Conference Specific Rules

Conference Rules Authority Policy

8.1 Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to clarify the authority of NCWA Conferences to adopt rules and regulations that address their specific competitive and administrative needs while maintaining consistency with NCWA national rules, regulations, and bylaws.

8.2 Scope

This policy applies to all NCWA-recognized Conferences and to all rules, regulations, procedures, and policies adopted by those Conferences that govern member teams, student-athletes, coaches, and conference-sanctioned events.

8.3 Conference Authority to Adopt Rules

Each NCWA Conference is authorized to adopt additional rules, regulations, and administrative procedures that apply within its geographic or organizational jurisdiction, including but not limited to:

• Competition formats and scheduling within the Conference.

• Conference championship procedures and qualification criteria.

• Reasonable conduct standards and disciplinary procedures for Conference events.

• Conference election and voting procedures.

Conference rules adopted under this section are valid only within that Conference and may not be represented as NCWA national rules.

8.4 Consistency with National Rules

Conference rules shall not conflict with:

• The NCWA Constitution and Bylaws.

• NCWA national competition rules and regulations, including eligibility, weight classes, and championship qualification standards.

• Decisions, interpretations, or directives issued by the NCWA Board of Directors or Judicial Council.

In the event of any conflict or inconsistency, NCWA national rules, regulations, and interpretations shall control, and the conflicting Conference rule shall be void to the extent of the conflict.

8.5 Minimum Standards and More-Restrictive Rules

Conferences may adopt rules that are more restrictive than NCWA national minimum standards, provided those rules do not diminish or negate any right, protection, or minimum standard established by NCWA national rules.

Conferences may not adopt rules that:

• Expand eligibility beyond that permitted by NCWA national rules.

• Alter national weight classes or match procedures for events that serve as qualifiers to NCWA national championships.

• Modify qualification criteria for NCWA national tournaments, except as expressly authorized by NCWA national regulations.

8.6 Adoption and Publication of Conference Rules

Each Conference shall maintain its rules and regulations in written form and shall:

Adopt them through a documented Conference governance process.

Provide written notice of additions or amendments to all Conference member institutions and the NCWA within a reasonable time before they take effect.

Make current Conference rules reasonably accessible to member institutions, coaches, and student-athletes.

8.7 Review and Oversight

The NCWA Board of Directors, or its designee, reserves the right to review Conference rules to determine consistency with NCWA national rules and may direct modification or rescission of any Conference rule that is determined to be inconsistent.

Conferences shall cooperate with NCWA in any such review and promptly implement any required changes.

8.8 Disputes Regarding Conference Rules

Any dispute regarding whether a Conference rule conflicts with NCWA national rules, regulations, bylaws, or official national interpretations shall be resolved pursuant to the NCWA rules compliance and adjudication procedures in effect at the time of the dispute.

Any dispute regarding the substance of a Conference rule itself, including its meaning, interpretation, application, wisdom, fairness, or operation within the Conference, and not whether the rule conflicts with a national rule, shall first be submitted to the Conference Board for review and decision.

A decision of the Conference Board on such a dispute may be appealed to the NCWA in accordance with its adjudication and appeal procedures.

Pending final resolution, the Conference Board or NCWA may stay enforcement of a disputed Conference rule where necessary to preserve competitive equity, orderly administration, or athlete welfare.