NCAA grants spring athletes a redshirt year

Athletic Recruits
1

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-03-13/ncaa-grants-spring-sports-athletes-year-eligibility-coronavirus

There was also an article today, which I can’t find now, suspending all recruiting until April 15, so no on campus visits or coach visits. It is like a dead period except the coaches can contract the athletes by phone or email. The article did say that although 2020 athletes seem to be the ones most people think of as being impacted, it will most likely be the 2021 athletes as the seniors NEXT year will have more time to plan for a 5th year (either not graduating or starting grad school).

I know one current junior who will take the extra year, and he is on a full scholarship now so likely those high school 2021s will have less money available.

2

https://www.ncsasports.org/blog/2020/03/15/ncaa-gives-extra-year-of-eligibility-to-spring-sport-athletes/?fbclid=IwAR0NAJD09p6JWNza_3CvRQapvEpGStV3oYdrZ2vMiZFF-05LXiKQfz-A5gI

3

I’ve talked to several college juniors and seniors, track athletes, who have already had discussions with coaches about how to take advantage of this. A lot will depend on how the scholarship cap, funding, and other elements are adjusted I think.

4

Our daughter is a junior NCAA Div. 1 track athlete. She has no desire to take an additional year in school, so sadly, will graduate with a year of eligibility left.

5

@jumpermom I’m guessing that’ll be the case for most, especially those who have no interest in grad school at this point. Frustrating and sad for sure, but at least many got an indoor season in (minus the championship).

6

I think a lot of the seniors will just graduate and move on, but for juniors and sophomore who can put more time into planning an extra year (both classes and money), it may provide a good opportunity to play for that extra year.

For my daughter, it wouldn’t have been the athletic money that was the issue but the merit money. Her biggest scholarship was from the school and it was very specifically for 8 consecutive semesters. She’d also used all of the state merit money in 7 semesters (paid by the credit). Unless she could have arranged some grad school merit money, she could not have afforded another year even with her athletic money being extended.