IT seems there are more D1 college players represented here than D3, but I wonder if anyone can answer this hypothetical question.
Say a D3 player puts in a few innings his first two years of college, improves gradually, but doesn't make an impact. After two years he realizes he will need 5 years to graduate from college. He also is told that he has potentiol to become an impact player at his college but needs to get stronger. And he sees that he might have a better chance to be a starter his 4th and 5th years of college (instead of 3rd and 4th), because of his own strength development, plus some key players who are 1 year ahead of him.
Do you follow this so far?
If the D3 player decides he wants to play his 4th and 5th years of college and use the 3rd year for strength development (and playing more innings in the summer), can he do that? Would he have to stay completely away from his college team practices the whole year (very tough because of friendships). Or could he practice in the fall with the team, but practice on his own in the spring. Or could he be a student/assistant coach in the spring to work out with the team but not suit up. (But still play against good competition the next summer.)
Does anyone know of a player who has done this, or do you know the rules about it?
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