ncaa-manual

17.9.2.1.3.4 Replacement of Student-Athlete Due to Injury or Illness. [FCS] A student-athletewho sustains an injury or illness that prevents further participation in preseason practice activitiesmay be replaced with another student-athlete without including that individual in the institution’slimitation on the number of individuals who may participate in preseason practice. The replaced student-athleteshall cease participation in all athletically related activities (including team meetings andfilm review) and shall not resume participation in athletically related activities before the institution’sfirst day of classes or first contest, whichever occurs first. The replaced student-athlete may continue toreceive preseason practice expenses. (Adopted: 4/30/09)17.9.2.2 Academic Orientation—First-Time Participants—Bowl Subdivision. [FBS] In bowl subdivisionfootball, an institution must establish an academic orientation period for those student-athletes who arebeginning their initial season of eligibility for football practice at the institution. The period shall include not lessthan six hours of academic orientation. The academic orientation period requirement may be satisfied throughthe following options: (Adopted: 4/24/03 effective 5/1/03, Revised: 4/27/06, 12/15/06)(a) An institution may conduct the required academic orientation period any time prior to or during thefive-day acclimatization period for student-athletes enrolled in summer classes or participating in summerconditioning activities prior to the student-athlete’s first season of eligibility in football at the certifyinginstitution; (Adopted: 4/27/06)(b) An institution may establish an academic orientation day on the day prior to the start of the five-dayacclimatization period. On the day designated for the sole purpose of academic orientation, studentathletesmay engage only in academic-related activities, which may include compliance-related activities(e.g., reviewing NCAA eligibility requirements, signing the Student-Athlete Statement and Drug-TestingConsent Form). An institution may conduct medical examinations, issue equipment and take individualphotographs of participating student-athletes after the evening meal on the academic orientation day; or(Adopted: 4/27/06, Revised: 1/14/08)(c) An institution may conduct the academic orientation period during the five-day acclimatization period.The orientation activities may be conducted on more than one day during the five-day period but mustbe conducted for the equivalent of one day (not less than six hours).17.9.2.3 Five-Day Acclimatization Period. [FBS/FCS] In football, preseason practice shall begin with afive-day acclimatization period for both first-time participants (e.g., freshmen and transfers) and continuingstudent-athletes. All student-athletes, including walk-ons who arrive to preseason practice after the first day ofpractice, are required to undergo a five-day acclimatization period. The five-day acclimatization period shall beconducted as follows: (Adopted: 4/24/03 effective 5/1/03, Revised: 12/15/06)(a) In bowl subdivision football, institutions may not conduct administrative activities (e.g., team pictures,etc.) other than those permitted prior to or on the academic orientation day (e.g., compliance-relatedactivities, medical examinations, individual photographs) prior to the first permissible date of practice. Inchampionship subdivision football, institutions may not conduct administrative activities (e.g., team pictures,individual photographs) other than compliance-related activities and medical examinations priorto the first permissible date of practice. Conditioning, speed, strength or agility tests may not occur onany day prior to the start of the five-day acclimatization period. In championship subdivision football,during the five-day acclimatization period, the institution must establish an academic orientation periodfor those student-athletes who are beginning their initial season of eligibility for football practice at theinstitution. The orientation activities may be conducted on more than one day during the five-day period,but must be conducted for the equivalent of one day (not less than six hours). (Revised: 12/13/05,4/27/06, 12/15/06, 1/14/08)(b) During the five-day period, participants shall not engage in more than one on-field practice per day, notto exceed three hours in length.(1) Exception—During the five-day acclimatization period, an institution has the option of conductingone on-field practice per day, not to exceed three hours in length, or one on-field testing session(speed, conditioning or agility tests) per day, not to exceed one hour in length and one on-fieldpractice, not to exceed two hours in length. In addition, an institution may conduct one one-hourwalk-through session per day of the acclimatization period, provided protective equipment (e.g.,helmets, shoulder pads) is not worn, equipment related to football (e.g., footballs, blocking sleds) isnot used and conditioning activities do not occur. Student-athletes must be provided with at leastthree continuous hours of recovery time between any sessions (testing, practice or walk-through) occurringthat day. During this time, student-athletes may not attend any meetings or engage in otherathletically related activities (e.g., weight lifting); however, time spent receiving medical treatmentand eating meals may be included as part of the recovery time. If an institution conducts only a walkthroughon a particular day during the acclimatization period, that day does not count toward therequired five days of acclimatization, but the walk-through counts toward the limit of 29 on-fieldpractices for the preseason practice period. (Revised: 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05, 7/18/05, 12/13/05)(c) First-time participants and continuing students shall not be required to practice separately.17Playing Seasons255