I know this is a dumb question, but I have searched and can't find the answer.

If a college coach is going to redshirt a player, at what point after the season starts does he have to make that decision? (Div. 1)

If a player makes even one appearance in a game, are they not eligible to redshirt?

I don't think it has as much to do with when the season starts as it does whether you play or not.

I will give you a specific example. My friend knows a coach on the West Virginia football team pretty well. They had some injuries this year so they had a freshman quarterback (who was redshirting) travel with the team and dress for each game. The QB hasn't played at all, but had another QB gone down, he would have been put right into the game. That didn't happen, so the kid is technically a redshirt and will play 4 more years. Had he entered the game, he would have lost his status as a redshirt.

If you appear in one game, one play, one second, by rule you cannot redshirt unless............

Is there any way to get back lost eligibility because of any type of injury or hardship of some kind? -

Yes, there is something called a Hardship Waiver in which a S-A may be granted an additional year of competition by the conference or the eligibility committee for reasons of "hardship". This is not a given, you must appeal to the NCAA board and have your case reviewed.

What are the conditions that must occur in order to request a medical hardship? -

A medical hardship is defined as an incapacity resulting from an injury or illness that has occurred during practice or competition. A S-A will not be charged with the loss of that season of competition eligibility by the conference or the Academics Eligibility Compliance Cabinet.

I remember researching this last year on the NCAA site (there had been a discussion on a local message board about whether a player could "redshirt" after a particular point in the season) and am pretty sure that there is a period during the season when a player needs to be declared as a redshirt ... had to do with the percentage of games played, I think. Unfortunately, I can't find the darn rule ... ... so you guys may never believe me now ...

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Go Highlanders
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Highlander,
I searched the NCAA site for the point in a season to be declared and I could not find it.

The redshirts are allowed to dress and sit in the dugout during home games and travel? Most teams do not seem to do that.

Our redshirts generally do not suit up ... especially the pitchers ... altho our redshirt catchers do because they often catch bullpen.

And I will find that rule, somewhere ... maybe in my dreams

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Go Highlanders
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Thank you Mom84, I was going to ask that question myself.

Here's the site:

NCAA RedShirt FAQ

I found that site but it doesn't state at what point in the season they have to be declared as a redshirt.

I don't have experienced with this, but my understanding is that it depends on the college practice. There is no NCAA rule that a school has to officially "declare" a player a redshirt. Coaching staffs will usually “declare” their non-medical redshirts at the beginning of a season. However, if the player is on the roster, a coach could put them in a game at any time, even the last game of the season, and use up their 1-year of eligibility.