[Roll Call]

17.11 Football.

17.11.1 Prohibited Athletic Activities.Definitions: In football, an institution shall not conduct prohibited athletic activities, as specified in the policies and procedures established and maintained by the Division III Football Committee and the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.

[17.11.1 unchanged.]

17.11.1.1 Prohibited Athletic Activities. In football, an institution shall not conduct prohibited athletic activities, as specified in the policies and procedures established and maintained by the Division III Football Committee and reviewed by the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.

17.11.1.2 Walk Through Session. A practice activity dedicated to reviewing plays and formations. During a walk-through, it is permissible for student-athletes to simulate positioning and offensive and defensive alignments, provided no conditioning or contact activities occur. Further, it is not permissible for student-athletes to wear any protective equipment (e.g., helmet, shoulder pads) or use any equipment related to the sport, except footballs.

17.11.1.3 Full Contact. Any contact that involves tackling to the ground.

17.11.1.4 Thud Contact. Contact that occurs at a competitive speed but remains above the waist and players stay on their feet.

17.11.2 Length of Playing Season. (See Bylaw 17.1.1.3.1 for fall NCAA championship sports.)

17.11.3 Preseason Practice.

17.11.3.1 First Practice Date. A member institution shall not commence official preseason football practice sessions for the varsity, subvarsity or freshman team earlier than 23 days before its first scheduled contest or before the Friday after the institution's first contest if the first contest is scheduled for Thursday of the opening weekend.

17.11.3.1 First Practice Date. A member institution shall not commence official preseason football practice sessions for the varsity, subvarsity or freshman team earlier than 23 days before its first scheduled contest or before the Friday after the institution's first contest if the first contest is scheduled for Thursday of the opening weekend.

17.11.3.2 Five-Day Six-Day Acclimatization Period. Preseason practice shall begin with a five-day six-day acclimatization period for both first-time participants (e.g., freshmen 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 five-day six-day acclimatization period. The five-day six-day acclimatization period shall be conducted as follows:

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

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

(c) During the first day of the five-day six-day acclimatization period, an institution may conduct either:

(1) One on-field practice and one walk-through session (Bylaw 17.11.1.2), which shall be limited to a combined total of four hours per day with the practice session not to exceed three hours. No protective equipment (e.g., helmet and shoulder pads) may be worn, no equipment related to football (e.g., football and blocking sled) may be used and conditioning activities may not occur during the walk-through session. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between any sessions (e.g., on-field practice or walk-through). 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 on-field testing session (e.g., speed, conditioning or agility tests), not to exceed one hour in length, and one on-field practice, not to exceed two hours in length. The institution may also conduct a one-hour walk-through session per Bylaw 17.11.1.2. No protective equipment (e.g., helmet and shoulder pads) may be worn, no equipment related to football (e.g., football and blocking sled) may be used and conditioning activities may not occur during the walk-through session. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between any sessions (e.g., testing, on-field practice or walk-through). 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.

(d) During the remainder of the five-day six-day period, participants shall not engage in more than one on-field practice, and one walk-through session (Bylaw 17.11.1.2), which shall be limited to a combined total of four hours per day with the practice session not to exceed three hours. No protective equipment (e.g., helmet and shoulder pads) may be worn, no equipment related to football (e.g., football and blocking sled) may be used and conditioning activities may not occur during the walk-through session. Student-athletes must be provided with at least three hours of continuous recovery time between any sessions (e.g., on-field practice session or walk-through). 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 first two days of the acclimatization period, helmets shall be the only piece of protective equipment student-athletes may wear during the on-field practice session and conditioning session (as opposed to the walk-through session). During the third and , fourth and fifth days of the acclimatization period, helmets and shoulder pads shall be the only pieces of protective equipment student-athletes may wear during the on-field practice session. During the final on-field practice session of the five-day six-day period and on any day thereafter, student-athletes may practice in full pads.

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

(a) General.

(1) Student-athletes shall not engage in more than one on-field practice and one walk-through session (Bylaw 17.11.1.2), which may be on-field and shall be limited to a combined total of four hours per day with the practice session not to exceed three hours. Otherwise multiple on-field practice sessions shall not be conducted on the same day.

