UNC Field Hockey 2026-2027

[3397char]

The 2026 roster is finally out; this list is updated.

Starters Returning:

1. 4Y (Sr) F Charly Bruder (NFHCA 2nd Team A-A, All ACC) - 2025 4th in ACC in goals (18), 6 assts - lead the nation in goals in 2024 (27)
2. 5Y (R-Sr) D Grace Pottebaum - 2 year starter, named team DPOY at awards banquet
3. 2Y (So) F Reese Anetsberger - 23 starts (every game) as a freshman, All-ACC Tourney team, 5 goals, 6 assts
4. 4Y (R-Jr) B Hope Haynes - 23 starts
5. 5Y (R-Sr) F/MF Molly Catchpole - 23 starts, 0 goals, 1 asst
6. 2Y (So) GK Merritt Skubisz - .704 save percentage, split time in Goal 50/50, played in every game, team rookie of the year award

Other Returning Players:

1. 3Y (R-So) D Coco Courtright (6 starts when Bruning was out, 1 goal, 2 assts, named team most improved player)
2. 2Y (R-Fr) MF Reid Miller - Redshirted in 2025, but currently on the U-21 USJWNT, HS 2nd Team A-A, HS Top 51-100 MaxFH
3. 2Y (So) MF/F Eliza Perrin - Played in 21 games, 3 goals, 1 asst. HS 1st Team A-A
4. 2Y (So) MF Sylvie Notine - Played in 10 games as a Fr
5. 2Y (R-Fr) MF Jenna Narleski - Redshirted in 2025, HS 2nd Team A-A,, HS Top 51-100 MaxFH
6. 4Y (R-Jr) MF Ella Barbacci - Played in 20 games over 2 years, 283 min played, 1 Goal
7. 3Y (R-So) GK Charley Vandenstockt - Played in 8 games as a freshman, DNP last season
8. 4Y (R-Jr) B Caroline Golden - Played in 11 games over 2 years, 54 min played

Incoming Transfers for 2026:

1. 5Y (R-Sr) GK Tessa Shahbo - Harvard Bio - DNP in 2025 - 2X All-Ivy HM, 1.01 GAA (tops in Ivy 2024, 7TH in NCAA), .804 Save % 2024 (2nd in Ivy, would have tied for ACC lead that season, lead this season)

Incoming Class of 2026:

#	Player_Name	Position	MaxFH_Rank	USYNT_and_Awards	High_School_&_State	Club_Team	Highlights	Signed
1	Sofia Ferri	MF/D	Top 10, 2x MaxFH A-A	U-16, U-18 & U-21 USJWNT, JR Olympics, USWNIT, 2025 NFHCA 1st Team A-A	The Hill School (PA)	WC Eagles		Yes
2	Morgan O'Donnell	D	Top 10, 2025 Max FH 2nd Team A-A	U-16 & U-18 USJWNT, 2024 NFHCA All-Region 1st Team, JR Olympics	Avon Grove (PA)	WC Eagles		Yes
3	Molly Nussbaumer	MF	Top10, 2025 Max FH A-A 2nd team	U-21 USJWNT, Nexus Club Championship, 2025 NFHCA 2nd Team A-A	Gardinal Gibbons (NC)	Bull City		Yes
4	Cecily Moorhead	F	N/A	England U-16 and GB U-18 YNT, 5X England NPOY	Wellington College (Wimbeldon, UK)	Surbiton HC		Yes
5	Devon Anderson	D		Camp MVP, Conference 1st Team, 2024 NEPSAC 1st team	Greenwich Country Day (CT)	AGH		Yes
6	Imme De Leeuw	D/MF	N/A	Dutch U-18 YNT, captain of Euro indoor club champion	(Amsterdam, NED)	Pinoke		Yes
7	Micky Van Baasbank	MF	N/A	KNHB Regional Development Pool	(Naarden, NED)	Gooische

Official UNC 2026 recruiting class release
#5 Recruiting class according the Thefieldhockeyanalyst
#2 Recruiting Class according to Max FH. (Princeton #1)

*See future class commits 2 posts below

UNC's Spring scrimmages did not provide much insight on starting lineups because many graduating players started.

