National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ) is an athletic association that organizes college and university - level athletic programs . Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States . The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA as members . The NAIA has four members in Canada and at one point had one in the Bahamas , which made it the only international intercollegiate athletic association in North America until 2009 . For the 2010 - 11 academic year , the NAIA has 290 member institutions . Currently , the headquarters are located in Kansas City , Missouri . The NAIA sponsors 23 national championships . The CBS College Sports Network , formerly called CSTV , serves as the national media for the NAIA . History . The National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball ( NAIB ) was formed in 1937 , when Dr . James Naismith and local leaders formed the National College Basketball Tournament staged at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City , Missouri . The goal of the tournament was to establish a forum for small colleges and universities to determine a national basketball champion . The original eight - team tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1938 . On March 10 , 1940 ; the National Association for Intercollegiate Basketball ( NAIB ) was formed in Kansas City , Missouri . In 1952 , the NAIB was transformed into the NAIA , and with that came the sponsorship of additional sports such as men ' s golf , tennis and outdoor track and field . Football in the NAIA was split into two divisions in 1970 , based on enrollment ( Div . I & Div . II ) ; it was consolidated back into a single division in 1997 . African - American participation . In 1948 , the NAIB became the first national organization to open their intercollegiate postseason to black student - athletes . That same year , Indiana State coach John Wooden brought the first African - American student athlete to play at the national tournament . The association furthered its commitment to African - American athletes , when in 1953 , it became the first collegiate association to invite historically black colleges and universities into its membership . In 1957 , Tennessee State became the first historically black institution to win a collegiate basketball national championship . Female participation . The NAIA began sponsoring intercollegiate championships for women in 1980 , the first coed national athletics association to do so , offering collegiate athletics championships to women in basketball , cross country , gymnastics , indoor and outdoor track and field , softball , swimming and diving , tennis and volleyball . Champions of Character . Launched in 2000 by the NAIA , the Champions of Character program equips equips athletic participants ( coaches , athletic administrators , and parents ) with the skills necessary to build character in the context of sport . The program currently reaches hundreds of thousands of students on nearly 300 college and university campuses and extends into their surrounding communities . The NAIA Champions of Character program is an educational outreach initiative which emphasizes the tenets of character and integrity , not only for NAIA college students , but for younger students , coaches and parents in our communities . The programs has the following five core tenents : respect , responsibility , integrity , servant leadership , and sportsmanship that are exhibited and promoted by member athletic departments to local communities . Coaches , parents , administrators and community partners all have a role in developing students of character . The NAIA Champions of Character program brings them training , guidelines and behavior models to create positive environments that promote personal growth , academic enrichment and fun through sports . Championship Sports . The NAIA sponsors 13 sports in which it conducts 23 annual championships ( 12 for men , 11 for women ) . The association conducts , or has conducted in the past , championship tournaments in the following sports ( year established ) : Conferences . The NAIA has 25 member conferences and an association of independent institutions , and 11 football conferences . Awards and honors . Al Ortolani Scholarship ( ATA ) The $ 500 undergraduate scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student trainer who is at least a junior and has maintained a GPA of 3 . 00 . Athletic Trainer of the Year Presented to the NAIA - ATA member Athletic Trainer who has provided substantial service to student - athletes , the association or the member institution . Charles Morris Award The award was initiated in memory and honor of past Associate Executive Director Charles Morris . The award is presented annually to recognize Conference , Region and a National Administrator of the Year . The recipient should exemplify the loyalty and enthusiasm Charles Morris had for the NAIA . Nominees must be active as an administrator at a member institution or in conference / regional committee organizations . Clarence " Ike " Pearson ( SIDA ) Given annually to a member of the NAIA - Sports Information Directors Association to honor outstanding contributions to the profession . The award is named for the former statistical crew chief of the NAIA men ' s basketball national tournament in Kansas City , Missouri . Coach of Character Award The NAIA Coach of Character Award is an annual award given to a head coach of an NAIA institution . The nominee must be employed by the institution a minimum of 5 years and must be clearly outstanding in embracing the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative , methods of teaching character through sport , and community leadership through volunteering , service or other means . A . O . Duer Award Named in honor of the NAIA ' s former executive secretary for his 26 years of service to the Association . The A . O . Duer Award emphasizes our policy of scholarship in athletic programs . The award is presented annually to a junior men ' s and women ' s student - athlete in any sport who has excelled academically as well as athletically . To be eligible , a student - athlete must have an overall grade point average of at least 3 . 75 ( on a 4 . 00 scale ) and be in her / his junior year academically . Emil S . Liston Award The founder of the NAIB and the first executive secretary of the NAIA , Mr . Liston was a prime mover behind the men ' s basketball tournament . The award is annually presented to a junior men ' s and women ' s basketball player who has shown athletic and scholastic achievement . To be eligible , a student - athlete must have an overall grade point average of at least 3 . 50 ( on a 4 . 00 scale ) and be in her / his junior year academically . Each award consists of a $ 1 , 000 scholarship presented to the recipient ’ s institution to be used for tuition and approved expenses and an appropriate award is presented to the honoree . Hall of Fame The NAIA Hall of Fame Award is the highest honor presented by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics . Nominees must be persons of outstanding quality , high moral character , fine leadership ability and must be held in high esteem by their colleagues , former coaches and former athletes . Larry Lady Officiating Award The NAIA Larry Lady Officiating Award is presented annually to an official of any sport recognized by the NAIA . It is named in honor of Larry Lady , current NAIA Supervisor of Officials for basketball , football and baseball . Nominees must be persons of outstanding quality , high moral character , fine officiating ability and be held in high esteem by their colleagues , administrators and athletes . The recipient will receive an award of $ 500 to be used by recipient , a member of the recipient ’ s family or family friend who attends an NAIA institution . NAIA - CTSA " All That ' s Right in Sport " Award The Citizenship through Sports Alliance ( CTSA ) and the NAIA have partnered to annually honor one NAIA institution , team or individual for actions that have clear connections to sportsmanship , and bring with them outstanding stories that motivate and inspire . All Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Team Award Winners , as well as institutional nominations , are eligible for this special recognition . The recipient ( up to 2 team / institutional representatives ) will be provided round - trip transportation to the awards ceremony held in conjunction with the annual CTSA Awards Banquet . Dr . LeRoy Walker Character Award This award was created to honor Dr . LeRoy Walker a former president of the NAIA and President emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee . The nominee must be a representative of an NAIA institution as a student - athlete . The nominee must be at least a junior academic status at the nominating institution at the time of nomination , and must be “ outstanding ” in academic achievement ( 3 . 0 G . P . A or higher ) , campus leadership , community leadership , embracing the five core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative , athletic achievement and future ambition . The recipient will receive a $ 1 , 000 cash award to the institution scholarship fund of recipient ’ s choice . The recipient also receives a specially engraved plaque / revere bowl as a permanent memento of the award . Wally Schwartz Award The Faculty Athletic Representative Association has initiated this award to honor past Vice - President of Legislative Services , Wally Schwartz . The Award will annually recognize Conference , Independent and a National FAR of the Year . The recipient should exemplify the loyalty , enthusiasm , and honesty that Wally Schwartz had , and still has , shown on behalf of the NAIA . Athletic Director of the Year Presented annually to the top athletic director who excels in the areas of budget development , facility development , promotion of student - athlete academic achievement , involvement in the Champions of Character initiative , athletic success , and service to the NAIA or community .