August 6th: Preseason Practice

Ocean State University (OSU) football team has begun preseason practice.  The coaches are fine tuning the activities, drills, etc. the team will participate in during the five-day acclimatization period.  Is it permissible for OSU to use footballs during the five-day acclimatization period?

Yes with conditions.  A recent update posted on LSDBi and NCAA Educational Column- address specific questions and concerns related to preseason practice.  As noted below, the Football Oversight Committee will continue discussions to determine if any legislative adjustments will be recommended.

Based on the staff’s review of Proposal No. 2017-116 and the intent of the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee, the use of footballs is permitted during a walk-through occurring within the five-day acclimatization period.  The staff will re-engage the Football Oversight Committee at a future meeting to pursue further legislative action.    

[References:  NCAA Division I Bylaws 17.10.2.4 (five-day acclimatization period), 17.10.2.5 (preseason activities after the five-day acclimatization period), and 17.10.2.5.1 (exception – “walk-through”) and educational column (6/5/18, Item No. 2)]

NCAA Educational Column- 6/5/18-NCAA Division I Proposal No. 2017-116 Playing and Practice Seasons — Football — Preseason Practice – Start of Practice, Use of Footballs, Required Days Off and Daily and Weekly Hour Limitations (I)- provides further clarification on several questions regarding preseason practice in the sport of football.

Editor’s Note: This educational column reflects the most recent Question and Answer Document associated with the proposal.

This document contains questions and answers to assist the NCAA membership in its understanding of NCAA Division I Proposal No. 2017-116 (football – preseason practice – start of practice, use of footballs, required days off and daily and weekly hour limitations).

Question No. 1:  If this proposal is adopted, how will an institution’s preseason practice start date be calculated?

Answer:  The proposed preseason calculation will continue to be based on the institution’s first scheduled football contest. To determine the first permissible preseason practice, the institution will count back 29 days from its first scheduled football contest. The institution is permitted 25 on-field practice sessions within the 29 days.

Examples:

*   The referenced dates are for the 2018-19 academic year.

** The number of preseason practice opportunities account for one on-field practice session (per NCAA Division I Proposal 2017-2) and NCAA Division I Bylaw 17.1.7.6.3 [A] that requires one day off per week during preseason practice.

Question No. 2:  Prior to the start of classes or seven days prior to the institution’s first scheduled contest (whichever is earlier), is the institution required to provide its student-athletes a day off from all countable/required athletically related activities? 

Answer:  No, a traditional day off is not required. However, during this period countable athletically related activities must be limited to not more than two hours of meetings or film review on one day every seven days. For nonautonomy institutions that have not opted-in to autonomy time demands legislation, no other countable athletically related activities are permitted on that day. For autonomy institutions and nonautonomy institutions that have opted-in to autonomy time demands legislation, no other countable/required athletically related activities are permitted on that day.

Question No. 3:  After the institution’s first day of classes or within seven days prior to its first scheduled contest (whichever is earlier), is the institution required to provide a day off?

Answer:  Yes. After the institution’s first day of classes or within seven days prior to the institution’s first scheduled contest, the institution must adhere to applicable in-season daily and weekly hour limitations on countable athletically related activities; this includes providing at least one required day off per declared week.

THIS SCENARIO DOES NOT APPLY TO DIVISIONS II AND III AS THEY DO NOT ALLOW THE USE OF FOOTBALLS UNTIL AFTER THE FIVE-DAY ACCLIMATIZATION PERIOD