playing and practice season legislation di far 2015 annual meeting september 20, 2015 1

Playing and Practice Season LegislationDI FAR 2015 Annual MeetingSeptember 20, 2015

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Origins of Time Limits• Proposal No. 38: 1991 NCAA Convention• Rationale: • NCAA Studies have revealed that SAs want a reduction in the

amount of time they spend on athletics activities.• The proposals reduce the amount of required time SAs spend on

athletically related activities, enable them to spend more time on academics and allow them to enjoy more complete college experience.

• It is responsive to the desires of the SAs but flexible enough to permit intense preparation for high-level athletics competition.

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Where We Are Today• General Rule During Declared Playing Season• Limit of four hours per day• Limit of 20 hours per week

• NCAA Week defined as any seven consecutive days determined at the institution’s discretion and is sport (not SA) specific. Once week is determined it may not change during the remainder of the segment.

• Required one day off per week• Countable Athletically Related Activities

• Any REQUIRED activity with an athletics purpose involving SAs and at the direction of, or supervised by, one or more coaching staff members (including S&C coach).

• Does not include administrative activities (academic and compliance meetings) nor medical treatment. 3

Any Good Rule Has Exceptions• Competition Day: • Competition and associated activities count as 3 hours only.

• Vacation Periods & Between Terms:• Daily and weekly hour limits do not apply to CARA.

• Golf Practice Round:• May exceed the 4 hour daily limit but must not exceed weekly

limit.

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Exceptions (continued)• Voluntary Safety and Skill Instruction:• Equestrian – When equestrian equipment is being used• Fencing – When fencing equipment is being used• Gymnastics – When gymnastics equipment is being used• Rifle – When SA is shooting• Rowing – When rowing equipment is being used• Skiing – When SA is engaged in skiing• Swimming & Diving – When SA is swimming or diving• Track & Field – When SA is engaged in field events, jumping

hurdles or jumping element of steeplechase• Triathlon – When SA is swimming or cycling• Water Polo – When SA is engaged in water polo• Wrestling – When SA is engaged in wrestling

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What is Voluntary?• SA is not required to report back to a coach or other athletics

department staff member (e.g., strength coach, trainer, manager) any information related to the activity.

• No athletics department staff member who observes the activity (e.g., trainer, manager) may report back to the student-athlete's coach any information related to the activity

• The activity must be initiated and requested solely by the student-athlete.• May post times when facility/S&C coach is available• May assign times for those that initiated a request to engage 6

Voluntary? (continued)• SA’s attendance may not be recorded for purposes of

reporting to coach or other SAs.

• SA may not be subject to penalty for not participating

• No recognition or incentives can be provided for participating

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Required Day Off Scenario 1• Designated week is Monday – Sunday for the soccer team

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Permissible: Team took the first day (Monday) off of each designated week.

Required Day Off Scenario 2• Designated week is Monday - Sunday for the tennis team.

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Permissible: Team took the first day (Monday) off during the week of 5th through 11th and Team took the last day (Sunday) off during the week of 12th through 18th.

Required Day Off Scenario 3• Designated week is Monday – Sunday for the basketball team

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Permissible: Exception for basketball when team has three contests in a week, an institution is not subject to the one-day-off-per-week, provided the SAs get two days off either the preceding or the following week. 13

Back to the Panel Now……

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