Softball Granted 6 Years Eligibility

[LSUDad]

The National Collegiate Softball Federation (NCSF) announced today that starting January 1, 2020, Division I, II, III and NAIA college softball players will be able to compete for six years instead of the current four years of eligibility.

There will not be a red-shirt year available, however, even for injuries of athletes who currently receive a medical red-shirt year. This was the major concession for those driving the legislation. The two extra years of playing time that will be covered by scholarships were part of a compromise to further the proposal into ratification.

According to a spokesman for the NCSF, the drive to add two extra years was primarily because of the costs necessary to cover extra school years, as more softball athletes are taking five to six years to complete their undergraduate degree.

If the athlete is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in four years, this will allow them to get going an extra two years on scholarship to get a Master’s Degree. Many coaches are in favor of additional degree to get the athletes a leg up in their career fields.

PREVIOUS GRADUATES CAN RETURN

The biggest surprise of the newly passed legislation is that those who competed in the previous four-year window of eligibility can now return to their universities to play an additional two years.