Players not on 2026 Roster posted in Aug 2026:

1. Floor Holzenbosch was an announced commit. She may have had trouble with visa or admissions, or some otehr reason, but appears she will not play in 2026. 2027 is still TBD. She was 2X Captain of Dutch National Youth Club Champion, Dutch U-16 YNT Camp. Would be a major recruit for UNC.
2. 2Y (R-Fr) F Olivia Anderson - Played in 4 games, then redshirted in 2025, HS Top 51-100 MaxFH
3. Emersyn O'Leary - announced her commitment to UNC in 2024. But she did not appear in UNC's recruiting class announcement above in Nov 2025, D@ DelawareAll-state. WC Eagles Club, unranked by Max FH

Roster currently stands at 22. The roster limit is 27. It has been rumored here that Ryleigh Heck, Sietske Bruning and Dani Mendez are all grad assistants for the team, who could possibly become eligible if the Wisne court case (or some other case) makes them eligible to play before the season ends. That is not confirmed.

Starters Lost:

1. F Ryleigh Heck (2x NPOY, 3x 1st Team A-A, 4x All-ACC, ACC POY, 19 goals, 13 assts) - graduated
2. MF Dani Mendez (NFHCA 2nd Team A-A, 15 goals, 16 assts) - graduated
3. B/MF Sietske Bruning (3x NFHCA 2nd Team A-A, 2nd Team, All-ACC, 6 assts, team leadership award) - graduated
4. B Isabele Boere (2nd Team All-ACC, 2nd team all-region, started every game at center back, 9 goals, 8 assts on PCs) - returned to Netherlands?
5. Sr MF Sanne Hak - 3 year starter, 3x All-Region player, 7 goals, 10 assts - graduated
6. GK Kate Wimmer (finished at UNC as the NCAA active career leader in saves, split time in Goal 50/50, played in every game)

• F Kara Heck (4 starts when Bruder was out, 8 goals, 5 assts) - graduated

The 2025-2026 Field Hockey Thread

 

[minas823]

@3397char Thank you for putting this together! One edit (I believe) being that Sanne will not be returning

After only having Boere for a year, I am really happy to see Cecily wants to be here for 4 years. She should slide in nicely to fill the void left behind by Boere.

 

[3397char]

Class of 2027 Commits as of 7/10/26

Player_Name	Position	MaxFH_Rank	Other_Awards	USYNT_and_Awards	High_School_&_State	Club_Team	Highlights	Signed
Maeve McGinley	MF	Top 10, 2025 Max FH A-A	2025 USFHCA 2nd Team A-A	USJWNT, U-16 USJWNIT (indoor), 2026 USA U-18 Camp Invite,	Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (PA)	WC Eagles
Piper Reisbane	GK	#51-100		U-16 USJWNIT (indoor), U-17 USJWNIT (indoor)	(PA)	WC Eagles
Jack Shaw	MF	Top 10, 2025 Max FH A-A	2025 NFHCA 2nd Team A-A	U-16 USJWNT, U-16 USJWNIT (indoor), 2026 USA U-18 Camp Invite,	Villa Maria Academy (PA)	WC Eagles

Class of 2028 Commits as of 7/10/26

Player_Name	Position	MaxFH_Rank	Other_Awards	USYNT_and_Awards	High_School_&_State	Club_Team	Highlights	Signed
Reese D'Ariano	MF	Top 10 2027	Youngest player ever to score a goal at the FIH Indoor World Cup, youngest ever for US at FIH World Cup	USWNT Starter, USWNIT Starter, USJWNT, USJWNIT, Tourney MVP at the Indoor Pan Am Cup , 2X 'Young Player of the Tourney' at the FIH Indoor World Cup	Home schooled (PA)	WC Eagles
Kendall Longenberger	MF/D	Top 10		U-18 USJWNT, U-16 USJWNT	Boiling Springs HS (PA)	WC Eagles
Lily McClay	MF	Top 10		FHCP #11 ranked recruit 2025 MaxFH 3rd Team A-A USA U-16 Team	Fairfield Ludlowe HS (CT)	AGH FH Club

