D3 Rosters and Eligibility

Let's say there's an autistic kid enrolled as a full-time student at the college. And, as a freshman he shows up to the baseball coach and expresses his love to be around the game. And, the coach is taken by him. Coach says:  "We like you. You are an inspiration to us. It would be great if you come to the practices and help fill the buckets during BP. And, we'd like to have you in the dugout at home games to help count pitches and chase down foul balls." If the kid takes the coach up on the offer, is he losing a year of eligibility?

No idea, but does it matter? Is he going to transfer to play baseball? At this point if it were my kid I would tell my kid to go with option 2 and focus on his degree. If he isn’t making a D3 roster chances are he isn’t making any other roster. And if he’s planning to target a bottom D3 just to play baseball it seems like a waste of money.

Let's say a kid enrolls in the school as a freshman and asks the coach if he can be an assistant volunteer part time "coach." He will catch bullpens during practices and home games and do whatever needs helping with during practices and home games only. He's never in uniform, just baseball pants and a pullover. If he's doing this, does he lose a year of eligibility?

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

No idea, but does it matter? Is he going to transfer to play baseball? At this point if it were my kid I would tell my kid to go with option 2 and focus on his degree. If he isn’t making a D3 roster chances are he isn’t making any other roster. And if he’s planning to target a bottom D3 just to play baseball it seems like a waste of money.

In my friend's son's case, he's taking the option because he really doesn't want to be a 5 year student. And, besides, there's no where to transfer to where he would be playing baseball anyway. Plus, he likes the school. I'm just curious how you lose a year of eligibility when you are not in uniform for games and not traveling...unless you are listed on a roster as playing?

@Francis7 are you OK?

If you play, practice or coach during the season (even male players for women't teams) then it counts as a year.  So the coach was correct.  Here are the various rules from the handbook (https://web3.ncaa.org/lsdbi/reports/getReport/90011):

14.02.9 Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics. Participation in intercollegiate athletics occurs when a student-athlete either practices in a sport (see Bylaw 17.02.1.1) or competes in a sport, as defined in Bylaw 14.02.6. Eligibility rules for competition may differ from those for practice.

14.1.10 Male Practice Player Eligibility. A male student who practices with a women's team is considered to be a student-athlete in that women's sport. . . .See Bylaw 14.2.4.8 for use of a season of participation and
Bylaw 16.8.1.4 for benefits that a male practice player may receive. [I'd assume this also applies to the autistic example]

14.2 Seasons of Participation: 10-Semester/15-Quarter Rule. A student-athlete shall not engage in more than four seasons of intercollegiate participation in any one sport (see Bylaw 14.2.4.1).

14.2.4 Criteria for Determining Season of Eligibility.
14.2.4.1 Minimum Amount of Participation. A season of intercollegiate participation shall be counted in the student-athlete's sport when a student-athlete participates (practices or competes) during or after the first contest in the traditional segment following the student-athlete's initial participation of that academic year at that institution or when the student-athlete engages in intercollegiate competition during the nontraditional segment in that sport. This provision is applicable to intercollegiate athletics participation (practice or competition) conducted by a Division III collegiate institution at the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team level.

14.2.4.1.1 Exceptions. A season of participation shall not be counted:


(a) During the traditional segment when a student-athlete participates in a preseason scrimmage or preseason exhibition conducted before the first contest following the student-athlete's initial participation of that academic year at that institution;
(b) During the traditional segment when a student-athlete participates in an alumni contest conducted before the first regular-season contest following the student-athlete's initial participation of that academic year at that institution;
(c) In baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball, when a student-athlete participates (practices or competes) during the nontraditional segment.

14.2.4.1.3 Student Managers and Student Coaches. A season of participation shall be counted when a student manager or student coach participates as a team member in practice or other physical activities during the time frame set forth in Bylaw 14.2.4.1. A student coach or student manager's role should be limited to performing traditional
coaching or managerial duties.

Thank you Anotherparent.  Apparently I'm the ignoramus. But to be fair, my freshman kid who is about to be redshirted just told me he is allowed to practice with team and not count as a year.  I'll delete the above.

Your freshman is at a D2, I think, but perhaps you had better double-check the D2 manual to see about eligibility, which may well be different outside of D3.

D2 and D3 can have unlimited rosters, but D2s also have scholarships, so what it means to be "on the roster" but not play is different, I'm sure, and also different from D1, where if you don't play all season, you are a redshirt with eligibility - and presumably you are practicing.

Looked it up.  Sorry about my previous post Francis.  You can practice with team in D1/D2 during the playing season as a redshirt but not at D3.

@anotherparent posted:

Your freshman is at a D2, I think, but perhaps you had better double-check the D2 manual to see about eligibility, which may well be different outside of D3.

