BLOG: Bobby Tingle
Many student-athletes and their families are often surprised by the limited availability of full-ride athletic scholarships. However, it is important to note that there are various types of offers that athletes may receive from educational institutions. To grasp the fundamentals of athletic scholarship offers, several key points should be considered: Most offers are generally structured as one-year contracts, with multi-year offers being uncommon. Additionally, verbal commitments made by coaches do not constitute binding agreements. The NCAA financial aid agreement serves as a contract between the athlete and the institution, making it essential for athletes to thoroughly comprehend the terms of the agreement.
Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the NCAA plans to remove the scholarship limits for Division I if a proposed settlement receives approval. This adjustment will allow for greater flexibility in the distribution of scholarships across all sports for athletes. The anticipated outcome of this change is a considerable influence on college recruiting practices.If the suggested settlement receives approval, all Division 1 sports will have the capacity to offer full-ride athletic scholarships to each athlete on their roster. However, the availability of these scholarships remains contingent upon program funding, which differs among schools and sports.
-Walk-on opportunities:
Not every offer includes a financial incentive; in some cases, the reward is merely a position on the team. Walk-ons are more prevalent in college athletics than many families and student-athletes may realize. It is crucial to recognize the various categories of walk-ons as you engage in the recruiting process. With the upcoming NCAA scholarship regulations and roster limitations set to take effect in the 2025-2026 season, the precise implications for walk-ons remain unclear and will differ among sports and institutions. To comprehend how these changes may impact you, maintain communication with coaches and inquire about their strategies regarding walk-ons and redshirts, as these can vary significantly across different programs.
-Preferred Walk-on:
A preferred walk-on offer guarantees a place on the roster without providing any athletic financial assistance. This status represents the highest level of recruitment outside of an athletic scholarship. While preferred walk-ons do not receive financial aid, they secure a roster position, are provided with a uniform, and have a significant opportunity to compete for playing time in their freshman year. Preferred walk-ons can potentially earn a scholarship in their second season, although this is not assured. They are generally prioritized for available scholarship funds. Some athletes may decline scholarship offers from smaller institutions to join a larger program as preferred walk-ons. However, it is important to note that even those with this status may be cut during tryouts or team camps if they do not meet the coaches' expectations.
-A Recruited Walk-on:
A recruited walk-on offer indicates that the coach has expressed interest in the athlete, but it does not include any financial support. Consequently, the athlete must secure a position on the team through further tryouts or participation in a summer training camp. Despite the absence of financial aid and the lack of a guaranteed roster spot, many student-athletes consider a recruited walk-on offer to be a valuable chance to compete at an elite level.
-Unrecruited Walk-on:
An unrecruited walk-on offer occurs when a student-athlete meets the admission criteria of a college and intends to join the athletic team via an open tryout. Prior to enrollment, it is common for the student-athlete to engage in discussions with the college coach to ensure eligibility for the tryout. When evaluating any walk-on offer, numerous factors must be taken into account, particularly if the student-athlete has received scholarship offers from other institutions.
-The Multi-Colored shirts of college sports:
The various colored shirts in college athletics serve to indicate a student-athlete's eligibility status, with "redshirt" being a commonly recognized term among student-athletes and their families. These colors reflect not only the athlete's current standing but also the coach's perspective on the recruit's potential contributions to the program, both in the immediate future and over the long term.
-Redshirt Scholarship Offer:
Typically, a redshirt athlete will have a scholarship but cannot compete for one year. They will participate in all team activities like practice, training, and receive benefits such as academic tutoring, but they will not see any playing time. However, they will get an opportunity to play four seasons in five years.
Reasons for being redshirted include a coach wanting a year to physically prepare an athlete for college competition or a chance for a student-athlete to recover from an injury.
An “academic” redshirt would be a freshman who may not meet the academic eligibility requirements coming out of high school.
What does redshirting mean?
Redshirting refers to holding a player out of games for a season to extend their eligibility and develop their skills before they compete.
-Greyshirt Scholarship Offer:
This offer from a college coach presents a significant challenge. A grayshirt refers to an incoming freshman who delays their enrollment for a semester, opting to begin classes in the winter term rather than the fall. During this initial semester, the grayshirt does not attend as a full-time student, enrolling only in part-time courses, and does not participate in team activities or receive a scholarship. The NCAA permits student-athletes five years to utilize four years of sports eligibility, meaning a grayshirt's athletic eligibility officially commences upon full-time enrollment. While most coaches strive to communicate the implications of grayshirt offers clearly, some student-athletes may be taken aback to discover their grayshirt status as National Signing Day approaches. In college football, grayshirting allows a player to compete a year after high school graduation, rather than immediately joining practices and games. This practice is commonly seen in programs that over-sign, allowing them to secure commitments from athletes early, with the expectation that they will join the team in the following season. Occasionally, due to injuries or roster adjustments, a grayshirt's status may be altered, granting them an earlier opportunity to join the roster. It is crucial for athletes to maintain transparent communication with coaches regarding their roster position and the potential for grayshirting.
-Blueshirt Scholarship Offer:
Blueshirting is becoming a more popular (but hardly common) way to creatively manage the number of athletic scholarships. Blue shirt rules allow unrecruited players to be awarded a scholarship at the start of freshman practice. Like a redshirt, they will practice with the team but won’t be allowed to compete for a year. This allows a team that may have too many commits to essentially borrow against their next year’s scholarship total.
The rules are rather strict regarding what is defined as being “unrecruited.” That means there was:
- No official visit
- No in-home coach visit
- No signed financial aid agreement
- No form of athletic aid
Given the recruiting restrictions, it is still a pretty rare occurrence for a student-athlete to have a blueshirt scholarship offer.
-Greenshirt Scholarship Offer:
More and more fall sport athletes are getting a jump on their college careers by graduating in December and enrolling a semester early.
The benefits to greenshirting include the chance to get ahead on classes, attend spring training and practice with your new team while on scholarship before the new fall season.
Student-athletes who greenshirt are allowed to play their first year but they can also redshirt and have five years to play four seasons.
What is a D1 offer?
A D1 offer is when a Division 1 college athletics program offers an athlete a spot on their roster. Receiving an offer does not guarantee the athlete admission to the school. Athletes must receive an acceptance letter from the school for the offer to be valid.
-What is beyond D1 and D2?
Statistics indicate that merely two percent of high school athletes obtain athletic scholarships. Those aspiring to compete in Division 1 or Division 2 programs should also consider Division 3, NAIA, and junior colleges for potential financial support. Although NCAA Division 3 institutions do not provide athletic scholarships, approximately 80 percent of their athletes benefit from some form of financial aid. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) states that its athletes receive an average of $7,000 in financial assistance. Additionally, the National Junior College Athletic Association offers both full and partial scholarships at over 500 colleges, highlighting opportunities in junior college athletics that are often overlooked.
At Player Development University, we are dedicated to helping basketball players of all levels unlock their true potential. My personal mission is to inspire players to reach excellence through the game of basketball. I have a unique perspective on the sport, having started my college basketball journey at the age of 22. Through my unconventional path, I have gained valuable experiences and lessons that I bring to every training session. Our programs are designed to cater to individual needs, allowing players to develop skills and techniques that will improve their game.
PDU also offer sports performance training for student-athletes. Coach Tingle is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA. This certification is considered the "Gold Standard" in training athletes of all levels. Coach Tingle has many years of experience working with athletes from middle school through the college level.
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