Redshirting is a practice normally associated with college athletics, where an athlete sits out in order to preserve a year of eligibility. At the high school level, the term refers to athletes who repeat a grade – usually eighth but sometimes earlier – in order to delay the beginning of their prep career with the added advantage of further physical development.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is taking aim at the practice, voting 29-0 earlier this week in favor of a period of participation rule.
According to Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the rule will take away a year of high school sports eligibility for athletes who repeat eighth grade for no reason.
"District 1 [Philadelphia area] individuals felt there was a good percentage of folks who are repeating eight grade and basically redshirting," PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi told White. "They don't think that's appropriate. So they brought [the new rule] forward."
White reports that the rule will not pertain to current athletes in grades 7-11 and the clock essentially starts on those currently in sixth grade or below.
