Gap year competing ncaa

complicated situatuon wrote:

So I have a unique situation where I can’t compete for an NCAA team my freshman year with a lot of things going on in my life. I will be able to after my freshman year, is that allowed? Or do you have to compete directly after your first year?

Secondly, if I were to take a gap year, would I be able to compete starting college as a freshman fall 2022? Thanks for any help

Your eligibility clock doesn't start until you enroll in college. You will be able to compete as a freshman if you enroll in Fall 2022 and will be able to redshirt. If you enroll in college in Fall 2021 and do not compete, your freshman year will basically be your redshirt year and you will have four years of eligibility.

Thanks man, this was the exact answer I was looking for. Cheers

Make sure that the college coach at the school you are planning to attend is on board with this plan on the front end. Otherwise, you may find a coach who says they don't have space for you a year from now.

Most colleges are in the position of turning away far more people than they accept onto their roster. This makes the selection process competitive, and one of the things many college coaches will select for is drive for the sport. Many will interpret a year "off" as a low prioritization of the sport, and will not be interested. If you truly have a reason you can't run, and it only lasts one year, better to get that on the coaches radar up front, and see what he/she thinks.

2 things that you should consider and I would advise speaking with Compliance in the Athletic Department of the school(s) you are planning on attending.

First, there is a way to prevent your eligibility "clock" from starting. It involves limiting the amount of credits you take before becoming full-time. I know a guy who graduated HS, took part-time classes at a college for his "gap" year, enrolled at a 4 year college and had 5 years to use his full eligibility

Second, the NCAA has a residency requirement where you need to be full time for your first academic year at one school to be eligible to transfer and immediately compete. I know of people who have left their first school after the one term (the fall), transferred to a new school and found that they wouldn't be eligible to compete until after the fall term of their second year (effectively using 1 of their 5 years).

Any of this may have changed recently, so trust the word of the experts at Compliance in the Athletic Office's only.

And your clock starts one year after high school. So if you take a few years to work and then start college, you have very limited time left to compete.

Transfer to BYU. You can run for 10-15 years.