Should High School Recruits Consider a Gap Year?

It’s been 5 years since the pandemic brought an abrupt end to college and high school sports for the 2019-20 academic year. Why am I bringing this up now?

It’s because many athletes who were college freshmen during the 2020-21 academic year could still have a season of eligibility remaining for the 2025-26 academic year as 23- or 24-year-old athletes who would be competing against 18-year-old freshmen.

In addition, many NCAA Division I sports programs will be or already are reducing their rosters in preparation for the final approval of the “House settlement” which is expected to enforce reduced roster sizes on D1 programs that opt-in to apply the new House settlement rules and requirements.

• That will result in many athletes being forced into the Transfer Portal to find a new home if they want to continue competing in college athletics.

Given those considerations, it might be a good idea for some high school recruits to take a gap year after graduation to continue training in their sport while taking part-time college courses to get a start toward their college degree.

• This would allow those recruits another year to mature physically, socially and emotionally before starting their college eligibility “clock.”

Do you have questions about your athlete possibly taking a gap year?

If you’d like to have a confidential consultation about the possibility of a gap year for your athlete and factors that should be considered, schedule a confidential Eligibility Issues Consultation online, or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.