What is a Red Shirt?

College sports provide an incredible for student-athletes to showcase their skills, push their boundaries, and carve out promising athletic careers, but there are a lot of aspects that are hard to understand for students and families just starting to look into the process. The practice of "redshirting" has gained significant attention and become a subject of considerable discussion in recent years. Redshirting refers to the practice of delaying an athlete's participation in competitive play for a designated period. While often associated with granting an additional year of eligibility, redshirting manifests in various forms across different sports and institutions, each with its unique purposes and implications.

Redshirting refers to a practice where a student-athlete sits out a competitive season while still being enrolled as a full-time student at their institution. Redshirting provides athletes with an additional year of eligibility, allowing them to extend their collegiate athletic career.

Here's how it generally works:

Decision and Eligibility: A coaching staff, in consultation with the athlete, may decide that it is beneficial for the player to redshirt. This decision is typically made before the start of the season and is based on factors such as the player's readiness, team depth, and long-term development goals.

Full-Time Enrollment: The athlete remains enrolled as a full-time student at the college or university during the redshirt season. They attend classes, participate in team practices, strength and conditioning programs, and other team activities, but they do not compete in official games during that season.

Preserving Eligibility: By redshirting, the player retains a year of eligibility, meaning the redshirted season does not count towards the total number of seasons they are allowed to compete in as a student-athlete. This allows the athlete to have an additional year of eligibility to compete in future seasons.

Skill Development and Adjustment: The redshirt year provides an opportunity for the athlete to focus on skill development, physical conditioning, and adjusting to the collegiate level of competition. They can use this time to improve their skills, become more acclimated to the team's systems and strategies, and develop their strength and athleticism.

Academic Progress: During the redshirt year, the athlete can concentrate on their academics without the immediate demands of competition. This allows them to focus on their coursework, maintain a strong academic standing, and make progress towards their degree.

Continued Participation: Once the redshirt year is completed, the athlete maintains their full eligibility for the remaining years of their college career. They can participate in subsequent seasons, including games, while still being considered a student-athlete.

Redshirting is a strategy often employed by coaches to maximize the long-term development and success of their athletes. It allows players to acclimate to the collegiate environment, gain experience, and enhance their skills without sacrificing a year of eligibility. It is a great way for students who might not be physically, academically, or emotionally ready for college athletics to push the pause button on their career and catch up without losing any potential playing time. But, families need to consider that redshirting will add a fifth year of college and must be able to absorb the costs that are associated with that.