@anotherparent, if a player is listed on the official spring roster of a NJCAA or NCAA school it counts as a year of playing even if that player never appears in a game. In some instances that year of eligibility can be recaptured by submitting a waiver to the NCAA or NJCAA based on the particular circumstances. Injury is the most common occurrence where this would apply but there are other reasons that qualify also. As always I defer to @Rick at Informed Athlete who is much more knowledgeable about this than me (or anyone else for that matter).