*D'Ariano told IC Reporter Spencer Haskell in this interview she plans to take a gap year in 2027 to focus on the 2028 Olympics, postponing her college matriculation to 2028

 

[UNCH]

Hak is done. She only had 3 years.

Ferri is elite defender/ball advancement player.

No clue who is replacing Ryleigh. This is huge weakness for the team.

 

[3397char]

I will remove Hak

 

[3397char]

One notable change for 2026-27 will be the new 5 years to play 5 rule. The first immediate affect is there will be no reason for freshmen to redshirt.

 

[3397char]

Hak is done. She only had 3 years.

Ferri is elite defender/ball advancement player.

No clue who is replacing Ryleigh. This is huge weakness for the team.

Agreed. Unless some freshman comes in like Matson and then Heck did, this team will lack obvious star power and a mandatory double team for the first time in a very long time.

I do not see us as a top 2 team in the country like previous years. Certainly still top 10, but by our standard this is a rebuilding year on paper.

 

[minas823]

This could be a tough year, as we try to navigate replacing nearly all of our offensive production (outside of Bruder).

I am praying that at least one of the incoming Europeans have a little Yentl/Eva van’t hoog/Ryleigh/Erin playmaking and field vision abilities in them. We truly have been blessed with so many great players this past decade. Growing pains without these kind of players on the field will be noticeable.

I trust our staff will have these athletes hungry and motivated to step up into bigger roles this season.

Outside of the obvious returners - I think we have a few wild cards for this season. One being Caroline Golden. She looked really comfortable in the little minutes she played last season, and continued to play in system swinging the ball around the back field well. Ella Barbacci too - she was getting a lot of minutes towards the end of the season off the bench and looked comfortable out there. Reid Miller spending time with the U21 team means she must have some abilities worth keeping an eye one.

I hope Eliza Perrin works really hard in the off season. She shows promise, with a high motor but often times was out of control and card prone.

I am wondering if the goalie position will be split again this year?

 

[unc80]

Looks like Erin is really going to earn her paycheck next season.

 

[3397char]

I am wondering if the goalie position will be split again this year?

I think Shahbo is as good as either keeper last season and I don’t see Skibisz losing her starts, so my guess is split goal again.

 

[JCTarHeel]

Looks like Erin is really going to earn her paycheck next season.

Might need her to suit up.

 

[TommyAshley]

Spencer and me spent some time w Coach Matson today. Off season talk. Should drop next week

 

[Jriv23]

I think the European players coming in are going to help us out tremendously this coming season. If you look at the world cup for field hockey, the players from Europe, Belgium, and the Netherlands tend to be further ahead than American players. We do have I think four coming in. I not worry as much as some are about next year. We have a great coaching staff and we have some players like Coco and company that should be ready now. They will be either juniors and seniors this coming season and I think they will be ready for the challenge. Go Heels!

 

[oldwell]

We redshirted our top freshman last year and have multiple talented Euros coming in. I feel great about our potential.

 

[Jriv23]

We redshirted three our top freshman last year, Reid Miller, Olivia Anderson and Jenna Narleski.

 

[3397char]

We redshirted three our top freshman last year, Reid Miller, Olivia Anderson and Jenna Narleski.

I overlooked Anderson; I will put her in the OP. But our top 2 recruits by ranking played (Skubisz & Anetsberger) These three may be great, but were 2nd tier on paper in terms of ranking. I will be pleasantly surprised if they are key contributors in their first season.

