What is a "cap hit"?

A "cap hit" refers to the portion of a player's salary that counts against a team's salary cap. This is a crucial concept in professional sports, particularly in leagues with a salary cap system, as it directly impacts how a team manages its payroll and roster construction. The salary cap is designed to promote competitive balance by limiting how much teams can spend on player salaries in a given season.

Understanding the cap hit helps teams strategize their contracts and maneuver within the constraints of the salary cap. For example, if a player has a high cap hit, it may restrict a team's ability to sign additional players or retain existing talent. Each player's salary may be structured in various ways—such as signing bonuses, base salary, and incentives—which can affect their cap hit differently in each season.

The other choices provided do not accurately describe what a cap hit is. Total revenue from ticket sales and merchandise sales pertains to the financial earnings of a team rather than their salary obligations. Penalties for exceeding the salary cap, while related to salary cap management, don't define what a cap hit is but rather the consequences of mismanagement of cap space. Therefore, the definition of a cap hit as the portion of a player's salary that counts against the salary cap is not only accurate but