17.02.12 Fall Preseason Practice Formula -- Sports Other Than Football. In cross country, field hockey, golf, rowing, rugby, soccer, tennis, triathlon and women's volleyball, the first permissible date for preseason practice shall be no earlier than 18 days before its first scheduled contest. determined by the application of 16 units in the preseason practice formula, as specified in this section. In golf, tennis and rowing, see Bylaw 17.1.1.3.4.1 for determining the first permissible date for preseason practice.

17.02.12.1 Four-Day Acclimatization Period: Preseason practice shall begin with a four-day acclimatization period for both first-time participants (e.g., first years and transfers) and continuing student-athletes. All student-athletes, including those who arrive to preseason practice after the first day of practice, are required to undergo a four-day acclimatization period. The four-day acclimatization period shall be conducted as follows: 

(a) Institutions may not conduct conditioning, speed, strength or agility tests before the start of the four-day acclimatization period.

(b) Institutions are permitted to conduct weight training activities during the four-day acclimatization period without counting those activities toward the maximum hour limitations for practices; however, weight training activities may not be conducted during the required three hours of continuous recovery time between any sessions.

(c) Institutions are not permitted to conduct outside competition (e.g., scrimmages or joint practices) during the four-day acclimatization period.

(d) During the first day of the four-day acclimatization period in cross country, field hockey, rowing, rugby, soccer, tennis, triathlon and women's volleyball, an institution may conduct either: 

(1) One practice and one walk-through or activity session, which shall be limited to a combined total of four hours per day with the practice session not to exceed three hours. No equipment related to the respective sport may be used and conditioning activities may not occur during the walk-through or activity session. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between any sessions (e.g., practice or walk-through or activity). During the recovery 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; or 

(2) One testing session (e.g., speed, conditioning or agility tests), not to exceed one hour in length, one practice, not to exceed two hours in length and one one-hour walk-through or activity session.  No equipment related to the respective sport may be used and conditioning activities may not occur during the walk-through or activity session. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between any sessions (e.g., practice, walk-through or activity, testing). During the recovery 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.

(e) During the remainder of the four-day period, participants in the sports of cross country, field hockey, rowing, rugby, soccer, tennis, triathlon and women's volleyball shall not engage in more than one practice, and one walk-through session, which shall be limited to a combined total of four hours per day with the practice session not to exceed three hours. No equipment related to the respective sport may be used and conditioning activities may not occur during the walk-through/activity session. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between any sessions (e.g., practice, walk-through or activity). During the recovery 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.

(f) During the entire four-day period, participants in the sport of golf shall not engage in more than four hours of practice per day. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between any practice periods of less than four hours on the same day. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time immediately after any single four-hour practice. During the recovery 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.

17.02.12.2 Preseason Activities - Three-Day Post-Acclimatization Period: The three days immediately following the four-day acclimatization period shall be conducted as follows:

(a) Following the four-day acclimatization period, an institution may conduct multiple practice sessions on the same day in cross country, field hockey, golf, rowing, rugby, soccer, tennis, triathlon and women's volleyball;

(b) Student-athletes in cross country, field hockey, rowing, rugby, tennis, triathlon and women's volleyball shall not engage in more than two practices and one walk-through or activity session, which shall be limited to a combined total of five hours per day with any single practice session not to exceed three hours; 

(c) Student-athletes in cross country, field hockey, rowing, rugby, soccer, tennis, triathlon and women's volleyball must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between practice sessions and a walk-through or activity session. During this recovery time, student-athletes may not attend any meetings or engage in other athletically related activities (e.g. weightlifting); however, time spent receiving medical treatment and eating meals may be included as part of the recovery time.

(d) Student-athletes in the sports of golf shall not engage in more than five hours of practice per day. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between any practice periods of less than five hours on the same day. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time immediately after any single five-hour practice. During the recovery 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.

(e) Institutions are not permitted to conduct outside competition (e.g., scrimmages or joint practices) during the three-day post-acclimatization period.

17.02.12.3 Mandatory Day Off During the Combined Acclimatization Periods. All athletically related activities shall be prohibited during one calendar day per defined week, whether or not class is in session.

17.02.12.4 First Scheduled Intercollegiate Competition. The counting for cross country, filed hockey, rugby, soccer, triathlon and women's volleyball should begin on the day before the first scheduled intercollegiate competition (see Bylaw 17.1.1.3.4.1 for golf, rowing and tennis). It is not permissible to determine the starting date for preseason practice by counting back from the first scheduled preseason exhibition, scrimmage or joint practice season. 

