NCAA Division 1 Council Approves Six-Week Preseason Plan

Preseason practices can begin on August 7 for the Crimson Tide football team

We are one step closer to the college football season happening as scheduled. 

Last week, the NCAA's Division 1 Football Oversight Committee finalized a six-week preseason plan for summer activities and preseason practices. 

On Wednesday, the Division 1 Council approved that preseason model and assuming games begin on Sep. 5, summer access activities can happen on July 13, with walk-throughs starting on July 24, then official preseason practices beginning on Aug. 7. 

"This is the culmination of a significant amount of collaboration in our effort to find the best solution for Division I football institutions,” Shane Lyons, chair of the committee and director of athletics at West Virginia said. “Our student-athletes, conference commissioners, coaches and health and safety professionals helped mold the model we are proposing.”

During July 13-23, student athletes may be required to participate in up to eight hours of weight training, strength and conditioning, and film review (two hours of film review is the maximum allotment each week) . 

Furthermore, from July 24-Aug. 6, players could be required to participate in up to 20 hours of athletically related events that includes the following: 

• Up to eight hours per week of weight training and conditioning
• Up to six hours per week of walk-throughs, where a football could be used
• Up to six hours per week of team meetings, position meetings, one-on-one meetings, and film review.

Student-athletes will get at least two days off during this two-week period. 

Allowing on-field practices to begin Aug. 7, with a five-day acclimatization period, would give each school the necessary 25 practices to begin the season on time. 

“Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country, we believe this model provides institutions and their student-athletes flexibility to prepare for the upcoming season,” Lyons said.