“You Never Saw the Light at the End of the Tunnel”: Examining the Developmental Impacts of the Redshirt Freshman Year

The redshirt freshman year is often used by athletics programs to build incoming athletes’ physical skills without compromising a year of eligibility. While one line of thought suggests this year allows athletes to adjust to campus life and pursue classroom interests, another describes the redshirt freshman year as a challenge, as one goes from being a key player in high school to benched their first year of college. Despite this being a crucial time for athletes’ development, little is understood about the redshirt experience and its social and psychological effects on athletes. This study investigated athletes’ identity development through a theoretical coupling of Schlossberg’s (1981) Transition Theory and Erikson’s (1950) Stages of Psychosocial Development. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 Division II football athletes who redshirted their freshman year. Findings noted four consistent themes: (1) athletes’ perceptions of their uniqueness and distinction in high school, (2) determination through the redshirt freshman year, (3) subsequent team isolation, and (4) little desire for team intimacy. Implications of this study include the importance of transparency during the redshirt freshman year and intentionally integrating athletes into team communities.