JUCO redshirt rules

Section 8. HARDSHIPS
The hardship provision of the NJCAA is available to student-athletes, who are unable to complete a season of competition or did not satisfy one of the other eligibility rules as a result of an injury, illness or some type of an emergency beyond their control.
A. Hardship #1 involves an injury or illness which results in the student-athlete's inability to complete a season. Prior to the injury or illness, a student-athlete must not have participated in more than 20 percent of the college's regular season schedule or have participated in no more than two of the institution's completed events in that sport, whichever number is greater. The injury or illness must also have occurred in the first half of the schedule resulting in the student-athlete being incapacitated for the remainder of the season. USE HARDSHIP FORM # 1.
NOTE: In applying the 20 percent limitation, any competition which results in a fractional portion of an event shall be rounded to the next highest whole number, e.g., 20 percent of a 27 game basketball schedule (5.4 games) shall be considered six games.
B. Hardship #2 involves cases other than those affecting a student-athlete's season of competition as specified in Section 8.A.These cases must show that there are circumstances beyond the student-athlete's control which directly result in their inability to satisfy the Rules of Eligibility. The 20 percent limitation still applies to participation. All requests must receive approval from the NJCAA Office of Eligibility. USE HARDSHIP FORM # 2.
NOTE: The NJCAA cannot rule on those situations that did not occur at an NJCAA member college.
Section 9. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
All student-athletes participating in any one of the NJCAA certified sports must have passed a physical examination administered by a qualified health care professional licensed to administer physical examinations, prior to the first practice for each calendar year in which they compete.


Source:http://www.njcaa.org/njcaaforms/080610_2_Eligibility%20Pamphlet%20-%2008-09.pdf

And if there is no hardship, just limited playing time?

The way I read it is that up to 20% of the season for hardship in either example 1 or 2. Just out of luck as far as eligibility any other way. Transfer rules may allow some form of reinstated eligibility but that should have come before the season started otherwise he just dropped out still losing that year.
Playing doesn't equal eligibility
Eligibility equals a chance to play

I think if you don't play at all you don't lose a year of competition regardless of the reason. You do lose one of your 5 years of NCAA D1 eligibility once the clock has started. At the CA JCs even a single inning of playing time results in losing a year of competition. One CA JC has a player who played 6 or 7 innings at a D1 listed as a freshman while a player who only played 1 inning at the JC is a sophmore. I don't know if there was a hardship.

I don't know what the hardship rules are at CA JCs.

Here is a partial answer...

Question:How many seasons may I participate in a sport?

Answer:Students are allowed two (2) seasons of competition in any sport at a NJCAA college, if they have not participated at any intercollegiate level during two (2) seasons previously. Playing in one or more regularly scheduled contest prior to post-season competition uses one season of participation in that sport.

Warning: Students who falsify their academic records and/or information about previous athletic participation shall be barred from any further competition in any NJCAA member college at any time.


Based on reading it literaly I think you may be correct. Interesting question. I will see an advisor this weekend and may try to get his input.

Interesting. Wonder if that means an NJCAA redshirt could play in the postseason without losing a year of competition?