As described below, a student-athlete's illness, injury or other
incapacity can, in certain circumstances, affect his or her
eligibility under NCAA regulations. However, an injury, illness, or
incapacity does not affect their athletic scholarship, team
membership, or academic enrollment; and, student-athletes are not
retaliated against if they are injured, ill, or otherwise
incapacitated. SHU follows the NCAA's regulations relating to
intercollegiate competition eligibility, and follows a policy of
non-discrimination. Students are encouraged to consult Sacred
Heart's NCAA Compliance Officer and those regulations for more
information on eligibility.
Under NCAA regulations, a student-athlete is not permitted to
engage in more than four seasons of intercollegiate competition in
any one sport. A student-athlete must complete his/her seasons of
participation within five calendar years from the beginning of the
term in which the student-athlete first registered for a minimum
full-time program of studies in a collegiate institution. NCAA
regulations provide that female student-athletes who become
pregnant during their collegiate career may be granted six calendar
years in which to engage in four seasons of intercollegiate
competition. Any competition, regardless of time, during a season
in an intercollegiate sport counts as a season of competition in
that sport.
It is the right of every student to maintain the confidentiality
of their protected medical information, which includes information
regarding student-athlete injuries and illnesses. Student-athletes
are given the option of signing a Student Athlete
Authorization/Consent for Disclosure, which is required for SHU to
release protected health information to the public. If this form is
not signed, SHU will not disclose protected medical information.
Student-athletes may revoke a Student Athlete Authorization/Consent
for Disclosure that they previously signed at any time by giving
notice to SHU's Director of Athletics.
Below are some facts that student-athletes should know about
being injured or incapacitated:
"Red Shirting"
Q. The term "red shirt" is not used in the NCAA
compliance manual. Where did this term originate and why is it
used?
A. The term "red shirt" actually originated on the
football field. In the past, at the beginning of each season,
coaches would decide which student-athletes would be permitted to
compete during the season, using a year of eligibility, and which
ones would only be permitted to practice. The ones who did not
compete during the season preserved a year of eligibility. These
student-athletes wore red jerseys at practice so the coaches could
easily identify which student-athletes were not going to compete
that year.
Student-athletes who have become incapacitated during a season
of athletic competition in which they have competed have the option
of pursuing an NCAA Hardship Waiver in order to preserve that
season of eligibility. When a Hardship Waiver is granted, the
student-athlete is given an additional year of competition
eligibility. Receiving a Hardship Waiver is commonly known as a
"medical red-shirt year", or "red shirting". However, a "red-shirt"
season can also refer to a season where the student-athlete does
not compete in any intercollegiate competition because of
incapacity occurring outside of a season of competition, or does
not compete for reasons unrelated to incapacity.
Out of Season Incapacity
If an injury, illness or other cause (including a female
athlete's pregnancy), causes you to become physically incapacitated
outside a season of competition, you should let your coach know as
soon as possible so he or she can plan accordingly. When a
student-athlete becomes incapacitated prior to a season of
competition, pursuant to NCAA rules, that student athlete will not
be charged with a season of competition provided that they do not
engage in any competition that season. Incapacitated players are
encouraged to remain members of their teams during the season that
they are incapacitated. Incapacitated players are entitled to
retain their scholarship, remain members of their team, and remain
at school, and will not be retaliated against because of their
incapacity.
In Season Incapacity:
Hardship Waivers
Q. What is the definition of a hardship waiver? What are
the conditions that must occur in order to request a hardship
waiver?
A. "Hardship" is defined by NCAA regulations as "an
incapacity resulting from an injury or illness," provided that
certain criteria set forth by NCAA regulations are met. Such
incapacity may include a female athlete's pregnancy. A
student-athlete will not be charged with the loss of that season of
competition eligibility by the conference or the Academics /
Eligibility / Compliance Cabinet if all the following criteria are
met:
1. The incapacitating injury or illness occurs in one of the four
seasons of intercollegiate competition at any two-year or four-year
collegiate institution or occurs subsequent to the first day of
classes in the student-athlete's senior year of high school;
2. The injury or illness occurs prior to the completion of the
first half of the playing season that concludes with the NCAA
championship in that sport and results in incapacity to compete for
the remainder of that playing season; and
3. The injury/illness occurs when the student-athlete has not
participated in more than two contests or dates of competition
(whichever is applicable to that sport), or 30% (whichever number
is greater) of the institution's scheduled contests or dates of
competition in his or her sport. Only scheduled competition
(excluding exhibition contests and scrimmages) against outside
participants during the playing season that concludes with the NCAA
championship, or, if so designated, during the official NCAA
championship playing season in that sport (e.g., spring baseball,
fall soccer), is countable in calculating the number of contests or
dates of competition in which the student-athlete has participated
and the number of scheduled contests or dates of competition during
that season in the sport.
Q. Who do I talk to about seeking an NCAA Hardship
Waiver?
A. All hardship waivers are processed through the
SHU Athletics Compliance Office. You should meet personally with
the Athletics Compliance Officer to discuss the process. As long as
a student-athlete meets the criteria outlined above, and makes the
SHU Athletics Compliance Office aware of that fact, a waiver
request will be submitted to the NCAA
Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet.
Q. Can student-athletes who have received a Hardship
Waiver remain in school and on their team and retain their
scholarship?
A. The fact that a student-athlete has obtained a
Hardship Waiver does not affect their athletic scholarship,
academic enrollment at Sacred Heart or their membership on a
team.
Q. Will I be retaliated against if I receive a Hardship
Waiver?
A. Sacred Heart does not retaliate against
student-athletes for that student-athlete's applying for or
receiving a Hardship Waiver. Student-athletes are not retaliated
against regarding their athletic scholarship, team participation or
academic enrollment.
