Stanford Athletics Parents Guide to NCAA Rules
Student-athletes are permitted to compete in four
seasons of competition in any one sport within five
calendar years; this is sometimes referred to as the
“five-year clock.” This clock starts when a studentathlete
initially registers full-time and attends his/her
first day of classes for a term other than summer school
at a collegiate institution.
A student-athlete uses a season of competition if he/she
participates in any competition, regardless of the length
of time, during a season. For example, if an athlete
plays in one minute of one game, he/she has used
one season of competition. One exception to this rule
is during the athlete’s initial year of enrollment, when
a freshman may participate in preseason exhibition
contests and practice scrimmages without triggering a
season of competition (if applicable to his/her particular
sport). A student-athlete who does not compete at all
during a season is commonly referred to as a “redshirt.”
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