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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Practice and Competition
NCAA rules and regulations limit the time that student-athletes may participate in athletic activities.
20 hour limit:
During a sport's regular playing season (i.e. championship season), student-athletes are limited to no more than 20 hours of countable athletically related activity per week, with a maximum of 4 hours per day. In season, student-athletes are also required to have one day off per week. This rule does not apply during MAC and NCAA Championships or during a vacation period in the academic year. A day when the team is traveling may count as the required day off provided no athletically-related activities occur on that day. The day off can be any day of the week and can change from week to week. A "week" is considered to be any seven consecutive days.
8 hour limit:
When a sport is considered to be out-of-season, student-athletes may practice no more than 8 hours per week. Of the 8 hours that are permitted, only 2 hours may be skill/game- related instruction, whether voluntary or required. Skill/game-related instruction may not occur outside the season in football. However, football student-athletes may review game film for up to two of the eight hours per week outside the season. The remaining hours may consist of strength training and conditioning. Additionally, during the off-season, student-athletes are required to have two days off per week.
Counting Hours of Competition:
All activities on the day of competition count as three hours, regardless of actual length. For example, a baseball double-header that takes up six hours or a field hockey game that takes up two hours, still counts as three hours of athletic activity.
Examples of athletically-related activities:
Examples of athletically-related activities include required practice, conditioning, strength training, competition, discussion of game films, lectures regarding the sport, required participation in camps/clinics/workshops, and any other on-field, on-court, on-floor or on-water activity.
Voluntary activity:
To be considered a "voluntary" activity, all the following conditions must be met:
* The student-athlete must not be required to report back to a coach or other athletics department staff member (e.g., strength coach, trainer, manager) any information related to the activity [NOTE: Coaches may not observe voluntary activities]
* The activity must be initiated and requested solely by the student-athlete.
* Neither the institution nor any athletics department staff member may require the student-athlete to participate in the activity at any time
* The student-athlete's attendance and participation in the activity (or lack thereof) may not be recorded for the purposes of reporting such information to coaching staff members or other student-athletes
* The student-athlete may not be subjected to penalty if he or she elects not to participate in the activity
* In addition, neither the institution nor any athletics department staff member may provide recognition or incentives (e.g., awards) to a student-athlete based on his or her attendance or performance in the activity
NCAA rules and regulations limit the time that student-athletes may participate in athletic activities.
20 hour limit:
During a sport's regular playing season (i.e. championship season), student-athletes are limited to no more than 20 hours of countable athletically related activity per week, with a maximum of 4 hours per day. In season, student-athletes are also required to have one day off per week. This rule does not apply during MAC and NCAA Championships or during a vacation period in the academic year. A day when the team is traveling may count as the required day off provided no athletically-related activities occur on that day. The day off can be any day of the week and can change from week to week. A "week" is considered to be any seven consecutive days.
8 hour limit:
When a sport is considered to be out-of-season, student-athletes may practice no more than 8 hours per week. Of the 8 hours that are permitted, only 2 hours may be skill/game- related instruction, whether voluntary or required. Skill/game-related instruction may not occur outside the season in football. However, football student-athletes may review game film for up to two of the eight hours per week outside the season. The remaining hours may consist of strength training and conditioning. Additionally, during the off-season, student-athletes are required to have two days off per week.
Counting Hours of Competition:
All activities on the day of competition count as three hours, regardless of actual length. For example, a baseball double-header that takes up six hours or a field hockey game that takes up two hours, still counts as three hours of athletic activity.
Examples of athletically-related activities:
Examples of athletically-related activities include required practice, conditioning, strength training, competition, discussion of game films, lectures regarding the sport, required participation in camps/clinics/workshops, and any other on-field, on-court, on-floor or on-water activity.
Voluntary activity:
To be considered a "voluntary" activity, all the following conditions must be met:
* The student-athlete must not be required to report back to a coach or other athletics department staff member (e.g., strength coach, trainer, manager) any information related to the activity [NOTE: Coaches may not observe voluntary activities]
* The activity must be initiated and requested solely by the student-athlete.
* Neither the institution nor any athletics department staff member may require the student-athlete to participate in the activity at any time
* The student-athlete's attendance and participation in the activity (or lack thereof) may not be recorded for the purposes of reporting such information to coaching staff members or other student-athletes
* The student-athlete may not be subjected to penalty if he or she elects not to participate in the activity
* In addition, neither the institution nor any athletics department staff member may provide recognition or incentives (e.g., awards) to a student-athlete based on his or her attendance or performance in the activity