5th Year for you, 5th Year for Everyone

 5th Year for you, 5th Year for Everyone

    A 5th year is normally very difficult to come by in college sports. Sometimes they are granted due to injuries and sometimes it's a conscious decision made between the coaches and the players. It basically means that you get another year of NCAA eligibility and that you get the opportunity to play in college and potentially receive a scholarship for one more year.

    It is a great option for many students who love the sport that they play and are determined to keep playing. It also can be a great route for students who are looking to complete their masters at that school because they can potentially get it payed for by the team.

    The interesting thing with 5th years now is that every athlete who played a spring sport in 2020, regardless if you played or not, has been granted a 5th year. This is something that has never been seen before and has potential to change the way college sports look for the next few years.

    While it may not have a huge impact on sports like basketball and football where post college looks very enticing to most athletes, it has a great impact on other sports like Lacrosse, Volleyball, Track and Field, etc. 

    College basketball already has the one-and-done rule in place, which most athletes take advantage of because of the money incentive. It is hard not to want to make money playing a sport you love, but that is sadly not the case for all student athletes.

    Lacrosse for example, does not offer much financial opportunities after college. You can play in the Premier Lacrosse League for field lacrosse or the National Lacrosse League for box lacrosse, but most players have a job on the side. It is not something that can carry your through life like you see in both Football and Basketball.

    This is why a 5th year option is so enticing to many student-athletes who do not play these well known sports. They now have the opportunity to play the sport they love for another year while achieving a higher level of education.

    At High Point almost every one of last years women's lacrosse seniors returned for a 5th year. This just shows how great an opportunity it has become and how desirable this option has become.

    It may just be the only good thing to come out of 2020...