Fall Sport Pre-season Model (excluding football)

(a) Prior to participation in any preseason practice activities, all prospects and student-athletes initially entering the intercollegiate athletics program shall be required to undergo a medical examination administered by a physician.

(b) Preseason practice shall begin with a three-day acclimatization period for both first-time participants (e.g., freshman and transfers), as well as continuing student-athletes. All student-athletes, including walk-ons who arrive to preseason practice after the first day of practice are required to undergo a three-day acclimatization period.

(c) During the three-day acclimatization period, institutions shall not conduct more than one on-field practice per day, not to exceed three hours in length. Regular protective equipment does not have to be excluded during these activities as in football.

(d) Institutions may not conduct administrative activities (e.g., team pictures, equipment issue, academic orientation, etc.) or conditioning, speed, strength or agility tests on any day prior to the start of the three-day acclimatization period. During the three-day acclimatization period, the institution must establish an academic orientation period for those student-athletes who are beginning their initial season of eligibility at the institution. The orientation activities may be conducted on more than one day, but must be conducted for the equivalent of one day (no less than six hours).

(e) Student-athletes shall not engage in more than three hours of practice activities on those days during which one practice is permitted.

(f) Subsequent to the initial three days, an institution may not conduct multiple practice sessions (e.g., two-a-days or three-a-days) on consecutive days (e.g., two-one-two-one format).

(g) Student-athletes shall not engage in more than five hours of practice activities on those days during which more than one practice is permitted.

(h) On days that institutions conduct multiple practice sessions, student-athletes must be provided with at least three continuous hours of recovery time between practice sessions. During this time, student-athletes may not attend any meetings or engage in other athletic activities (e.g., weight lifting); however, time spent receiving treatment and eating meals may be included as part of the recovery time.

(i) During the preseason practice period only and subsequent to the three-day acclimatization period, on-field walk-through sessions are not considered an on-field activity, provided protective equipment is not worn, equipment related to the sport is not used and conditioning activities do not occur. Walk-through sessions may occur only on days during which a single on-field practice session is permitted and shall be limited to one hour in length. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between the end of the practice session and the start of the walk-through session.

(h) Any extensions in sport preseason time frames place new time demands on sports medicine personnel as well as financial impacts on departments of athletics that should be addressed at the institutional level appropriately.

NCAA Injury Surveillance System data from 1998-2003 seasons

Note. ISS does not collect data on water polo or cross-country.