ncaa-manual

17.20 Softball.Regulations for computing the softball playing season are set forth in Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure17-2.)17.20.1 Length of Playing Season. The length of an institution’s playing season in softball shall be limitedto a 132-day season, which may consist of two segments. (Revised: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/91, 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97,1/13/08 effective 8/1/08)17.20.1.1 Championship Segment. An institution’s championship segment must consist of consecutivedays and may exclude only required off days per Bylaw 17.1.6.4 and official vacation, holiday and final-examinationperiods during which no practice or competition shall occur. (Adopted: 1/14/08 effective 8/1/08)17.20.1.2 Nonchampionship Segment. An institution’s nonchampionship segment shall be conductedwithin a period of 45 consecutive days during the months of September, October and November under the followingconditions: (Adopted: 1/14/08 effective 8/1/08)(a) Days used for practice or competition must be counted toward the 132-day season, but are not requiredto be consecutive;(b) Days during which countable athletically related activities are limited solely to required conditioningactivities and/or skill-related instruction are not required to count toward the 132-day season;(c) During any week in which practice or competition occurs, a student-athlete’s involvement in countableathletically related activities shall be limited to a maximum of four hours per day and 20 hours per weekand all countable athletically related activities are prohibited during one calendar day per week; and(d) Any week in which practice or competition does not occur shall be considered outside the playing season(see Bylaw 17.1.6.2).17.20.2 Preseason Practice. A member institution shall not commence practice sessions in softball beforeSeptember 1 or the institution’s first day of classes, whichever is later; however, if an institution’s first day of classesoccurs after September 15, the institution may commence practice sessions on or after September 15. (Revised:1/14/97 effective 8/1/97, 1/14/08 effective 8/1/08, 1/16/10 effective 8/1/10)17.20.3 First Contest Date. An institution shall not play its first contest (game or scrimmages) with outsidecompetition in softball prior to the following dates: (Adopted: 4/26/07 effective 8/1/07)(a) Nonchampionship Segment. If the institution’s first day of classes occurs on or before September 15: September1 or the institution’s first day of classes, whichever is later. If the institution’s first day of classes occursafter September 15: September 15. (Revised: 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97, 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05, 4/26/07 effective8/1/07, 1/14/08 effective 8/1/08, 1/16/10 effective 8/1/10)(b) Championship Segment. The Thursday that is 14 weeks before the Thursday immediately preceding thestart of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship (see Figure 17-2). (Revised: 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05,4/26/07 effective 8/1/07)17.20.4 End of Regular Playing Season. A member institution shall conclude all practice and competition(games and scrimmages) in softball by the conclusion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship.(Revised: 1/14/97 effective 8/1/97)17.20.5 Number of Contests.17.20.5.1 Maximum Limitations—Institutional. A member institution shall limit its total playing schedulewith outside competition in softball during the institution’s softball playing season to 56 contests (games andscrimmages) during the segment in which the NCAA championship is conducted and eight contests (games andscrimmages) during the nonchampionship segment, except for those contests excluded under Bylaws 17.20.5.3and 17.20.5.4. Travel to competition in the nonchampionship segment shall be restricted to ground transportation,unless there are no Division I institutions that sponsor the sport located within 400 miles of the institution.(Revised: 1/10/91 effective 8/1/91, 4/26/07 effective 8/1/08, 4/29/10 effective 8/1/10)17.20.5.1.1 Hawaii or Alaska Exception—Nonchampionship Segment Travel. Once every fouryears, 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: 4/28/11effective 8/1/11)17.20.5.1.2 Daily Contest Limitations. There shall be a limit of three on the number of contests thatmay be played during any one calendar day. (Adopted: 1/12/99 effective 8/1/99)17.20.5.1.3 In-Season Foreign Competition. A member institution may play one or more of itscountable contests in softball in one or more foreign countries on one trip during the prescribed playingseason. However, except for contests played in Canada and Mexico or on a certified foreign tour (see Bylaw17.28), the institution may not engage in such in-season foreign competition more than once everyfour years.17.20.5.2 Maximum Limitations—Student-Athlete. An individual student-athlete may participate eachacademic year in not more than 56 softball contests during the segment in which the NCAA championship isconducted and eight contests during the nonchampionship segment (this limitation includes those contests in17Playing Seasons281