PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS -- FOOTBALL -- PRESEASON PRACTICE -- LIMIT ON NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS -- INCREASE FROM 110 TO 120

Status: Defeated Final

Intent: In football, to increase, from 110 to 120, the limit on the number of student-athletes who may engage in practice activities prior to the institution's first day of classes or prior to the seventh day before the day of the institution's first contest, whichever occurs earlier; further, to eliminate the legislation that permits replacements due to voluntary withdrawals and injury or illness.

Bylaws: Amend 17.11.3.1.2, as follows:

Source: NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee and NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committee

Effective Date:Immediate

Proposal Category: Amendment

Topical Area: Playing and Practice Seasons

Rationale: Current legislation places a limit of 110 on the number of student-athletes who may engage in practice activities prior to the institution's first day of classes or prior to the seventh day before the day of the institution's first contest, whichever occurs earlier. The legislation allows for replacement of such a student-athlete in instances of voluntary withdrawal or injury/illness. In June 2020, the Council approved a blanket waiver to remove the preseason participant limit due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the recommendation of the Football Oversight Committee, this waiver was extended in January 2021, provided the participant would have exhausted eligibility during the 2021-22 academic year but for the COVID-19 season of competition waiver and returned to the same institution for the 2021-22 academic year. In July 2023, the Committee for Legislative Relief Administrative Committee approved a blanket waiver to permit Football Bowl Subdivision institutions to increase the football preseason participant limit from 110 to 120 for the 2023-24 academic year. In granting the waiver, the committee noted that the legislated limit did not contemplate the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 seasons of competition waivers on roster sizes and that the Football Oversight Committee would consider recommending legislative action. The Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee and Football Championship Oversight Committee reviewed the issue and have recommended the legislative change that would codify the relief provided in the blanket waivers and promote institutional discretion on the number of team members who participate in preseason practice. Further, eliminating the opportunity for replacement reduces unnecessary complexity to roster management decisions during the most demanding practices of the year.

Division I Commitment addressed by proposal: The Commitment to Student-Athlete Well-Being.

Is the proposal consequential or nationally significant?: Yes. The Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee and Football Championship Oversight Committee determined that a limit of student-athletes who may engage in preseason practice activities remains nationally significant.

Is the proposal enforceable and how do the merits outweigh monitoring burdens?: Yes. This proposal does not create a new monitoring burden.

How does the proposal support student-athlete success/well-being?: Increasing the preseason participant limit in this manner would: (1) Prevent the unnecessary exclusion of some football student-athletes from supervised athletically related activities for three weeks, which negatively impacts both student-athlete experience and safety; (2) Allow more student-athletes to acclimate to the team and the rigors of practice at the same time; and (3) Decrease the risk of injury through the increase in the number of participants during preseason, which will increase the amount of rest by decreasing the number of practice repetitions of individual student-athletes.

Estimated Budget Impact: Dependent on institutional decisions regarding roster management.

Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): Dependent on institutional decisions regarding roster management.

History

Apr 2, 2024:	In Progress
May 16, 2024:	Tabled	Tabled by the Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee and the Football Championships Subdivision Oversight Committee.
Dec 5, 2024:	Defeated Final	Proposal defeated due to the sunset provision.

Legislative References

Division	Number	Title
I	17.11.3.1.2	Limit on Number of Participants.
I	17.11.3.1.2.1	Replacement of Student-Athlete Who Voluntarily Withdraws.
I	17.11.3.1.2.2	Replacement of Student-Athlete Due to Injury or Illness.