May 16, 2024  
2023 - 2024 Catalog 
    
2023 - 2024 Catalog

Intercollegiate Athletics



The intercollegiate athletics program exists for the sake of the students at Texas Lutheran University in promoting growth and development. That philosophy also promotes the concept of being the best person one can be in the classroom and on the field. Intercollegiate athletics provides equal opportunity for talented male and female students to participate in a nationally competitive sports program that is values-based and educationally sound.

Two primary goals are of interest to the student-athletes who participate in the program:

  1. Every student-athlete who completes his/her eligibility is expected to graduate.
  2. Each sport should aspire to be competitive at the conference, regional and national levels.

Texas Lutheran University is a full, active NCAA Division III institution and a member of the very competitive Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. TLU competes in the SCAC in all sports except football. TLU is an affiliated member of the American Southwest Conference in football only. Through the SCAC’s NCAA affiliation, conference champions in most sports are awarded automatic bids to NCAA post-season championship play. Members of the SCAC, as with all NCAA Division III member institutions, cannot award grant-in-aid to their student-athletes solely on the basis of participation in intercollegiate athletics.

Nineteen sports are sponsored. Women participate in acrobatics/tumbling, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball. Men participate in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field. The schedules for all teams are very competitive.

The sports are coached by highly competent head coaches, each considered to be a master teacher. Most of the teams have at least one assistant coach. Some of the head coaches hold faculty appointments as well, and fully understand, support and encourage the student-athlete concept. Individuals are recruited who will make significant contributions to the team goals and who will maintain high academic standards. Student-athletes who are interested in a specific sport are encouraged to visit with the coaches regarding interest in, and opportunity for, participating in intercollegiate athletics.

Student Athlete Medical Insurance Policy

The NCAA and Texas Lutheran University mandate that in order to participate in intercollegiate athletics, student-athletes MUST be covered by an insurance policy that does not exclude athletic injuries. The insurance policy must have coverage limits of at least $90,000 and must not lapse while participating in intercollegiate athletics. The NCAA provides catastrophic insurance to all of its student-athletes, however the deductible is $90,000 and it does not qualify as the basic coverage required to participate in intercollegiate athletics. More information on the NCAA’s insurance program can be found at www.ncaa.org.

If a student-athlete’s insurance coverage changes, the athletic training staff must be notified immediately and new insurance forms need to be completed. Any bills associated from a lapse in coverage will be the responsibility of the student-athlete.

Texas Lutheran University’s athletic accident policy provides “secondary” or “excess” insurance coverage to its student-athletes and covers injuries sustained while participating in the play, practice, or preparation of intercollegiate athletics. This policy does not qualify as the basic coverage required to participate in intercollegiate athletics at Texas Lutheran University. Also, any claim for benefits must first be filed with the primary insurance company providing coverage to the student-athlete. After they have paid all available benefits, our athletic insurance company will consider remaining amounts based on usual and customary charges. The provisions of this policy are explained below.

We, as the school, do not have the option of waiving the requirement of filing with your group insurance.

  1. Texas Lutheran University will cover up to $3000 of out of pocket expenses/calendar year per the primary insurance EOB. This amount will cover copays, deductibles, or coinsurance depending on insurance plan.
  2. Failure to maintain an active insurance policy when an injury is sustained will result in forfeiture of medical benefits.
  3. Failure to notify the Texas Lutheran University Athletic Training Staff of a medical appointment prior to the appointment date except in case of emergency will result in forfeiture of medical benefits.
  4. Failure to provide bills from medical providers and the accompanying explanation of benefits from your insurance company within a reasonable time frame (120 days from date of appointment) will result in forfeiture of medical benefits.