Spring-sport NCAA DIII student-athletes should keep in mind that the NCAA DIII Redshirt Rule is quite different than it is for NCAA DI and DII athletes.
NCAA DI and DII athletes can practice with their team all the way through the end of the season and as long as they do not appear in an actual game representing their university against another team, it will be considered a “redshirt” year.
However, NCAA DIII athletes will use one of their four “seasons of participation” if they practice with their team after the first game of the season – even if they never appear in an actual game against another team.
This happened to a client of ours – a Division III baseball player – a few years ago. The athlete’s father contacted us to ask about his son’s redshirt season because he had left the team after just one week of the season. However, since he had already practiced with the team after the start of the season, he was still charged with a “season of participation” and had 3 seasons of eligibility remaining rather than the 4 the father thought he had.
If you’ve got questions about NCAA Redshirt Rules and Guidelines, send an email to rick@informedathlete.com or call us at 913-766-1235.
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