D2 and D3 can have unlimited rosters, but D2s also have scholarships, so what it means to be "on the roster" but not play is different, I'm sure, and also different from D1, where if you don't play all season, you are a redshirt with eligibility - and presumably you are practicing.

My son was D2. Now, Juco. But, this is not about him.

FWIW,at my son's D2, I do know that all the freshman red shirts took place in practices. I don't believe that they traveled on road games. Probably not for financial reasons.

@SpeedDemon posted:

@Francis7 are you OK?

I just feel bad for my son's friend. Seems tough to lose a year of eligibility basically just because you are somewhat around the team as a student.

@anotherparent posted:

If you play, practice or coach during the season (even male players for women't teams) then it counts as a year.  So the coach was correct.  Here are the various rules from the handbook (https://web3.ncaa.org/lsdbi/reports/getReport/90011):

14.02.9 Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics. Participation in intercollegiate athletics occurs when a student-athlete either practices in a sport (see Bylaw 17.02.1.1) or competes in a sport, as defined in Bylaw 14.02.6. Eligibility rules for competition may differ from those for practice.

14.1.10 Male Practice Player Eligibility. A male student who practices with a women's team is considered to be a student-athlete in that women's sport. . . .See Bylaw 14.2.4.8 for use of a season of participation and
Bylaw 16.8.1.4 for benefits that a male practice player may receive. [I'd assume this also applies to the autistic example]

14.2 Seasons of Participation: 10-Semester/15-Quarter Rule. A student-athlete shall not engage in more than four seasons of intercollegiate participation in any one sport (see Bylaw 14.2.4.1).

14.2.4 Criteria for Determining Season of Eligibility.
14.2.4.1 Minimum Amount of Participation. A season of intercollegiate participation shall be counted in the student-athlete's sport when a student-athlete participates (practices or competes) during or after the first contest in the traditional segment following the student-athlete's initial participation of that academic year at that institution or when the student-athlete engages in intercollegiate competition during the nontraditional segment in that sport. This provision is applicable to intercollegiate athletics participation (practice or competition) conducted by a Division III collegiate institution at the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team level.

14.2.4.1.1 Exceptions. A season of participation shall not be counted:


(a) During the traditional segment when a student-athlete participates in a preseason scrimmage or preseason exhibition conducted before the first contest following the student-athlete's initial participation of that academic year at that institution;
(b) During the traditional segment when a student-athlete participates in an alumni contest conducted before the first regular-season contest following the student-athlete's initial participation of that academic year at that institution;
(c) In baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball, when a student-athlete participates (practices or competes) during the nontraditional segment.

14.2.4.1.3 Student Managers and Student Coaches. A season of participation shall be counted when a student manager or student coach participates as a team member in practice or other physical activities during the time frame set forth in Bylaw 14.2.4.1. A student coach or student manager's role should be limited to performing traditional
coaching or managerial duties.

Thanks @anotherparent

Fascinating that being a student manager can cost you a year of eligibility

Does it matter if he’s going to graduate in 4 years? It’s great he’ll have something to somewhat be a part of and sort of still enjoy his passion while getting a degree.

Lets say a kid is heading to practice, is abducted by aliens and misses practice. His coach cuts him for missing practice. BUT... the next day our new alien overlords invade earth. Does the player lose a year of eligibility?

@nycdad posted:

Lets say a kid is heading to practice, is abducted by aliens and misses practice. His coach cuts him for missing practice. BUT... the next day our new alien overlords invade earth. Does the player lose a year of eligibility?

NCAA would probably give everyone an extra year.

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

Does it matter if he’s going to graduate in 4 years? It’s great he’ll have something to somewhat be a part of and sort of still enjoy his passion while getting a degree.

Will he be enjoying his passion? Not sure I would try and sell this to the thousands of D3 kids that find themselves in this situation every year?

@nycdad posted:

Lets say a kid is heading to practice, is abducted by aliens and misses practice. His coach cuts him for missing practice. BUT... the next day our new alien overlords invade earth. Does the player lose a year of eligibility?

wait. He's abducted but survives without being gutted or having his eyes plucked out (google cattle mutilation) and the aliens allow for baseball to continue?  No way he should lose a year.  He gets to play ball for 4 years; while saving the world of course.

@Francis7 posted:

Will he be enjoying his passion? Not sure I would try and sell this to the thousands of D3 kids that find themselves in this situation every year?

There are thousands of kids at D3 schools who get offered team manager spots because they weren’t good enough to make the roster?

@Francis7 posted:

I just feel bad for my son's friend. Seems tough to lose a year of eligibility basically just because you are somewhat around the team as a student.

I'm confused.  D3s have no roster limits, but still, only about 20 players get meaningful playing time, and they all lose their year's eligibility.  Why is this student not best off practicing with the team? otherwise how will he maintain or improve skills?  He can't impress the coaches if he just vanishes; what do you think would happen if he came back next year?  And maybe he will enjoy being around the team.