[Federated provision, FBS and FCS, divided vote]

17.1.7 Time Limits for Athletically Related Activities. In all sports, the following time limitations shall apply:

[17.1.7.1 through 17.1.7.2 unchanged.]

17.1.7.3 Computation and Recording of Hour Limitations.

[17.1.7.3.1 through 17.1.7.3.4 unchanged.]

17.1.7.3.5 Preseason Practice. Daily and weekly hour limitations do not apply to countable athletically related activities occurring during preseason practice prior to the first day of classes or the first scheduled contest, whichever is earlier.

17.1.7.3.5.1 Exception -- Football. In football, on one day in every seven days during the preseason practice period (prior to the institution's first day of classes or seven days before the institution's first scheduled contest, whichever is earlier) a student-athlete’s participation in countable athletically related activities shall be limited to not more than two hours of off-field meetings or film review. Daily and weekly hour limitations on countable athletically related activities shall apply beginning with the institution's first day of classes or seven days before the institution's first scheduled contest, whichever is earlier.

[17.1.7.3.6 through 17.1.7.3.8 unchanged.]

17.1.7.4 Required Day Off -- Playing Season. During the playing season, all countable athletically related activities (per Bylaw 17.02.1) shall be prohibited during one calendar day per week, except during participation in one conference and postseason championship and any postseason bowl games or National Invitation Tournaments, and during participation in NCAA championships.

[17.1.7.4.1 through 17.1.7.4.2 unchanged.]

17.1.7.4.3 Preseason Practice -- Sports Other Than Football. An In sports other than football, an institution is not required to provide student-athletes with one day off per week during preseason practice that occurs prior to the first day of classes, or the first scheduled contest, whichever is earlier. 

17.1.7.4.4 Preseason Practice -- Football. In football, an institution is not required to provide student-athletes with one day off per week during the preseason practice period prior to the first day of classes, or seven days before the institution’s first scheduled contest, whichever is earlier. (See Bylaw 17.1.7.3.5.1.)

[17.1.7.4.4 through 17.1.7.4.7 renumbered as 17.1.7.4.5 through 17.1.7.4.8, unchanged.]

[17.1.7.5 unchanged.]

17.1.7.6 Required Day Off -- Playing Season. During the playing season, all required athletically related activities (per Bylaw 17.02.14) shall be prohibited during one calendar day per week, except during participation in one conference and postseason championship and any postseason bowl games or National Invitation Tournaments, and during participation in NCAA championships. Health and medical activities (e.g., medical evaluations or treatment for prevention and/or rehabilitation of injuries) or activities that are academically related (e.g., meetings with academic advisor, tutoring sessions) are permitted on the day off.

[17.1.7.6.1 through 17.1.7.6.2 unchanged.]

17.1.7.6.3 Preseason Practice -- Sports Other Than Football. An In sports other than football, an institution shall provide student-athletes with one day off per week during preseason practice that occurs prior to the first day of classes, or the first scheduled contest, whichever is earlier.

17.1.7.6.4 Preseason Practice -- Football. In football, an institution is not required to provide student-athletes with one day off per week during the preseason practice period prior to the first day of classes, or seven days before the institution’s first scheduled contest, whichever is earlier; however, on one day in every seven days during the preseason practice period, a student-athlete’s participation in required athletically related activities shall be limited to not more than two hours of off-field meetings or film review.

[17.1.7.6.4 through 17.1.7.6.8 renumbered as 17.1.7.6.5 through 17.1.7.6.9, unchanged.]

[17.1.7.7 through 17.1.7.10 unchanged.]

[Federated provision, FBS and FCS, divided vote]

17.10 Football. Regulations for computing the football playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure 17-2.)

[17.10.1 unchanged.]

17.10.2 Practice.

17.10.2.1 First Practice Date. An institution shall not commence official preseason football practice sessions, for the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team, before the date that will permit a maximum of 40 units (see Bylaw 17.02.13) 29 days before its first scheduled intercollegiate game. During the preseason practice period, institutions may not engage in more than 29 on-field practice sessions (see Bylaw 17.10.2.5.1).

[17.10.2.1.1 through 17.10.2.1.2 unchanged.]

17.10.2.1.3 Limit on Number of Participants -- Championship Subdivision. In championship subdivision football, there shall be a limit of 105 student-athletes who may engage in practice activities prior to the institution's first day of classes or prior to the fifth day before the day of the institution's first contest, whichever occurs earlier.

[17.10.2.2 through 17.10.2.3 unchanged.]

17.10.2.4 Five-Day Acclimatization Period. In football, preseason practice shall begin with a five-day acclimatization period for both first-time participants (e.g., freshmen and transfers) and continuing student-athletes. All student-athletes, including walk-ons who arrive to preseason practice after the first day of practice or who begin practice at any other point in the playing season, are required to undergo a five-day acclimatization period. The five-day acclimatization period shall be conducted as follows:

[17.10.2.4-(a) unchanged.]

(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.

(1) Exception -- During the five-day acclimatization period, an institution has the option of conducting one on-field practice per day, not to exceed three hours in length, or one on-field testing session (speed, conditioning or agility tests) per day, not to exceed one hour in length and one on-field practice, not to exceed two hours in length. In addition, an institution may conduct one one-hour walk-through session per day of the acclimatization period pursuant to Bylaw 17.02.20. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three continuous hours of recovery time between any sessions (testing, practice or walk-through) occurring that day. During this time, student-athletes may not attend any meetings or engage in other athletically related activities (e.g., weight lifting); however, time spent receiving medical treatment and eating meals may be included as part of the recovery time. If an institution conducts only a walk-through on a particular day during the acclimatization period, that day does not count toward the required five days of acclimatization, but the walk-through counts toward the limit of 29 on-field practices for the preseason practice period.

[17.10.2.4-(c) through 17.10.2.4-(d) unchanged.]

[17.10.2.4.1 unchanged.]

17.10.2.5 Preseason Activities After Five-Day Acclimatization Period. The remaining preseason practice period shall be conducted as follows:

(a) After the five-day period, institutions may practice in full pads. However, an institution may not conduct multiple on-field practice sessions on the same day;

(b) Student-athletes shall not engage in more than three hours of on-field practice activities per day; and

(c) Student-athletes must be provided with at least three continuous hours of recovery time between an on-field practice session and a walk-through. During this time, student-athletes may not engage in physical athletically related activities (e.g., weight lifting). Time spent in team meetings, film review, receiving medical treatment and eating meals may be included as part of the recovery time.

17.10.2.5.1 Exception -- "Walk-Throughs." During the preseason practice period only and after the five-day acclimatization period, footballs may be used during a walk-through and a walk-through is not considered to be an on-field activity for purposes of the limit on the number of practice sessions per day or the limit on the number of hours of on-field practice activities, provided it is conducted pursuant to Bylaw 17.02.20.  If a walk-through is conducted on a day in which no other on-field activities occur, the walk-through must be included in the limit of 29 on-field practices for the preseason practice period. In championship subdivision football, on-field walk-throughs shall not exceed a total of two hours per day.

[17.10.3 through 17.10.8 unchanged.]