17.02.12.25.4 Football Preseason Practice Formula. Do not use the preseason practice formula detailed within this section for the sport of football. Instead, use the formula in Bylaw 17.11.3.1.

17.02.12.26 Men's Water Polo Preseason Practice Formula. In the sport of men's water polo, the first permissible date for preseason practice shall be determined by the application of 21 units in the preseason practice formula as follows:

(a) Never assign any units to Sundays on the calendar; it is permissible to practice on Sundays;

(b) Never assign any units to calendar days during the preseason when all institutional dormitories are closed, the institution's team must leave campus, and practice is not conducted;

(c) The first six units: assign one unit to each of the six calendar days (not including Sunday) before the first scheduled intercollegiate competition (see Bylaw 17.02.12.2.1);

(d) The remaining 1510 units:

(1) Assign one unit to each calendar day (not including Sundays) that occurs on or after the opening day of classes for the fall term (see Bylaw 17.02.12.2.2), and

(2) Assign two units to each calendar day before the opening day of classes for the fall term (not including Sundays) until the sum of units on the calendar reaches 2116;

(e) The date on which the total count of units on the calendar reaches 2116 is the first permissible date for preseason practice (see Bylaw 17.02.12.2.3).

17.02.12.16.1 Unit -- Defined. A "unit" is a numerical value assigned to a particular calendar day within the application of the preseason practice formula that is used to determine the first permissible practice date for fall sports other than football. The number of units assigned to a particular day does not determine or limit the number of practices that may be conducted on that day.

17.02.12.26.12 First Scheduled Intercollegiate Competition. The assignment of units for counting using the preseason practice formula should begin on the day before the first scheduled intercollegiate competition (see Bylaw 17.1.1.3.4.1 for exception). It is not permissible to determine the starting date for preseason practice by counting back from the first scheduled preseason exhibition, scrimmage or joint practice season.

17.02.12.26.23 Opening Day of Classes. The opening day of classes is defined as the first day of classes as listed in the member institution's official catalog. Required freshman orientation is not considered to be the opening day of classes for the academic year.

17.02.12.26.34 Remainder of One Counting Unit. If the 2016th and 21st17th unit is on the same day, it is permissible to begin practice on that day since it is the day in which the total count of units reaches 2016.

17.1.1.3 Length of Playing Season.

17.1.1.3.1 Sports with a Fall NCAA Championship. The length of an institution's playing season shall be limited to a maximum of 18 weeks.

17.1.1.3.1.1 Segment Limitations. Except for the sport of football (see Bylaw 17.11) and unless otherwise noted in the applicable sport section, the playing season shall be conducted according to the following:

[17.1.1.3.1.1-(a) unchanged.]

(1) First Permissible Practice. A member institution shall not commence practice earlier than 18 days before the date that permits a maximum of 16 units in the preseason practice formula (see Bylaw 17.02.12) before the first scheduled intercollegiate competition. This provision is not applicable to men's water polo [see Bylaw 17.27.2-(a)].

[17.1.1.3.1.1-(a)-(2) through 17.1.1.3.1.1-(a)-(3) unchanged.]

[17.1.1.3.1.1-(b) unchanged.]

[17.1.1.3.2 through 17.1.1.3.3 unchanged.]

17.1.1.3.4 Golf, Rowing and Tennis. The length of an institution's playing season shall be limited to a maximum of 19 weeks.

17.1.1.3.4.1 Periods.

[17.1.1.3.4.1-(a) unchanged.]

(1) First Permissible Practice. The date that permits a maximum of 16 units in the preseason practice formula Not earlier than 18 days before the first permissible date of competition (as opposed to the institution's first date of competition) as specified in each sport.

[17.1.1.3.4.1-(a)-(2) through 17.1.1.3.4.1-(a)-(3) unchanged.]

[17.1.1.3.4.1-(b) unchanged.]

17.27.2 Preseason Practice.

(a) Men. A member institution shall not commence practice sessions in men's water polo before the date that permits a maximum of 21 permissible units in the preseason practice formula (see Bylaw 17.02.12.62.5) before the first scheduled intercollegiate competition.

[17.27.2-(b) unchanged.]