What is a “Season of Eligibility”
In college athletics, any amount of participation in a game or contest against another team may count as a “season of eligibility.”
The only way to get that season “over again” is through a hardship waiver. The most common hardship waiver is a medical hardship waiver. A medical hardship waiver can be considered if the athlete incurs an injury or illness that is serious enough to be documented by a physician as a “season-ending” injury or illness.
However, there are specific limitations for the number of contests that an athlete can participate in and still qualify for a hardship waiver. Here’s a link to an article we’ve written on this topic: http://informedathlete.com/medical-hardship-waivers/
For specific questions about the rules regarding the use of a “season of competition” or a Medical Hardship Waiver, call us at 913-766-1235 or send us an email to rick@informedathlete.com to request a phone consultation.