15.5.6.3 Initial Counters—Football (Also see Bylaw 15.02.3.1).
15.5.6.3.1 Recruited Student-Athlete Entering in Fall Term, Aided in First Year. [FBS/FCS] A
student-athlete recruited by the awarding institution who enters in the fall term and receives institutional
financial aid (based in any degree on athletics ability) during the first academic year in residence shall be
188
an initial counter for that year in football. Therefore, such aid shall not be awarded if the institution has
reached its limit on the number of initial counters prior to the award of institutional financial aid to the
student-athlete.
15.5.6.3.2 Recruited Student-Athlete Entering after Fall Term, Aided in First Year. [FBS/FCS] A
student-athlete recruited by the awarding institution who enters after the first term of the academic year and
immediately receives institutional financial aid (based in any degree on athletics ability) shall be an initial
counter for either the current academic year (if the institution’s annual limit has not been reached) or the
next academic year. The student-athlete shall be included in the institution’s total counter limit during the
academic year in which the aid was first received.
15.5.6.3.3 Recruited Student-Athlete, Aid Received After First Year. [FBS/FCS] A recruited student-
athlete (including a student-athlete who was not a qualifier) in football who first receives athletically
related financial aid after the student-athlete’s first academic year in residence shall be an initial counter for
that academic year in which the aid is first received, if such aid is received during the fall term. However,
such a student-athlete who first receives athletically related financial aid in the second or third term of an
academic year may be considered an initial counter during the academic year in which aid was first received
or the next academic year. In either case, the student-athlete shall be included in the institution’s total counter
limit during the academic year in which the aid was first received. (Revised: 1/3/06)
15.5.6.3.4 Nonrecruited Student-Athlete Receiving Institutional Financial Aid. [FBS/FCS] A
student-athlete not recruited by the institution who receives institutional financial aid (based in any degree
on athletics ability) after beginning football practice becomes a counter but need not be counted as an initial
counter until the next academic year if the institution has reached its initial limit for the year in question.
However, the student-athlete shall be considered in the total counter limit for the academic year in which
the aid was first received.
15.5.6.3.5 Midyear Replacement. [FBS/FCS] A counter who graduates at midyear or who graduates
during the previous academic year (including summer) may be replaced by an initial counter, who shall be
counted against the initial limit for the following academic year, or by a student-athlete who was an initial
counter in a previous academic year and is returning to the institution after time spent on active duty in
the armed services or on an official church mission. In bowl subdivision football, an institution may use the
midyear replacement exception only if it previously has provided financial aid during that academic year to
the maximum number of overall counters (85 total counters). In championship subdivision football, an institution
may use the midyear replacement exception only if it previously has provided financial aid during
that academic year that equals the maximum number of overall equivalencies or overall counters. (Revised:
4/20/99 effective 8/1/99, 6/8/99, 4/26/01 effective 8/1/01, 8/2/05, 12/15/06, 1/14/08 effective 8/1/08)
15.5.6.3.6 Aid First Awarded After Second Year. [FBS/FCS] A student-athlete who has been in residence
at the certifying institution for at least two academic years may receive athletically related financial
aid for the first time without such aid counting as an initial award, provided the aid falls within the overall
grant limitation. (Adopted: 1/11/89, Revised: 1/10/90 effective 8/1/90)
15.5.6.3.7 Recruited Student-Athlete, Varsity Competition. [FBS/FCS] In accordance with Bylaw
15.5.1.2, a recruited student-athlete receiving institutional financial aid certified as having been granted
without regard in any degree to athletics ability becomes an initial counter in the first academic year in
which the student-athlete competes on the varsity level. (See Bylaw 15.5.1.2.2.) (Revised: 10/27/05 effective
8/1/06)
15.5.6.3.8 Returning Two-Year Transfer. [FBS/FCS] A student-athlete who previously was an initial
counter and who transferred to a two-year college shall not be an initial counter upon return to the original
institution.
15.5.6.3.9 Delayed Initial Counter Who Does Not Return to School. [FBS/FCS] A student-athlete
who receives countable financial aid but whose status as an initial counter under this bylaw is delayed until
the following academic year shall be counted against the initial limit the following academic year, regardless
of whether the student-athlete reports for participation or attends the institution in that academic year.
