ncaa-manual

17.4.8.1.2 Out of Season. There are no limits on the number of student-athletes from the same memberinstitution with eligibility remaining who may practice or compete out of season on an outside amateurteam (competition on an outside team permitted only during the summer except as provided in Bylaw17.4.8.1.1.1). (Adopted: 1/9/96 effective 8/1/96)17.4.8.1.2.1 Involvement of Coaching Staff. No member of the coaching staff of a member institutionmay be involved in any capacity (e.g., coach, official, player or league/team administrator)during the academic year (including vacation periods during the academic year) with an outside teamthat involves any student-athlete with eligibility remaining from the institution’s team except as providedunder Bylaws 14.6.3, 17.1.1.1 and 17.28. (Revised: 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05)17.4.8.1.2.2 Olympic and National Team Development Program. There are no limits on thenumber of student-athletes from the same institution who may participate in Olympic and nationalteam development programs. Such programs may also include a coach and student-athlete from thesame institution, provided:(a) The national governing body conducts and administers the developmental program;(b) The national governing body selects coaches involved in the developmental program; and(c) A committee or other authority of the national governing body, which is not limited to coachesaffiliated with one particular institution, selects the involved participants. (Revised: 2/21/02,4/28/11)17.4.8.2 Equipment Issue, Squad Pictures. No limitations. (Adopted: 1/9/96 effective 8/1/96)17.5 Cross Country.Regulations for computing the cross country playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 andFigure 17-2.)17.5.1 Length of Playing Season. The length of an institution’s playing season in cross country shall belimited to a 144-day season, which may consist of two segments (each consisting of consecutive days) and whichmay exclude only required off days per Bylaw 17.1.6.4 and official vacation, holiday and final-examination periodsduring which no practice or competition shall occur. (Revised: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/91, 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97)17.5.1.1 Track and Field Student-Athletes Participating in Cross Country. Track and field studentathleteslisted as participants for cross country must participate fully in cross country practices. If studentathletesare practicing in track and field events unrelated to cross country, such practices must be counted in theinstitution’s established segment in track and field. (Adopted: 1/10/92)17.5.2 Preseason Practice. A member institution shall not commence practice sessions in cross countryprior to the date that permits a maximum of 21 units (see Bylaw 17.02.11) prior to the first scheduled intercollegiatecontest. (Revised: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/91, 1/14/97 effective 8/1/07, 4/14/03)17.5.3 First Date of Competition. A member institution shall not engage in its first date of competition(game or scrimmage) with outside competition in cross country prior to September 1 or the preceding Friday ifSeptember 1 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday (see Figure 17-2). (Revised: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/91, 1/16/93effective 8/1/93, 4/15/97)17.5.4 End of Regular Playing Season. A member institution shall conclude all practice and competition(meets and practice meets) in cross country by the last date of final examinations for the regular academic year atthe institution. (Revised: 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97)17.5.5 Number of Dates of Competition.17.5.5.1 Maximum Limitations—Institutional. An institution shall limit its total playing schedule withoutside competition in cross country during the institution’s cross country playing season to seven dates of competition(games and scrimmages), except for those dates of competition excluded under Bylaws 17.5.5.3 and 17.5.5.4(see Bylaw 20.9.6.3 for minimum contests and participants requirements). (Revised: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/91)17.5.5.1.1 Exception—Cross Country Without Indoor or Outdoor Track and Field. An institutionthat sponsors men’s or women’s cross country but does not sponsor indoor or outdoor track and fieldshall limit its total playing schedule with outside competition during the cross country playing season toseven dates of competition during the segment in which the NCAA championship is conducted and fivedates of competition during another segment. Travel to competition in the nonchampionship segment shallbe restricted to ground transportation, unless there are no Division I institutions that sponsor the sportlocated within 400 miles of the institution. (Adopted: 1/16/93, Revised: 1/11/94 effective 8/1/94, 4/29/10effective 8/1/10)17.5.5.1.1.1 Hawaii or Alaska Exception—Nonchampionship Segment Travel. Once everyfour years, an institution may use any form of transportation for travel to Hawaii or Alaska for nonchampionshipsegment competition against an active member institution located in Hawaii or Alaska.(Adopted: 4/28/11 effective 8/1/11)17Playing Seasons245