LSDBi
Division I Proposal - 2013-19-FCS
PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS -- FOOTBALL -- PRESEASON PRACTICE -- AFTER FIVE-DAY ACCLIMATIZATION PERIOD -- THREE-HOURS OF RECOVERY TIME BETWEEN ANY SESSIONS -- CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION FOOTBALL
Status: Adopted Final
Intent: In championship subdivision football, to require at least three continuous hours of recovery time for student-athletes between any sessions (e.g., practices, walk-throughs) occurring during the preseason practice period and after the five-day acclimatization period; further, to specify that meetings and film review may occur during recovery time.
Bylaws: Amend 17.9.2, as follows:
[Federated provision, FCS only]
17.9.2 Preseason Practice.
[17.9.2.1 through 17.9.2.3 unchanged.]
17.9.2.4 Preseason Activities After Five-Day Acclimatization Period. The remaining preseason practice period shall be conducted as follows:
[17.9.2.4-(a) through 17.9.2.4-(c) unchanged.]
(d) On days that institutions conduct multiple practice sessions, student-athletes Student-athletes must be provided with at least three continuous hours of recovery time between the end of the first practice and the start of the last practice that day any sessions (e.g., practices, walk-throughs). During this time, student-athletes may not attend any meetings or engage in other physical athletically related activities (e.g., weight lifting).; however, time Time spent in team meetings, film review, receiving medical treatment and eating meals may be included as part of the recovery time.
17.9.2.4.1 Exception -- "Walk-Throughs." During the preseason practice period only and after the five-day acclimatization period, a walk-through is not considered an on-field activity under Bylaw 17.9.2.4 for purposes of the limits on the number of practice sessions per day or the limits on the number of hours of on-field practice activities, provided protective equipment (e.g., helmets, shoulder pads) is not worn, equipment related to football (e.g., footballs, blocking sleds) is not used and conditioning activities do not occur. 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 29 on-field practices for the preseason practice period. In championship subdivision football, on-field walk-throughs shall not exceed a total of two hours per day on the days one practice is conducted and one hour per day on the days multiple practice sessions are conducted.
Source: NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet (Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports)
Effective Date:Immediate
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Playing and Practice Seasons
Rationale: The NCAA Principle of Student-Athlete Well-Being states it is the responsibility of each member institution to protect the health of, and provide a safe environment for, each of its student-athletes. Although deaths from football drills have been reduced, risk exists and is greatest throughout the preseason period, not just during the first five days. Research supports heat acclimatization extending over a 14-day period. Therefore, risk extends beyond the five days, with additive effects of the environment, physical activity and equipment playing a role. The three-hour recovery period is important to allow student-athletes to dissipate and reduce body heat, eat food for energy, rehydrate and to prepare the body for the next session. The opinion of sports medicine and sports science research experts is that three hours generally provides adequate recovery time to achieve the goals of recovery between practice sessions. Reducing this recovery time increases risk of negative effects associated with inadequate recovery. Dehydration has been shown to influence player safety as well as decrease exercise performance. Participation in strenuous activities while incurring environmental stress with additional equipment and/or clothing has also been proven to increase the risk of Exertional Heat Illness (EHI) occurrence in football.
Estimated Budget Impact: None.
Impact on Student-Athlete's Time (Academic and/or Athletics): None.
Position Statement(s):
| Football Issues Committee | The committee supports the proposal and agrees with the sponsor's rationale. |
History
| Jun 1, 2012: | Submit; Submitted for consideration. |
| Jun 14, 2012: | Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, Recommends Approval as Emergency or Noncontroversial Legislation |
| Jun 20, 2012: | Championships/Sports Management Cabinet, Sponsored |
| Jun 20, 2012: | Championships/Sports Management Cabinet, Recommends Approval as Emergency or Noncontroversial Legislation |
| Jan 16, 2013: | Leg Council Init Review, Not Supported as Emergency or Noncontroversial Legislation |
| Oct 3, 2013: | Football Issues Committee, Recommends Approval |
| Jan 15, 2014: | Leg Council Init Review; Defeated an amendment to specify that meetings and film review may occur during recovery time. |
| Jan 15, 2014: | Leg Council Init Review, Forwarded for Membership Comment |
| Jan 19, 2014: | Comment Period; Start of Comment Period |
| Mar 19, 2014: | Comment Period; End of Comment Period (Official Comment Totals: Support = 4, Oppose = 0, Abstain = 1) |
| Apr 15, 2014: | Leg Council Final Review, Amended the Proposal; Amended the proposal to specify that meetings and film review may occur during recovery time. |
| Apr 15, 2014: | Leg Council Final Review, Adopted; Pending Possible Board of Directors Review |
| Apr 24, 2014: | Adopted, Override Period; No Action Taken by the Board of Directors |
| Apr 25, 2014: | Adopted, Override Period; Start of Override Period |
| Jun 23, 2014: | Adopted, Override Period; End of Override Period |
| Jun 23, 2014: | Adopted; Adopted - Final |
Legislative References
| Division | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| I | 17.10.2 | Practice. |