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Question of the Week: April 14th
What is the difference between red, green, and gray shirting?
What is Redshirting?
Redshirting is when a student-athlete enrolled at the school and actively practicing on the team, chooses to not participate in a varsity game for that year (could be any grad class). He does this in exchange for getting an extra year of eligibility. Most commonly this happens for incoming freshman. This will give those new players to college football a full year to learn the playbook, get used to the speed of the game during practice, etc. while not losing a year of eligibility (they would have been sitting on the bench anyway so may as well get the practice3 reps, and get another year of eligibility). Many coaches like to have their incoming freshman do this. Not only do the student-athletes get a chance to practice without losing the year of eligibility, but this also lets them spread their course load over a 5 year period rather than a 4 year period (helps with retention).
Medical Redshirting (the only kind allowed in D3) is when an active player plays upto 20% of their regulars season (usually 2 games), gets hurt (usually season ending injury), and decides they will not play the rest of the year. He then petitions the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility. It’s important to note, the NCAA can say no. Also, this can be used in addition to your Redshirt year, meaning you can play for six years (1 redshirt year, 1 medical redshirt, 4 years of playing ball).
What is Greenshirting?
Greenshirting is when a High-schooler graduates early, and enrolls in the college a semester early. This typically only happens at D1A programs. The reason players do this, is to be involved in spring practices for the coming year. Those student-athletes who start at that point get a major leg up on knowing the playbook, system, etc. much earlier than a freshman coming in during fall.
What is Grayshirting?
Grayshirting is when a student-athlete delays full time enrollment at a school, and participation (even practice) with a team for 1 semester in exchange for a scholarship the 2nd term. This usually only happens in D1A. The student-athlete is not allowed to take a full course load (11 credits or less) during their Grayshirt term, and if all works out should have a scholarship come 2nd term. This is done when a school is truly interested in a prospect but ran out of scholarships for that year (max 28 scholarship players in one year).
