▁of ▁a ▁ 2 . 3 ▁G PA ▁across ▁four ▁years , ▁may ▁enter ▁school ▁as ▁an ▁academic ▁red sh irt . ▁This ▁student ▁can ▁receive ▁an ▁athlet ic ▁scholar ship ▁and ▁practice ▁with ▁the ▁team , ▁but ▁may ▁not ▁particip ate ▁in ▁competition . ▁An ▁academic ▁red sh irt ▁does ▁not ▁lose ▁a ▁year ▁of ▁el ig ibility , ▁and ▁may ▁later ▁take ▁an ▁injury ▁red sh irt ▁if ▁needed . ▁Finally , ▁as ▁long ▁as ▁an ▁academic ▁red sh irt ▁comple tes ▁nine ▁academic ▁credit ▁hours ▁in ▁their ▁first ▁sem ester ▁they ▁may ▁then ▁comp ete ▁in ▁their ▁second ▁year ▁free ▁of ▁restrictions . ▁ ▁Other ▁colors ▁Athlet es ▁may ▁also ▁use ▁a ▁" gray sh irt " ▁year , ▁in ▁which ▁they ▁attend ▁school ▁as ▁neither ▁a ▁full - time ▁student ▁nor ▁the ▁recip ient ▁of ▁a ▁scholar ship . ▁They ▁are ▁an ▁uno fficial ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁team ▁and ▁do ▁not ▁particip ate ▁in ▁practices , ▁games , ▁or ▁receive ▁financial ▁assistance ▁from ▁the ▁athlet ic ▁department . ▁Typ ically , ▁gray sh ir ts ▁are ▁players ▁who ▁are ▁injured ▁right ▁before ▁college ▁and ▁require ▁an ▁entire ▁year ▁to ▁recuper ate . ▁R ather ▁than ▁waste ▁the ▁red sh irt , ▁the ▁player ▁can ▁attend ▁school ▁as ▁a ▁part - time ▁student ▁and ▁join ▁the ▁team ▁later . ▁This ▁is ▁also ▁used ▁by ▁players ▁with ▁religious ▁or ▁military ▁oblig ations ▁that ▁keep ▁them ▁out ▁of ▁school ▁for ▁a ▁full ▁academic ▁year . ▁ ▁" Bl ues h irt "