Two NCAA eligibility questions (redshirt?)

How is a year of eligibility counted?

Scenario one: Freshman player dresses, travels with team, plays an inning in the field or two and runs in a third or so of games in the season. Has she used a year of eligibility?

Scenario two: Juco freshman player starts in games but about half of the season for her team is cancelled due to too many injuries to field a team. Has she used a year of eligibility?

Thanks

Westwind said:

How is a year of eligibility counted?
Scenario one: Freshman player dresses, travels with team, plays an inning in the field or two and runs in a third or so of games in the season. Has she used a year of eligibility?

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Yes she has a used a year of eligibility. There is no "didn't play much" rule in regards to eligibility. She was available, not injured and played. No reason for a medical exemption or a redshirt or any other valid reason why she would keep a year of eligibility.

Scenario two: Juco freshman player starts in games but about half of the season for her team is cancelled due to too many injuries to field a team. Has she used a year of eligibility?

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Yes she has a used a year of eligibility. This is something that the NJCAA/NCAA may look at on appeal and could technically grant an extra year of eligibility. But I wouldn't hold my breath. NJCAA is 2 years so they are unlikely to grant her a third as you are meant to be done and they would likely consider that they played enough games to not even consider listening to an appeal, however if she intended to transfer to a four year NCAA school I guess technically she could appeal for an extra year under 12.8.1.5 which allows the NCAA to grant an extra year of eligibility for things out of the students control and they have somewhat broad powers (which they barely use).

But in both cases, yes it would count as a year or eligibility used.

The real question is could she be granted an additional year of eligibility in these scenarios to which the answer is 1) NO 2) ALMOST CERTAINLY NO

Thanks- I googled it after posting and that's what I came up with too.

Buddy of mine came up with that but I think the example he heard about was a medical redshirt freshman year so much different situation. Thanks.

Ask Whitney Canion about medical redshirt. She pitched for 6 years at Baylor.

Whitney Canion’s jersey to be retired | Baylor Softball | wacotrib.com

Westwind said:

How is a year of eligibility counted?

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There are 2 different limitations.

- 4 seasons of competition: Playing in a game triggers a season. Hardship waiver (aka medical redshirt) can add season(s) lost to injury/illness.

12.8.3.1 Minimum Amount of Competition. Any competition, regardless of time, during a season in an intercollegiate sport shall be counted as a season of competition in that sport, except as provided in Bylaws 12.8.3.1.1, 12.8.3.1.2, 12.8.3.1.3 and 12.8.3.1.4. This provision is applicable to intercollegiate athletics competition conducted by a two-year or four-year collegiate institution at the varsity or subvarsity level.

- 5-year rule: Clock starts when they begin attending college full-time - regardless of whether they play - and keeps running if they take a break from college. Separate waiver "may be granted, based upon objective evidence, for reasons that are beyond the control of the student-athlete or the institution, which deprive the student-athlete of the opportunity to participate for more than one season in his or her sport within the five-year period."

12.8.1 Five-Year Rule. A student-athlete shall complete his or her seasons of participation within five calendar years from the beginning of the semester or quarter in which the student-athlete first registered for a minimum full-time program of studies in a collegiate institution, with time spent in the armed services, on official religious missions or with recognized foreign aid services of the U.S. government being excepted.