Legislative Services Database

LSDBi

Division II Proposal - 2019-9

PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS -- GENERAL PLAYING-SEASON REGULATIONS -- TIME LIMITS FOR ATHLETICALLY RELATED ACTIVITIES -- WEEKLY HOUR LIMITATIONS - OUTSIDE OF PLAYING SEASON -- SPORTS OTHER THAN FOOTBALL -- FOUR HOURS OF TEAM ACTIVITIES

Convention Year: 2019

Date Submitted: May 21, 2018

Status: Adopted Final

Effective Date: August 1, 2019

Official Notice Number: 2019-9

Source: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Proposal Category: Membership Proposal

Topical Area: Playing and Practice Seasons

Intent: In sports other than football, to permit a student-athlete to participate in a maximum of four hours of team activities as part of the permissible eight hours of countable athletically related activities that may occur outside the playing season during the academic year.

Bylaws: Amend 17.1.6.3.1, as follows:

[Roll Call]

17.1.6.3.1 Sports Other Than Football. In sports other than football, outside of the playing season during the academic year, only a student-athlete's participation in weight training, conditioning and/or team activities shall be permitted, as follows:

(a) In winter championship sports, a student-athlete's participation in weight training, conditioning and/or team activities shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than twofour hours per week may be spent on team activities, as follows:

[17.1.6.3.1-(a)-(1) through 17.1.6.3.1-(a)-(3) unchanged.]

(b) In spring championship sports, from September 7 or the institution's fourth day of classes for the fall term, whichever is earlier, through the day before the institution's declared start date of the nonchampionship segment, a student-athlete's participation in weight training, conditioning and/or team activities shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than two four hours per week may be spent on team activities;

(c) In fall championship sports, from the beginning of the institution's second term of the academic year (e.g., winter quarter, spring semester) through the day before the institution's declared start date of the nonchampionship segment, a student-athlete's participation in weight training, conditioning and/or team activities shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than twofour hours per week may be spent on team activities;

(d) In National Collegiate Championships sports, from the beginning of the institution's academic year through the day before the institution's declared start date of practice, a student-athlete's participation in weight training, conditioning and/or team activities shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than twofour hours may be spent on team activities; and

(e) Following the institution's final contest or date of competition in the segment that concludes with the NCAA championship, a student-athlete is prohibited from engaging in countable athletically related activities for a 14-consecutive-calendar-day period. Between the end of the 14-consecutive-calendar-day break period or the end of the nonchampionship segment, and one week prior to the beginning of the institution's final examination period, a student-athlete's participation in weight training, conditioning and/or team activities shall be limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than twofour hours per week may be spent on team activities. For the first permissible date of activities outside of the playing season, refer to the sport-specific legislation.

Rationale: Under current legislation, outside of the playing season during the academic year in sports other than football, a student-athlete may participate in weight training, conditioning and team activities for a maximum of eight hours with no more than two hours of team activities per week. According to the 2015 GOALS study, of the 6,700 Division II student-athletes surveyed, only 11-percent of male student-athletes and 20-percent of female student-athletes preferred devoting less time in their schedules to athletic activities. Nearly half of Division II student-athletes indicated they preferred spending more time in organized off-season practices or workouts, while only about 15-percent indicated they preferred spending less time in organized off-season practices or workouts. This proposal will increase the permissible time for team activities, but not increase the overall permissible time for countable athletically related activities outside of the playing season during the academic year.

Primary Contact Person:
Amber Feldman , Associate Commissioner
Email: feldman@themiaa.com

Co-sponsorship - Conference:
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

Co-sponsorship - Institution:
None

Position Statement(s):

Management Council.
Presidents Council

The Presidents Council and Management Council agreed to oppose this proposal. The councils expressed concern that this proposal will likely increase practice time, which takes hours away from strength and conditioning activities. The loss of strength and conditioning time could result in student-athletes feeling pressure to engage in these activities outside of the permissible eight hours for countable athletically related activities.

Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.

The Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports agreed to take no position on the proposal.

Legislation Committee

The Legislation Committee agreed to oppose this proposal. The committee noted its recent review of this legislation, and agreed that based on survey data from the membership, a legislative change was not necessary or supported at this time.

Review History:
None

Additional Information:

Question No. 1: Under current legislation, in sports other than football, what are the hourly limits on athletically-related activities outside of the playing season?

Answer: In sports other than football, outside of the playing season during the academic year, a student-athlete's participation in weight training, conditioning, and/or team activities are limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than two hours per week may be spent on team activities.

Question No. 2: What are team activities?

Answer: Team activities may include practice sessions for the entire team, as well as instruction provided by a coach to any number of student-athletes.

Question No. 3: How would this proposal change the out-of-season activities legislation?

Answer: The proposal would increase the limit on team activities from two to four hours per week.

Question No. 4: Would this proposal change the total amount of time a student-athlete may participate in out-of-season activities?

Answer: No. Out-of-season activities would still be limited to eight hours per week. Only voluntary activities are permitted beyond the eight hours per week.

Question No. 5: If a student-athlete participates in a tryout with a prospective student-athlete or currently enrolled student outside the playing season, must the
participation count toward his or her hours of team activities for the week?

Answer: Yes. See Bylaws 13.11.2.1-(e) (tryouts) and 17.02.15-(e) (tryouts -- enrolled student-athlete -- competition during tryout).

Convention Vote:
  Date of Vote: January 26, 2019
    For: 241
    Against: 70
    Abstain: 0
    Not Present:

Legislative References

Division	Number	Title
II	17.1.6.3.1	Sports Other Than Football.

References