Tag Archive for: Season of Eligibility

This time of year, I always like to remind college athletes and parents that any amount of participation in a game or contest against another team will count as a Season of Eligibility used.

The only way to get a season “over again” is if the student-athlete qualifies and is approved for a Medical Hardship Waiver.

A Medical Hardship Waiver is a possibility if your student-athlete incurs an injury or illness that is serious enough to be documented by a physician as “season-ending.”

There are also specific limitations for the number of contests that an athlete can participate in and still qualify for a hardship waiver.

Do you have questions about whether your student-athlete might qualify for a Medical Hardship Waiver?  If so, click Book a Confidential Consultation, call our office at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

If an NCAA DI or DII student-athlete’s sport is baseball, softball, lacrosse, women’s water polo, women’s beach or men’s volleyball, they are allowed to participate in competition during the Fall portion of the season without using one of their four seasons of eligibility.

However, if that same student-athlete DOES compete in their regular season, they WILL be charged with a year of eligibility used.

If the student-athlete DOES NOT compete in their regular season, they WILL NOT be charged with a season of eligibility.

Also, under revised Division I rules, this exception can be applied retroactively if an athlete was previously charged with a season of competition for only Fall participation in the above sports.

Please note that these rules do not apply to NCAA DIII student-athletes. Contact us if you have questions about redshirting in Division III.

If you are or have a student-athlete who you think may be able to receive an additional season of eligibility due to the retroactive application of this rule, schedule a confidential Eligibility Issues Consult online, call us at 913-766-1235 or send an email to rick@informedathlete.com.

In most cases, any amount of participation in a game or contest against another team counts as a season of eligibility used.

The only way to get that season “over again” will be through a hardship waiver 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.

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/

If your student-athlete is considering the possibility of a waiver, call us at 913-766-1235 if you’d like to discuss your situation in a private consultation.