Red Shirts and the postseason

That speaks to team chemistry and the overall closeness of the team.  My sons D3 team made it to Regionals this year, several hours away, and even though they could only roster a certain amount of players for Regionals, per NCAA rules, my son’s school invited and paid for the entire team to go.

The players that weren’t rostered sat in the stands and cheered the team on. The only player who didn’t go was a Catcher who needed surgery that week.

It was special to see, and gives me hope for the team moving forwards

To specifically answer your question:  I don’t know what the norm is.  I’ll be interested in following this thread to see the other responses.  It’s a good topic, thanks for starting it

Francis;

What is important to the player? Summer baseball to improve his skills for next year or "cheering"!

There are NO scholarships for the cheerleaders"

Bob

@Francis7 posted:

Saw a 2022 back in town a few weeks ago even though his D1 college team is participating in the postseason. The story I heard afterwards was (1) he was redshirted and (2) because he was a freshman, he had to live in the dorm and the dorm kicks you out the day after your classes end...so he had no place to live even though the team was still playing, and (3) he's transferring to a Juco anyway. So, he left the team and came home despite them playing in the postseason.

To me, this sounds like he was not well regarded. With a D1 schedule I think most if not all schools are done prior to even the end of the regular season. My 2022's team didn't make their conference playoffs this year, but still had a weekend series left after finals ended. A certain amount of kids had to move to different dorms for a week, but they all did, regardless of status.

My son took a medical redshirt. They were in the bleachers for the conference tournament.  They are allowed to stay in on-campus dorm/apartments until mid June.  The whole thing was a bit odd to me. They went on a road trip after school had ended but left about 6 guys on campus. Worked fine for my son as he was able to rehab but some of the other kids went home for a week.

The program has to pay for food and  dorms daily after school ends. Freshman/sophomore’s (required to live on campus) who are not on the travel roster go home after school is out. Medical redshirts go home after regular season

Our last two series were on the road and then the conference tournament on the road. All after classes ended. After the final home series the coach posted a final travel roster essentially for the final three weeks of the season. Everybody who was done with classes but no longer traveling was sent home after their exit meetings. No more practice, nothing. Essentially given a 3 week vacation before summer ball.

The seniors and RS juniors who will not be returning all threw an inning in a throwaway midweek for the last time (three making their seasons debuts) and that was it. 27 guys left.

Must be strange when you don't make the final travel roster and the other three guys you share a house with are all going to practice without you. I don't know how I feel about it but that's the way it went. Meal plans and housing contracts end so I somewhat understand. Players were encouraged to travel on their own to the games but none did unless they lived local.