Eligibility: Olds College Soccer-Stephenson

2017-18 Season

May 10, 2019

Facts:

Titian Stephenson is a British citizen who attended Olds College during the 2018-19 academic year.

Mr. Stephenson practiced with the OC team during the 2018-19 season but did not end up competing due to delays in obtaining his student visa, which was not granted until after the conclusion of the soccer season. Mr. Stephenson did not appear on OC’s eligibility list nor did his name appear on any game sheets.

Ultimately, Mr. Stephenson was not successful academically during the first semester of the 2018-19 academic year and was placed on academic probation. He is eligible to return to his program in September of 2019.

OC seeks a ruling in relation to Mr. Stephenson’s eligibility to compete commencing in September of 2019.

Ruling:

Article I Section 1, Rule 10 of the ACAC Operating Code reads as follows:

A student-athlete shall be one whose name appears on one or more official ACAC game sheet(s) or tournament game sheet(s).

Given that Mr. Stephenson’s name has not yet appeared on an ACAC game sheet, he has not attained the status of “student-athlete,” which means that the ACAC academic progression requirements contained in Article I Section 5 of the ACAC Operating Code do not apply to him. Accordingly, provided that Mr. Stephenson is a full-time student at OC and meets all other eligibility requirements, he is eligible to compete for OC during the 2019-20 academic year.

Sincerely,

Bill Hendsbee

ACAC Commissioner