What are the benefits of being in the NAIA?

The opportunity to have success and have an enjoyable college running experience (and overall college experience). It consists of the small, usually liberal arts/Christian schools. Unlike D3, they offer athletic aid and usually have good academic scholarships as well. It's a less stressful, less pressure-packed situation, more ideal for developing athletes. If you notice, at least half of the pros ran D2/D3/NAIA- they likely had a more enjoyable college running experience and continued running after college. NAIA offers more track events as well, including the marathon and race walking.

You didn't actually read his question did you?

A school wanting to be ncaa 1, 2, or 3 or NAIA largely depends on the requirements to become a member so its not entirely up to the school's desire. Just look up the requirements to become a member.

A couple examples...

NAIA member schools must sponsor at least 6 sports.

NCAA DIV 2 member schools must sponsor at least 10 sports.

NCAA DIV 3 member schools offer NO athletic scholarships.

...feel free to turn on the Google machine and look up the membership requirements and fees.

Alan

runningart2004 wrote:

You didn't actually read his question did you?

Yes I did- his question was, "What are the benefits of being in the NAIA? Why would a school rather be there than in the NCAA?" I answered the question thoroughly. Did YOU read the question? All you gave was requirements for NCAA schools.

The teams who choose to stay in the NAIA aren't doing it because they "don't qualify for the NCAA"-- they are doing it cause they enjoy having success. That is the primary benefit. Less red tape too. The schools choosing to move to NCAA D2 are usually doing so because of football. There really isn't much (if any) added benefit for XC/track though, as many of the programs who have moved to D2 have had less success.

Your first response had nothing to do with why a school would choose NAIA. Your response was about the individual having success and XC/TRACK.

A school would choose to become an NAIA member school because either it is cheaper or the school does not have enough sports to qualify as NCAA D2. Or if the school actually has a choice it may choose the competetive advantage of staying NAIA if it has a history of success across its programs. As an AD or school president what gets more prestige; multi NAIA conference or national champ....or a bottom dweller in the SIAC or GLIAC?

In the end its all about $$$, secondary or sometimes jointly it is about football...how it effects xc/track ranks up there with rec league racquetball.

PS: I played some racquetball back when I still ran a lot..."I played" meaning I got handled by 40 yr olds with beer guts and headbands. Distance running does not transfer very well to moving laterally or repetitive 5-10m sprints :)

Alan

runningart2004 wrote:

Your first response had nothing to do with why a school would choose NAIA. Your response was about the individual having success and XC/TRACK.

A school would choose to become an NAIA member school because either it is cheaper or the school does not have enough sports to qualify as NCAA D2. Or if the school actually has a choice it may choose the competetive advantage of staying NAIA if it has a history of success across its programs. As an AD or school president what gets more prestige; multi NAIA conference or national champ....or a bottom dweller in the SIAC or GLIAC?

In the end its all about $$$, secondary or sometimes jointly it is about football...how it effects xc/track ranks up there with rec league racquetball.

Yes it did- your response, on the other hand, had absolutely nothing to do with the benefits of being NAIA.

The only part you may have right is the cheaper/$$$ part, but I guarantee schools are choosing to stay NAIA because of greater success for their overall athletic teams in the NAIA, not because of ~not meeting NCAA rules/number of sports. Football is the #1 reason for going D2. Another factor is regional-competition- if most of the schools in the state/region are D2, it might influence a school choosing to go D2.

runningart2004 wins

The primary benefit is that they're still allowed to have indian nicknames unlike the NCAA.

been around ya' know wrote:

runningart2004 wins

Wins for what? Not answering the question?

Btw, where you been Alan? Weren't you in a scandal for not delivering on some DVDs?

What scandal?

I've been around. Don't post much anymore.

Alan

Also, a lot of naia schools dont have footbal or xc or track...gasp!

Alan

More vowels. Gotta be good.

A major benefit of being in the NAIA is to allow athletes to compete in the marathon. This is huge for a distance oriented school. Also it allows top athletes to qualify for the olympic trials as a collegian without having to get on the descending order list, which is usually only done at Stanford or sometimes Cal and Oregon.

1. cheaper, especially for schools with terrible programs as the lack of national championship travel reimbursement somewhat offsets the cost for top schools

2. less red tape and restrictions on coaches/ADs