[Federated provision, FBS and FCS, divided vote]

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

[17.11.1 unchanged.]

17.11.2 Practice.

[17.11.2 unchanged.]

17.11.2.4 Five-Day Seven-Day Acclimatization Period. In football, preseason practice shall begin with a five-day seven-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 seven-day acclimatization period. The five-day seven-day acclimatization period shall be conducted as follows:

(a) An institution may not conduct administrative activities (e.g., team pictures, etc.) other than those permitted prior to or on the academic orientation day (e.g., compliance-related activities, medical examinations, individual photographs) prior to the first permissible date of practice. Conditioning, speed, strength or agility tests may not occur on any day prior to the start of the five-day seven-day acclimatization period.

(b) During the five-day seven-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 seven-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 (during which footballs may be used) 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 seven days of acclimatization, but the walk-through counts toward the limit of 25 on-field practices in the preseason practice period.

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

(d) During the first two days of the acclimatization period practice or testing activity, helmets and spider pads shall be the only piece of protective equipment student-athletes may wear. During the third and fourth days of the acclimatization period next three days of practice or testing activity, helmets, spider pads and shoulder pads shall be the only pieces of protective equipment student-athletes may wear. During the final day of the five-day period and on any days thereafter, On the sixth day of practice or testing activity, student-athletes may practice in full pads.

(e) An institution shall provide student-athletes with one day off during the seven-day acclimatization period. The required day off may occur as early as the second day or as late as the seventh day.

17.11.2.5 Preseason Activities After Five-Day Acclimatization Period. The remaining 19 on-field preseason practice sessions after the acclimatization period shall be conducted as follows:

(a) General.

(1) Multiple on-field practice sessions shall not be conducted on the same day;

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

(3) A walk-through is not considered an on-field activity; however, 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 25 on-field practices in the preseason practice period. In championship subdivision football, on-field walk-throughs shall not exceed a total of two hours per day. Footballs may be used during walk-throughs in the preseason practice period; and

(4) 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.

(b) Protective Equipment Restrictions.

(1) Up to eight on-field practice sessions may be conducted in full pads;

(2) During at least five on-field practice sessions, protective equipment is restricted to not more than helmets and spider pads;

(3) During the remaining on-field practice sessions, protective equipment is restricted to not more than helmets, spider pads and/or shoulder pads; and

(4) On-field practice sessions may be conducted in less protective equipment than the maximum restrictions noted above.

(c) Contact Restrictions.

(1) Full contact (tackling to the ground) is only permitted during an on-field practice session in full pads;

(2) An institution shall not conduct more than two consecutive days of full contact (tackling to the ground) practices;

(3) An institution shall not conduct more than a total of 75 minutes of full contact (tackling to the ground) within any one on-field practice session other than during the two permissible scrimmages; and

(4) An institution shall not conduct more than two scrimmages during the preseason practice period. A scrimmage is a practice devoted primarily (greater than 50% of practice time) to 11-on-11, full contact (tackling to the ground) activities. A scrimmage counts as one of the eight permissible practices in full pads and may include more than 75 minutes of full contact (tackling to the ground).

[17.11.3 unchanged.]

17.11.3.1.2 Limit on Number of Participants. There is limit of 110 student-athletes who may engage in practice activities prior to the institution's first day of classes or prior to the fifth seventh day before the day of the institution's first contest, whichever occurs earlier.

[17.11.3.1.2.1 unchanged.]

17.11.3.1.2.2 Replacement of Student-Athlete Due to Injury or Illness. A student-athlete who sustains an injury or illness that prevents further participation in preseason practice activities may be replaced with another student-athlete without including that individual in the preseason practice limitation. The replaced student-athlete shall cease participation in all athletically related activities (including team meetings and film review) and shall not resume participation in athletically related activities before the institution's first day of classes or prior to the fifth seventh day before the day of the institution's first contest, whichever occurs first. The replaced student-athlete may continue to receive preseason practice expenses.

[17.11.3.1.2.3 through 17.11.3.1.2.4 unchanged.]

[17.11.3.2 through 17.11.3.3 unchanged.]

[17.11.4 through 17.11.9 unchanged.]