 

[TommyAshley]

 

[TommyAshley]

Erin Matson Balancing Expectations, Growth as UNC Field Hockey Reloads for 2026
https://on3.com/teams/north-carolin...ctations-growth-unc-field-hockey-reloads-2026

 

[3397char]

No Tar Heels on this team (all but about 3 or 4 have committed elsewhere)

 

[3397char]

Here is the next crop of key players; none have committed anywhere yet that I can see.

 

[Jriv23]

I guess our field hockey team will have to keep receipts for the upcoming season as well. Where is love and respect UNC filed hockey team should be getting.

 

[3397char]

No cool graphic for the U-21 team yet at the Four Nations Tournament in July yet, but it incudes the following UNC Players:

1. Fr MF/D Sofia Ferri
2. Fr MF Molly Nussbaumer
3. So F Reese Anetsberger
4. So MF Reid Miller

4 Nations Tournament (U-21 USWNT)

Taking place July 8 to 15 at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Lilleshall, England, the 4 Nations Tournament features U-21 teams from Belgium, England, India, and the United States. Matches will not be livestreamed....

www.usafieldhockey.com

 

[airball]

As noted by many — lots of experienced talent lost from last season. Talented incoming players, but experience gaps are likely to be exposed.

Should be an interesting season so long as expectations are tempered.

GO HEELS!

 

[Jriv23]

Airball if you listened to the interview that Tommy did with Erin, Erin said some things that contradicts what you just said. To be honest, the European players that are coming in are not your typically freshmen. European players tend to be far ahead of our US players in field hockey. When was the last time that the US won the World cup in Field Hockey? That should tell you the difference between them and our players. We just saw how Isabelle B. did this past year and that was her first year playing for us but she has been playing for the Belgium National team for awhile now. There is a reason why she is going back to play professionally again after playing one year for us. That was her plan and she stated this when she came last year.

 

[airball]

Airball if you listened to the interview that Tommy did with Erin, Erin said some things that contradicts what you just said. To be honest, the European players that are coming in are not your typically freshmen. European players tend to be far ahead of our US players in field hockey. When was the last time that the US won the World cup in Field Hockey? That should tell you the difference between them and our players. We just saw how Isabelle B. did this past year and that was her first year playing for us but she has been playing for the Belgium National team for awhile now. There is a reason why she is going back to play professionally again after playing one year for us. That was her plan and she stated this when she came last year.

Gosh, I wish you had shared your profound knowledge before I wasted my time posting drivel.

 

[airball]

As soon as my source provides me with a prediction for the upcoming season, I will share it. However, for the present I am advised that the incoming Europeans will provide all the experience that we could possibly hope for.

 

[Jack82930509]

I am of the opinion we will lose some games next year. Our lack of playmaking especially up top was very evident in the spring. Obviously we will still be good but I don’t expect us to be #1 all year.

 

[Jriv23]

Yeah, I do expect us to have some growing pains. By all means, no one is going undefeated in college Field Hockey this coming season. I think NW will start off being Number 1. They are the reigning champions.

 

[3397char]

This will be the first time since 2017 that we will not either have the best offensive player in college field hockey or at least someone in the argument/top 2.

NW loses POY Zimmer but they still have 1st teamers Sessa and Trompe, 2nd team GK Boon, and 3rd team Bent-Cole . Sessa gets my vote for preseason POY. NW is the clear preseason #1. Not even close.

Off the 1st team: We lose Heck, Cuse loses Bo Van Kempen, Princeton loses Yeager, Brown loses Adams,UVA loses Leemens, Harvard their top MF and defender, so really it is somewhat of a changing of the guard at the top. I think The Ivy banner season will not repeat. Yale does return MF Picciafuoco, probably their conference preseason POY.

Iowa returns Van Aalsum, a 1st team forward and national leader in goals. She may fight Sessa for the preseason POY award.

