In college athletics, the term redshirt refers to when a student athlete delays or pauses their participation in official competitions for a season to preserve a year of eligibility. This strategy allows athletes to train, practice, and develop within the team without using up one of their four seasons of competition.

Every NCAA athlete is allowed five calendar years to play four seasons in their sport, starting from the moment they enroll full time in college. The extra fifth year is designed to account for situations like injuries, academic adjustments, or development time. This is where the concept of a redshirt comes in.

When an athlete redshirts, they remain on the team, can practice and attend games, but do not participate in enough competitions to count that season toward their eligibility clock. The result is an additional year to mature physically, academically, and mentally before competing at full capacity.

Types of Redshirts: Traditional, Medical, and Academic

Not all redshirts are created equal. The NCAA recognizes several versions of the redshirt depending on the reason and circumstances.

Traditional Redshirt

A traditional redshirt happens when a coach or player decides the athlete will not compete during their first or another season. The goal is often development. For example, a freshman might redshirt to get stronger, adjust to the speed of the college game, or learn the playbook before stepping into competition.

In football, for instance, it is common for incoming freshmen to redshirt their first year, giving them time to adapt to the physical and academic demands of college life.

Medical Redshirt (also known as a Medical Hardship Waiver)

A medical redshirt can be requested if an athlete suffers a season ending injury or illness early in the season. To qualify, the injury must occur in the first half of the season, and the athlete must not have participated in more than 30 percent of the team’s scheduled competitions.

This rule allows athletes to retain that season of eligibility since the injury prevented them from completing the year. It is an important safety net for athletes who want to come back fully healthy without losing a year of playing time.

Academic Redshirt

Academic redshirting typically applies to Division I athletes who meet the NCAA’s minimum requirements to enroll in college but not the full academic standards to compete immediately. In this case, they can attend classes and practice with the team but cannot play in official games during their first year.

This policy helps athletes adjust to college academics and meet eligibility requirements before entering full competition.

How the NCAA Redshirt Rules Changed Recently

The NCAA has made several updates to redshirt rules in recent years, especially to give athletes more flexibility and clarity.

The Football Redshirt Rule Update

One of the most impactful changes came in 2018, when the NCAA introduced a rule allowing football players to participate in up to four games in a season without losing a year of eligibility.

Before this change, even one snap in a game could cost a player their redshirt status. Now, athletes can get limited in game experience, especially useful for freshmen, while still preserving their redshirt.

This adjustment gives coaches the freedom to develop young players in real competition settings without sacrificing their eligibility. It has become a major recruiting and development advantage across college football programs.

COVID 19 Eligibility Extensions

During the COVID 19 pandemic, the NCAA granted all athletes an additional year of eligibility, regardless of participation, due to the disruptions to seasons and training. While this was a one time policy, it created ripple effects in roster management, recruiting classes, and scholarship availability that are still being felt today.

How Redshirting Affects Eligibility

When you redshirt, your five year eligibility clock continues to run, but you preserve one of your four competition seasons. That means you will still graduate within your normal academic timeframe, but you will have more flexibility in your athletic career.

Here is a simple example:

Year 1: Freshman redshirt (no competition)
Year 2: Redshirt freshman (first season of competition)
Year 3: Redshirt sophomore (second season)
Year 4: Redshirt junior (third season)
Year 5: Redshirt senior (final season)

In this setup, an athlete competes for four seasons across five years. This extra year can often make a huge difference, especially for athletes who need more time to develop, recover from injury, or earn a starting role.

Why Athletes Choose to Redshirt

Redshirting is not just about injuries or eligibility. Many athletes and coaches use it strategically to maximize both performance and exposure.

Physical Development

The transition from high school to college sports can be intense. Redshirting gives athletes an entire season to get stronger, faster, and more confident in their body before facing college level competition.

Learning the System

College programs can have complex playbooks, tactics, and team cultures. A redshirt year allows athletes to absorb this knowledge without the pressure of game day performance.

Depth Chart and Competition

In many cases, especially on strong teams, freshmen arrive behind older, more experienced players. Redshirting gives them time to wait for their turn while improving and competing in practice.

Academic Transition

Balancing college level academics with sports can be overwhelming. A redshirt year provides breathing room to adjust, build good study habits, and stay eligible academically long term.

How Redshirting Impacts Future Opportunities

The decision to redshirt can significantly influence an athlete’s long term opportunities, both on and off the field.

Extended Career and Exposure

A redshirt year often means an athlete’s final season coincides with their physical and mental peak, usually around age twenty two or twenty three. This gives them the chance to stand out in recruiting databases, transfer portals, and even professional scouting.

For athletes seeking pro careers or graduate transfer opportunities, an extra year of experience and exposure can make a major difference.

Transfer Portal Considerations

Under the NCAA’s updated transfer rules, redshirt status can also affect an athlete’s transfer value. Players with a preserved year of eligibility are more attractive to new programs because they can contribute longer.

It is common to see redshirt sophomores or redshirt juniors enter the portal, giving them two or more seasons left to play elsewhere.

Scholarship Planning

Because scholarship limits vary by division and sport, redshirting can sometimes complicate roster management. Coaches have to balance the number of scholarships each year, especially when redshirt athletes extend their stay.

However, for the athlete, that extra year can increase their scholarship value if they prove themselves later in their career.

Common Misconceptions About Redshirting

There are a few myths about redshirting that often confuse athletes and families.

Myth 1: Redshirting means you are not good enough to play.
Reality: Redshirting is often a strategic move for long term growth and does not reflect a coach’s lack of belief in a player.

Myth 2: You cannot travel or practice with the team.
Reality: Redshirt athletes are full team members who practice, travel, and attend meetings. They just do not compete in official games.

Myth 3: Once you play in a game, you lose your redshirt.
Reality: In football and several other sports, athletes can now play in a limited number of games, usually around thirty percent of the season, and still keep their redshirt year.

How to Know if You Should Redshirt

Deciding to redshirt depends on your personal goals, readiness, and team situation. Here are a few key questions athletes should ask:
Am I physically and mentally ready for the competition level?
Would another year of development improve my performance?
How does redshirting fit into my long term academic and athletic plan?
What does my coach see in terms of playing time and team needs?

Talking openly with your coaching staff and academic advisors is crucial before making the decision. For some athletes, redshirting becomes the best move they ever make, allowing them to turn potential into performance and extend their college career on their terms.