During the playing season student-athletes are limited to 20 hours of athletically related activities per week, with no more than 4 hours per day. Competitions count as 3 hours regardless of their duration. This is applicable to all sports, with the exception that a practice round of golf may exceed the four-hours-per-day limitation, but the weekly limit of 20 hours shall remain in effect.
Hour limitations outside of the playing season, during the academic year, are limited to 8 hours per week. Countable athletically related activities include any required activity with an athletics purpose involving student-athletes and at the direction of, or supervised by one or more of an institution’s coaching staff members (including strength and conditioning coaches). Coaches are not permitted to require or coerce an athlete into voluntary practices or workouts.
The following table outlines the playing and practice seasons in each sport, in accordance to the permissible dates in the NCAA Division I Manual (Figure 17-2).
Sport | First Permissible Practice Date |
First Permissible Contest Date |
End of Regular Playing Season |
---|---|---|---|
Baseball (Championship Segment) |
January 24, 2014; January 23, 2015; January 29, 2016 |
February 14, 2014; February 13, 2015; February 19, 2016 |
Conclusion of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship |
(Nonchampionship Segment) | September 1 of each year | September 1 of each year | November 30 of each year |
Basketball, Men's | 42 days before first regular-season contest | November 8, 2013; November 14, 2014; November 13, 2015 (Exceptions: See Bylaw 17.3.3.1) |
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship game |
Basketball, Women's | 40 days before first regular season contest | November 8, 2013; November 14, 2014; November 13, 2015; (Exceptions: See Bylaw 17.3.3.1) |
NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship game |
Cross Country | Date that permits 21 "practice units" before first scheduled date of competition | August 30, 2013; August 29, 2014; |
Last day of final exams for academic year |
Football | Date that permits 40 "practice units" before first scheduled contest | August 29, 2013; August 28, 2014; September 3, 2015 |
Second Saturday or Sunday in December (Exception: See Bylaw 17.9.4) |
Golf | September 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first (Exceptions: See Bylaws 17.10.2.1 and 17.10.2.2) | September 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first (Exceptions: See Bylaws 17.10.3.1 and 17.10.3.2) | Conclusion of the NCAA Division I Golf Championships |
Soccer, Women's | Date that permits 21 "practice units" before first scheduled contest | August 23, 2013; August 22, 2014; August 21, 2015 |
Last day of final exams for the academic year |
Softball (Championship) |
September 1 or the first day of classes, whichever is later, or September 15 (see Bylaw 17.20.2) | February 6, 2014; February 5, 2015; February 11, 2016 |
Conclusion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship |
(Nonchampionship) | September 1 or the first day of classes, whichever is later, or September 15 (see Bylaw 17.20.3) | ||
Volleyball, Women's (Championship Segment) | Date that permits 29 "practice units" before the first intercollegiate contest (excluding an alumni match) or September 1, whichever is later | August 30, 2013; August 29, 2014; August 28, 2015 |
NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship [See Bylaw 17.1.7-(b)] |
(Other Segment) | January 1 of each year | January 1 of each year | Last day of final exams for academic year |
Volleyball, Men's | September 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first | September 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first | Conclusion of the NCAA Division I Men's Volleyball Championships |
OTHER INDIVIDUAL SPORTS: |
September 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first | September 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first |
Conclusion of the NCAA Division I or National Collegiate Championships, whichever is applicable in gymnastics, tennis, and track & field. Last day of final exams for academic year in swimming and diving. |