New NCAA DI Age-Based Eligibility Rules

The NCAA Division I Cabinet recently approved a new age-based eligibility framework that will impact current and future Division I athletes.

Here are key points of the new rule to be aware of:

Rather than athletes being able to compete in four seasons of their sport within a five year period, D1 athletes will have the opportunity to compete in all five seasons of their eligibility “clock.”

• However, waivers for medical redshirt seasons or to extend an athlete’s five-year period will be nearly eliminated.
• If an athlete becomes injured and is not able to compete during a season, they will not be able to regain that year.
• The only waivers allowed under the new rule will be for pregnancy, military service or an official religious mission – as long as the athlete does not participate in organized competition during that period of time.

Current D1 athletes who want to request a waiver for an additional season or an extension of their five-year eligibility period must have their waivers submitted no later than July 31, 2026.

A prospect’s five-year period of eligibility under the new rule will begin when they start attending college as a full-time student, OR the academic year after the athlete turns 19 (whichever comes first).

For prospects who turn 19 on or after September 1, their five-year period will start with the following academic year (unless they choose to start full-time college enrollment earlier).

How Student-Athletes Will Be Impacted:

Current college athletes who have used four seasons of competition will not be able to benefit from this new rule.

Current athletes who have at least one season of competition remaining under the current “four seasons” rule will be able to compete in a 5^th season as long as they can do so within their current 5-year period. (Must have time remaining on their clock and seasons of competition available.)

Prospects enrolling full-time in any college or university for the 2026-27 academic year can utilize the new rule or the current eligibility rules, whichever is better for that athlete.

(Example:  an athlete who has played junior hockey and will be enrolling at age 20 or 21 may choose to utilize the current rules since the new age-based rule may have his five-year clock starting when he turned 19.)

Prospects enrolling full-time in any college or university Fall 2027 or later must use the new age-based rule.

Schedule a confidential consultation online for your questions about this new rule and how it will impact your athlete. Or write to rick@informedathlete.com or call 913-7661235.