October 3rd: Countable Practices

Yes.  NCAA Bylaw 17.3.2 states that an institution shall not commence on-court preseason basketball practice sessions before the date that is 42 days before the date of the institution’s first regular-season contest. An institution shall not engage in more than 30 days of countable athletically related activities before its first regular-season contest. Any countable athletically related activities (e.g., conditioning, skill-related instruction) that occur within the 42-day period shall count against the 30 days of countable athletically related activities. (Revised: 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05, 1/14/08 effective 8/1/08, 4/29/10, 1/14/12 effective 8/1/12, 5/2/13 effective 8/1/13, 1/15/14, 1/18/18 effective 8/1/18)

Please note the reference to “team” in the rationale of NCAA Proposal 2011-85.  The NCAA has confirmed that the 30 designated practice days cannot apply to individual student-athletes.

The most recent modification to the first permissible contest date in men’s basketball reduced the number of preseason practice opportunities by up to seven days. This proposal allows the number of practice days in men’s basketball to remain at a maximum of 30, which is generally consistent with the number of practice opportunities permitted prior to the adoption of the current legislation. Additionally, this proposed flexible preseason practice schedule permits coaches to best use practice and off days to benefit student-athletes prior to the first contest. While the existing preseason practice schedule essentially dictates that practice must occur during every possible day, the flexible approach offered in this proposal provides each coach with the ability to determine when to use the practice opportunities depending on the team’s needs and the academic calendar. For example, a coach may provide the team with days off to study for midterm exams, to take advantage of fall vacation periods or to recover from injuries.

With the adoption of NCAA Proposal 2017-72, the 42-day period now applies to women’s basketball as well.