About the NAIA

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics consists of 26 affiliated conferences in the US where over 300 member schools participate in volleyball.

NAIA Competitiveness

Ability wise the top NAIA volleyball programs are the equivalent to the top NCAA D2 programs or mid NCAA D1 programs. Most offer scholarships. Some NAIA volleyball athletes have even gone on to play professionally in Europe. In terms of differences, the biggest is in age/experience. To be NAIA eligible, a student athlete doesn’t need to begin university immediately after high school. Their “clock” is based on semesters taken, not age/calendar. Also, if a student begins university, then decides to quit school, the NCAA eligibility “clock” continues to run. The NAIA “clock” stops because, again, it is based on semesters, not calendar/age.

NAIA Advantages

There are many advantages to competing in NAIA sports.  Besides that benefit of close-knit communities and small class sizes on the typical NAIA campus, NAIA athletics offers:

• Maximum opportunity to participate in regular season contests and National Championships.
• Flexibility to transfer without missing a season of eligibility.
• Fewer recruiting restrictions.
• Focus on the education and character development of the student-athlete.

The NAIA recruitment process is less cumbersome, with fewer restrictions on the contact a student-athlete and volleyball coach can make.  More frequent communication aids in assuring that the student-athlete is comfortable with the choice of institution.  In the event the student-athlete feels that the school or team is not the right fit, he/she can transfer to another NAIA institution and compete the next season without sitting out a year.  While NAIA rules hold strict academic requirements, the process of establishing eligibility is streamlined since there is no clearinghouse.