Looking at the ACC, McVeigh at Dook and Schoenbeck at WF join the above as returning 1st team A-A‘S. Schoenbeck is the reigning ACC POY, McVeigh a former ACC POY. Throw in the UVA GK who was also a 1st team A-A and there is your ACC star power.

don’t be surprised if UNC is 2nd or 3rd in preseason ACC votes. Dook finished 6th nationally last season and returns 8 starters plus a MD transfer who started. I bet they are #1. WF finished 8th but they return the ACC POY, DPOY and FOY. In all they return 8 starters including 5 who received some sort of All-ACC recognition. I think there is a good chance they pass us in votes as well and could challenge dook for the top nod. UVA finished 5th nationally. They return 5 starters and a Louisville transfer who started. But My guess is they stay behind UNC.

while prolific with her shot I still see Bruder as a bit of a big hitter specialist. Can she carry a team? We lose almost all of the rest of our offense. Annetsberger is the only other returning starter with multiple goals. We lose our top offensive sub as well. And Boerre who was our APC specialist. in short, We are looking for a ton of women to step up, especially on offense.

there is a decent argument to be made that on paper dook and WF tier 1 while UVA & UNC are tier 2. It is just hard to tell with so many question marks. All are clearly top 10 teams again.

 

[Jriv23]

I agree with your assessment. Thanks for sharing.

 

[oldwell]

This will be the first time since 2017 that we will not either have the best offensive player in college field hockey or at least someone in the argument/top 2.

NW loses POY Zimmer but they still have 1st teamers Sessa and Trompe, 2nd team GK Boon, and 3rd team Bent-Cole . Sessa gets my vote for preseason POY. NW is the clear preseason #1. Not even close.

Off the 1st team: We lose Heck, Cuse loses Bo Van Kempen, Princeton loses Yeager, Brown loses Adams,UVA loses Leemens, Harvard their top MF and defender, so really it is somewhat of a changing of the guard at the top. I think The Ivy banner season will not repeat. Yale does return MF Picciafuoco, probably their conference preseason POY.

Iowa returns Van Aalsum, a 1st team forward and national leader in goals. She may fight Sessa for the preseason POY award.

Looking at the ACC, McVeigh at Dook and Schoenbeck at WF join the above as returning 1st team A-A‘S. Schoenbeck is the reigning ACC POY, McVeigh a former ACC POY. Throw in the UVA GK who was also a 1st team A-A and there is your ACC star power.

don’t be surprised if UNC is 2nd or 3rd in preseason ACC votes. Dook finished 6th nationally last season and returns 8 starters plus a MD transfer who started. I bet they are #1. WF finished 8th but they return the ACC POY, DPOY and FOY. In all they return 8 starters including 5 who received some sort of All-ACC recognition. I think there is a good chance they pass us in votes as well and could challenge dook for the top nod. UVA finished 5th nationally. They return 5 starters and a Louisville transfer who started. But My guess is they stay behind UNC.

while prolific with her shot I still see Bruder as a bit of a big hitter specialist. Can she carry a team? We lose almost all of the rest of our offense. Annetsberger is the only other returning starter with multiple goals. We lose our top offensive sub as well. And Boerre who was our APC specialist. in short, We are looking for a ton of women to step up, especially on offense.

there is a decent argument to be made that on paper dook and WF tier 1 while UVA & UNC are tier 2. It is just hard to tell with so many question marks. All are clearly top 10 teams again.

Very sobering assessment. Here’s to hoping the internationals + young players are better than expected.

I guess we were due for a lull after the dynasty run.

 

[Jriv23]

I think we will be good at the start and as the season goes on they will get better. Our team is goinEig to be really young this year. Eight or Nine of the starters will be freshmen according to what Erin said on her interview with Tommy A. I anticipate them to get better and better once they have gotten some experience playing at the college level.

 

[DeaconSSI]

This will be the first time since 2017 that we will not either have the best offensive player in college field hockey or at least someone in the argument/top 2.

