redshirting

American  

[red-shur-ting] / ˈrɛdˌʃɜr tɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the practice of keeping a high school or college athlete out of varsity competition for one year to develop skills and extend eligibility.

   2. the practice of delaying a child from starting kindergarten for one year, believed by some parents to give the child academic, athletic, and social advantages.

      academic redshirting;

      Is redshirting common practice at your school?

2. the practice of quickly killing off a newly introduced character in a TV show or movie.

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Etymology

Origin of redshirting

An Americanism dating back to 1970–80; redshirt ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The younger Mendoza has three years of eligibility remaining after redshirting his first season at Indiana in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times

“When I first took over, it was, like, every time I talked to you guys, everybody was asking about who’s redshirting, who’s going to the portal?”

From Los Angeles Times

UCLA’s football team appeared to have a full roster of players at its disposal Monday after the Bruins reached the four-game threshold for redshirting and the halfway point of the 30-day window for entering the transfer portal following the dismissal of coach DeShaun Foster.

From Los Angeles Times

An attorney tweeted that he was representing a redshirting Hokies player whose decision, in the eyes of the school, constituted “ ‘opting out’ and fraudulent misrepresentation under the NCAA’s bylaws, justifying immediate termination of scholarships and revenue-sharing payments under the House settlement.

From Los Angeles Times

Redshirting is a standard practice to preserve eligibility, not voluntary withdrawal from a program, and schools cannot void revenue-sharing payments on pay-for-play grounds.”

From Los Angeles Times