Hello, August 1st!

Ocean State University (OSU) football team begins preseason practice today.  Once the team has completed the five day acclimatization period, the coaches would like to conduct a few two-a-day practices.  Is that permissible as long as they do not occur on consecutive days?

No.  The answer is the same for all three divisions.

Division I NCAA Bylaw 17.10.2.5 states that the remaining preseason practice period shall be conducted as follows: (Adopted: 4/24/03 effective 5/1/03, Revised: 12/15/06, 4/24/14, 4/14/17)

(a) After the five-day period, institutions may practice in full pads. However, an institution may not conduct multiple on-field practice sessions on the same day;

(b) Student-athletes shall not engage in more than three hours of on-field practice activities per day; and

(c) Student-athletes must be provided with at least three continuous hours of recovery time between an on-field practice session and a walk-through. During this time, student-athletes may not engage in physical athletically related activities (e.g., weight lifting). Time spent in team meetings, film review, receiving medical treatment and eating meals may be included as part of the recovery time.

Division II NCAA Bylaw 17.10.2.4 states that the remaining preseason practice period shall be conducted as follows: (Adopted: 1/13/03 effective 8/1/03)

(a) Following the five-day acclimatization period, institutions may practice in full pads. However, an institution may not conduct multiple on-field practice sessions on the same day; and (Revised: 4/26/17)

(b) Student-athletes shall not engage in more than three hours of on-field practice activities per day. (Revised: 4/26/17)

Division III NCAA Bylaw 17.10.2.3 states that the remaining preseason practice period shall be conducted as follows: (Adopted: 1/12/04)

(a) Following the five-day period, student-athletes may practice in full pads. However, an institution may not conduct multiple on-field practice sessions on the same day; (Adopted: 1/12/04, Revised: 4/20/17)

(b) Student-athletes shall not engage in more than one on-field practice and one walk-through session, which shall be limited to a combined total of four hours per day with the practice session not to exceed three hours; (Adopted: 1/12/04, Revised: 4/20/17, 7/23/18)