NW loses POY Zimmer but they still have 1st teamers Sessa and Trompe, 2nd team GK Boon, and 3rd team Bent-Cole . Sessa gets my vote for preseason POY. NW is the clear preseason #1. Not even close.

Off the 1st team: We lose Heck, Cuse loses Bo Van Kempen, Princeton loses Yeager, Brown loses Adams,UVA loses Leemens, Harvard their top MF and defender, so really it is somewhat of a changing of the guard at the top. I think The Ivy banner season will not repeat. Yale does return MF Picciafuoco, probably their conference preseason POY.

Iowa returns Van Aalsum, a 1st team forward and national leader in goals. She may fight Sessa for the preseason POY award.

Looking at the ACC, McVeigh at Dook and Schoenbeck at WF join the above as returning 1st team A-A‘S. Schoenbeck is the reigning ACC POY, McVeigh a former ACC POY. Throw in the UVA GK who was also a 1st team A-A and there is your ACC star power.

don’t be surprised if UNC is 2nd or 3rd in preseason ACC votes. Dook finished 6th nationally last season and returns 8 starters plus a MD transfer who started. I bet they are #1. WF finished 8th but they return the ACC POY, DPOY and FOY. In all they return 8 starters including 5 who received some sort of All-ACC recognition. I think there is a good chance they pass us in votes as well and could challenge dook for the top nod. UVA finished 5th nationally. They return 5 starters and a Louisville transfer who started. But My guess is they stay behind UNC.

while prolific with her shot I still see Bruder as a bit of a big hitter specialist. Can she carry a team? We lose almost all of the rest of our offense. Annetsberger is the only other returning starter with multiple goals. We lose our top offensive sub as well. And Boerre who was our APC specialist. in short, We are looking for a ton of women to step up, especially on offense.

there is a decent argument to be made that on paper dook and WF tier 1 while UVA & UNC are tier 2. It is just hard to tell with so many question marks. All are clearly top 10 teams again.

Nice summary. Few quick comments:

-I think van Kempen has 1 more year eligibility, she’s listed on the Cuse 2026 roster. She was a Honda finalist and should make Cuse a top 5 team.
-same eligibility for Adams at Brown, according to social media
-further on the above, I think Ivy is poised for another strong year. Tons of talent/scoring returning to Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Brown
-I’m not certain but I believe Grace Schulze (2025 B1G tourney MVP) also returns for final year w Northwestern, further bolstering their case for being the team to beat
-Wake fan here and hoping we can have a strong year and better postseason performance. Most talented roster we’ve had in at least a decade. Really admire Jen Averill and the way she represents Wake Forest, reminds me of Karen Shelton, who I also greatly respected.

Should be a fun year! Always enjoy the commentary on this thread.

 

[minas823]

Nice summary. Few quick comments:

-I think van Kempen has 1 more year eligibility, she’s listed on the Cuse 2026 roster. She was a Honda finalist and should make Cuse a top 5 team.
-same eligibility for Adams at Brown, according to social media
-further on the above, I think Ivy is poised for another strong year. Tons of talent/scoring returning to Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Brown
-I’m not certain but I believe Grace Schulze (2025 B1G tourney MVP) also returns for final year w Northwestern, further bolstering their case for being the team to beat
-Wake fan here and hoping we can have a strong year and better postseason performance. Most talented roster we’ve had in at least a decade. Really admire Jen Averill and the way she represents Wake Forest, reminds me of Karen Shelton, who I also greatly respected.

Should be a fun year! Always enjoy the commentary on this thread.

Bo I believe posted a farewell to SU on IG. So I’d be surprised if she’s on the fall roster. Exhausting seniors can still participate during the spring season.

I also really like coach Averill. Wake underperformed in last years post season - I do not expect that to happen again this year. Another coach I really liked was coach Madison. I still feel sorry for how her career came to a close.

Liberty snagged a couple really good players from South Africa, who should be fun to watch.