(2) Student-athletes must be provided with at least three continuous hours of recovery time between any session. (e.g., on-field practice session or walk-through). 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.

(3) All physical athletically related activity (e.g., on-field activity, weight lifting and conditioning) is prohibited during one calendar day per each defined week after the week including the acclimatization period (minimum of two days off prior to first contest) if classes are not in session during any portion of the defined week (See Bylaw 17.1.4.1 for day-off requirements when classes are in session).

(b) Protective Equipment Restrictions. Up to eight on-field practice sessions may be conducted in full pads (this includes the one allowable opportunity during the acclimatization period);

(c) Contact Restrictions.

(1) Full contact, per Bylaw 17.11.1.3, 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 (Bylaw 17.11.1.3) practices;

(3) An institution shall not conduct more than a total of 75 minutes of contact (Full and Thud – see bylaws 17.11.1.3 and 17.11.1.4) within any one on-field practice session.

(4) If an institution conducts one or two exempted exhibitions, scrimmages or joint practices prior to the first contest per 17.1.4.5.1(c), those day(s) count towards the permissible 8 days of full equipment and as a full contact day but the 75 minute limitation does not apply.

17.11.4 First Contest.Regular Season: A member institution shall not play its first contest (game) against outside competition in football before the Thursday preceding the weekend that is 11 weeks before the first round of the Division III Football Championship, except as provided in 17.10.3.1.

17.11.4.1 First Contest. A member institution shall not play its first contest (game) against outside competition in football before the Thursday preceding the weekend that is 11 weeks before the first round of the Division III Football Championship, except as provided in 17.10.3.1.

17.11.4.12 Exception. A member institution may conduct exempted exhibitions, scrimmages or joint practices [see Bylaw 17.1.4.5.1-(c) before the first permissible contest date against an outside team.

17.11.4.3 Equipment. After the first contest there shall be no more than two practices per week in full pads.

17.11.4.3.1 Exception. During the bye week an institution may conduct up to three practices in full pads.

[17.11.5 through 17.11.6 unchanged.]

17.11.7 Out-of-Season Athletically Related Activities. (See Bylaw 17.1.5)

17.11.7.1 Exception. An institution is permitted to conduct conditioning and strength training sessions and limited skill instruction during a consecutive five-week period outside the playing season, as follows: . During this five-week period, the institution may conduct athletically related activity on a maximum of 16 days with not more than four days of athletically related activity in any one week. Any athletically related activity (per Bylaw 17.02.1.1) shall constitute the use of a day. Skill instruction during this period shall be limited to passing, catching and kicking-related drills. Such instruction may include offensive and defensive alignments, but may not involve contact. Except for footballs and hand shields, the use of helmets, pads, blocking sleds or any other form of sport-related equipment is prohibited. The use of hand shields shall be limited to one-on-one and two-on-two skill instruction. No missed class time is permitted for these sessions and the institution shall conclude all athletically related activities by the first date of final examinations for the regular academic year.

(a) During this five-week period, the institution may conduct athletically related activity on a maximum of 16 days with not more than four days of athletically related activity in any one week.

(b) Any athletically related activity (per Bylaw 17.02.1.1) shall constitute the use of a day.

(c) Helmets may be worn on all 16 days. After the fourth practice day, an institution may conduct four of its remaining twelve days in helmets and shoulder pads.

(d) During helmet only days, skill instruction shall be limited to passing, catching and kicking-related drills. Such instruction may include offensive and defensive alignments, but may not involve contact. The use of footballs and hand shields are permitted. The use of hand shields shall be limited to one-on-one and two-on-two skill instruction.

(e) During the helmet and shoulder pads days, the use of equipment necessary for effective teaching of tackling and blocking is permitted. There shall be no full contact or 11 v. 11 contact drills, and the focus should be on teaching individuals appropriate blocking and tackling.

(f) No missed class time is permitted for these sessions; and

(g) The institution shall conclude all athletically related activities by the first date of final examinations for the regular academic year.