RELATED TO
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
SUPPLEMENT NO. 7

 

NCAA DIVISION III MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS SUBCOMMITTEE

 

Summary of Recommendations

 

PRESIDENTS COUNCIL ACTION ITEM

 

ISSUE:

Preseason Football/Acclimatization.

Subcommittee Recommendation:

 

Sponsor legislation for the 2004 Convention to establish a Division III football preseason model that includes the following components:

 

(a) Prior to participation in any preseason practice activities, all prospects and student-athletes shall be required to undergo a medial examination administered by a physician.

 

(b) Preseason practice shall begin with a five-day acclimatization period for both first time participants (e.g., freshmen and transfers) as well as continuing student-athletes.

 

(c) Sundays shall not be excluded from counting during the five-day acclimatization period.

 

(d) Student-athletes may engage in no more than one on-field practice per day during this five-day period. First time football participants and continuing student-athletes shall not be required to practice separately during the five-day acclimatization period.

 

(e) During the first two days of the acclimatization period, helmets shall be the only piece of protective equipment student-athletes may wear.

 

(f) During the next two days of the acclimatization period, helmets and shoulder pads shall be the only pieces of protective equipment student-athletes may wear.

 

(g) During the final day of the acclimatization period, student-athletes may practice in full pads.

 

(h) Institutions may not conduct administrative activities (e.g., team pictures, equipment issue, academic orientations, etc.) on any day prior to the start of the five-day acclimatization period. [These obligations should be fulfilled before/after practice during the five-day acclimatization period.] Any necessary conditioning, speed, strength or agility tests shall not be conducted prior to the five-day acclimatization period.

 

(i) All student-athletes, including walk-ons who may arrive to preseason practice after the first day of practice, are required to undergo a five-day acclimatization period (i.e., gradual increase in the use of football equipment).

 

(j) Subsequent to the five-day period, institutions may begin practicing in full pads. However, an institution may not conduct multiple on-field practice sessions (e.g., two-a-days or three-a-days) on consecutive days. [Two-one-two-one format is permissible.]

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Further, the subcommittee will examine the appropriate number of preseason practice opportunities and the method used to calculate preseason practice opportunities for inclusion in the Division III football preseason practice model as proposed legislation.

 

Management Council Recommendation:

 

Recommendation. Agreed to adopt noncontroversial legislation, effective immediately, to establish a Division III football preseason practice model that includes the following components:

 

1.                  Prior to participation in any preseason practice activities, all prospects and student-athletes shall be required to undergo a medical examination that is administered or supervised by a physician.

2.                  Five-Day Acclimatization Period. Preseason practice shall begin with a five-day acclimatization period for both first-time participants (e.g., freshman and transfers) and 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 five-day acclimatization period. The five-day acclimatization period shall be conducted as follows:

 

a.                   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 five-day acclimatization period.

b.                  During the five-day period, participants shall not engage in more than one on-field practice per day, not to exceed three hours in length.

c.                   First-time participants and continuing students shall not be required to practice separately.

d.                  During the first two days of the acclimatization period, helmets shall be the only piece of protective equipment student-athletes may wear.

e.                   During the next two days of the acclimatization period, helmets and shoulder pads shall be the only pieces of protective equipment student-athletes may wear.

f.                    During the final day of the acclimatization period and on any days thereafter, student-athletes may practice in full pads.

g.                   Sundays are included in counting during the five-day acclimatization period.

 

3.                  All student-athletes, including walk-ons who may arrive to preseason practice after the first day of practice, are required to undergo a five-day acclimatization period (i.e., gradual increase in the use of football equipment).

 

4.                  Subsequent to the five-day period, institutions may begin practicing in full pads. However, an institution may not conduct multiple on-field practice sessions (e.g., two-a-days or three-a-days) on consecutive days. [Two-one-two-one format is permissible.]

 

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

 

6.                  Student-athletes shall not engage in more than five hours of on-field practice activities on those days during which two practices are permitted.

 

7.                  On days that institutions conduct multiple practice sessions, student-athletes must be provided with at least three continuous hours of recovery time between the end of the first practice and the start of the last practice that day. 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.

 

8.                  ?Walk-Throughs.? Following the acclimatization period, institutions may conduct walk-throughs only on single-session days for a one-hour period of time with three hours of recovery time between practice and the walk-through. During the preseason practice period only, on-field walk-throughs are not considered an on-field activity, provided protective equipment (e.g., helmets, shoulder pads) is not worn, equipment related to football (e.g., footballs, blocking sleds) is not used and conditioning activities do not occur.

 

9. A member institution shall not commence official preseason football practice sessions for the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team before 21 days prior to the institution?s first scheduled football contest. This start date will allow for the 5-day acclimatization period, adequate recovery periods during subsequent sessions, and a maximum of 26 preseason practice opportunities.

 

Rationale. Based on the medical data provided to the subcommittee by the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, the Council concluded that it is necessary to implement immediately the above limitations on preseason football practices to ensure the health and safety of football student-athletes. These changes will directly address specific issues related to heat acclimatization and adequate recovery time, while creating a minimal impact on existing preseason practice opportunities and starting dates.  The recommendations are consistent with legislative actions taken by Divisions I and II.

 

Budget Impact. Possible financial impact for institutions due to earlier preseason start date based on the institution?s first contest.

 

Presidents Council Action:

 

 

 

 

 

2. ISSUE:

Review of the ?Safety Exception? in Division III Sports.

Subcommittee Recommendation:

 

Sponsor legislation to remove the safety exceptions for the sports of fencing, gymnastics, rifle, rowing, skiing and swimming and diving that currently appear in NCAA Bylaw 17. Use of the safety exception has become a way to extend the playing and practice season in the sports that currently have a safety exception. The subcommittee determined that, inasmuch as a student-athlete?s engagement in out of season athletically related activities should be discouraged, the safety exception should be eliminated. The subcommittee determined that institutions should be committed to the 21-week playing season, and that there should not be coaching instruction given to student-athletes outside of the playing and practice season. Further, elimination of the safety exception is consistent with the Division III philosophy, in that each sport should be treated in a consistent manner with regard to total playing season. The subcommittee notes that if this legislation is adopted, student-athlete voluntary workouts at institutional facilities would not be precluded but would become subject to the same facilities access and supervision policies applicable to all students.

 

Management Council Action:

 

Sponsor legislation for the 2004 Convention.

 

Presidents Council Action:

 

 

 

 

ITEM OF INFORMATION

 

ISSUE:

Playing and Practice Seasons ? The Future of Division III.

Subcommittee Action:

 

The subcommittee reviewed the results of the future of Division III survey and will further analyze those results to incorporate into future playing and practice season models.

 

Management Council Action:

 

Accepted the information.