 

[DeaconSSI]

Bo I believe posted a farewell to SU on IG. So I’d be surprised if she’s on the fall roster. Exhausting seniors can still participate during the spring season.

I also really like coach Averill. Wake underperformed in last years post season - I do not expect that to happen again this year. Another coach I really liked was coach Madison. I still feel sorry for how her career came to a close.

Liberty snagged a couple really good players from South Africa, who should be fun to watch.

Good observation re: Bo. I hope you are right! She is a huge threat.

Wake was missing 3 starters for NCAA tourney (Storey, Keller, Montag (defensive POY)) due to injury and national team duties. Not an excuse but did change the shape of the 1st round game. Hope we can stay healthy this year.

Madison was a good coach for sure. Her dismissal was incredibly abrupt (right before postseason with UVA contending for a top seed) so it must have been something not good.

Agreed re: Liberty, looks like they also snagged one of the top scorers on the Argentinian U21 team. They’re always a threat and well-coached.

 

[BenSherman]

ACC officially announced today that its postseason tournament will be in Chapel Hill.

ACC Field Hockey Championship – Nov. 3, 4 & 6, 2026
Host: University of North Carolina
Karen Shelton Stadium (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Tournament Format: Eight-team bracket

 

[Jriv23]

No cool graphic for the U-21 team yet at the Four Nations Tournament in July yet, but it incudes the following UNC Players:

1. Fr MF/D Sofia Ferri
2. Fr MF Molly Nussbaumer
3. So F Reese Anetsberger
4. So MF Reid Miller

4 Nations Tournament (U-21 USWNT)

Taking place July 8 to 15 at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Lilleshall, England, the 4 Nations Tournament features U-21 teams from Belgium, England, India, and the United States. Matches will not be livestreamed....

www.usafieldhockey.com

How can Reid Miller be a So if she just red-shirted last year. I think a mistake was made for player number 4 on your list. I think number 4 should say: Fr MF Reid Miller.

 

[3397char]

How can Reid Miller be a So if she just red-shirted last year. I think a mistake was made for player number 4 on your list. I think number 4 should say: Fr MF Reid Miller.

We are in a transition period here waiting on the 5 to play 5 rule to be passed. If it does, there will no longer be redshirts; it will be meaningless as you can no longer bank a year for injury or development. Waivers to extend eligibility will only be granted for highly specific extenuating circumstances, such as active-duty military service, official religious missions, and pregnancy. Teams will just have 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th year players: the number of years that follow their HS graduation or 19th birthday; whichever comes first. This will be regardless of which seasons they did or did not play.

That vote likely will be June 23-24. It is considered highly likely to go into effect because the sub-committee that advanced it showed overwhelming support, and logically it solves a huge problem with repeated lost court cases ridiculously extending eligibility in various ways. Basically, this rule is thought to create better consistency, limit all these waiver hearings, and be defensible in court.

as currently written, current players can either use the old 4 to play 5 rule we use now or the new rule; whichever benefits them more. But I do not know how that applies to medical hradships and other cases that extend people beyond 5 years. We also have no way of knowing in many cases which player has such paperwork in place and which still have a waiver pending, and how a pending waiver will be affected. I have no idea on the nuance here.

But back to your point: under the current rules you are correct. Reid is a redshirt freshman. Under the rules in as little as one week for now Reid probably will be a Sophomore. i.e a 2nd Year. Either way, she has 5 seasons to complete her career; it is a distinction without a difference.

If you look through my various preseason threads I have not been consistent on how I have labeled players. Sometimes I accounted for the rule, some times I have not. When the rule actually passes, I hope to eventually revise them all and just list athletes as 1st through 5th year as a new preferred nomenclature. But this will mean either waiting for the official rosters to be updated, or I will need to go through each player's bio and determine when they graduated HS and their age.

 

[Jriv23]

Thanks for the explanation 3397char. Go Heels!

 

[3397char]

P.A. remains the epicenter of field hockey in the US