy (committees, cabinets, Management Council, Board of Directors) that meet at different times of the year.