What does Redshirt Mean in College Sports?

We live in a world of complex regulations in college athletics. Violating these rules may result in sanctions such as being suspended from competition or losing a scholarship. For this reason, it is crucial that college athletes learn the conditions before playing at the collegiate level specifically concerning redshirt seasons.

A redshirt season is when a student-athlete sits out of games, while still keeping four years of eligibility (competing in college sports). While the term "redshirt" does not have an official definition recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), it is used broadly in NCAA Division I and II athletic programs.

But what exactly is redshirting in college sports, and what are the policies regarding it at various schools?

What does Redshirt mean in College Sports?

Essentially, redshirting means taking a year off from competitive play. A redshirt season is when a college athlete forgoes playing in games against opposing teams. Although they cannot play in competitive matches, they can still:

• Practice with their team

• Have obtained athletic scholarships or financial assistance

• Attend classes

• Individual or coach training

Why Do Athletes Redshirt?

NCAA rules stipulate that student-athletes at Division I and Division II schools have 10 semesters, or five full academic years, at their disposal to finish four years of competitive sports. But they can only count four years of this eligibility toward competition participation.

Student-athletes can elect to redshirt for a number of reasons during these five years, including:

• Extending their eligibility for intercollegiate competition

• Perfect to prepare freshman skills for the college level

• Recovering from injuries

• Bettering their GPA in order to meet university and NCAA educational benchmarks

Redshirting is intended to provide flexibility for the athlete, as well as for the team. This mindset assists coaches and athletic directors as they navigate the college recruiting process and help young athletes successfully manage the academic versus athletic balance before any high-stakes competition happens. For freshmen, redshirting may help produce a smoother transition from high school sports and academics, decreasing the likelihood of being overwhelmed.

Redshirting can also help athletes who get hurt before the season and want to maintain their eligibility until they can compete again.

But there are also cases where a player can’t redshirt because of injury. So if a player gets hurt in the first minute of the first game of a given season and is unable to play the rest of the year, that one play (or snap or game) will still account for one of their eligible seasons of play. Coaches sometimes recommend a redshirt season for athletes who are injury-prone before the start of a season for strategic reasons.