With preseason training camps already underway at universities across the country, most avid college football fans are aware of new NCAA practice regulations. Many fans, however, do not realize the significance of the changes and how they will dramatically change the way schools conduct training camps this year.
The first Football 101 of the season will not only outline the new changes, but also give you the reasons and the rational behind them. We'll also take a look at the process used to decide on the new regulations. Finally, we'll share with you the concerns of the coaches as they work through the first year of implementing the changes.
New NCAA preseason practice regulations
1. Calling all freshmen
New rule: Freshmen and newcomers to programs can no longer report to camp early. All players report on the same day. However, schools must still provide first-year players with the equivalent of one day of academic orientation.
Old rule: In the past, freshmen and first-year players reported three days prior to the varsity. Two of the days were used exclusively for football orientation and one day was devoted to academic orientation.
2. Five-day acclimatization period
New rule: A five-day acclimatization period is required at the beginning of camp. During this time, only one practice a day is permitted. The first two days are in helmets only, the third and fourth in helmets and shoulder pads and the fifth day is the first day teams can wear full pads.
Old rule: The first three days were in helmets and shoulder pads with no restrictions on the number of practices per day. After the third day, full pads were permitted.
3. Multiple practice days
New rule: No multiple practices days will be allowed on consecutive days. The most radical of the new rule changes, it prohibits teams from conducting two-a-days on consecutive days. Work must be alternated on a 2-1, 2-1 format, meaning if a team practices twice on a specific day, it must be followed by a day with only one practice.
Old rule: You could hold as many practices as you wanted to during the allotted camp days. Almost all teams would practice twice a day, and some teams would go at it three times a day.
4. Five-hour rule
New rule: On days in which multiple practices are allowed, teams can only be on the field for a total of five hours. There must be a three-hour recovery time between practices. During the recovery time, no football related activities, including meetings or film study, can be held during this period.
Old rule: In the past, there were no time restrictions for any practice during preseason camp.
5. Three-hour rule
New rule: On single practice days, total workouts can only be three hours long.
Old rule: In the past, there were no time restrictions for any practice during preseason camp.
Reasons for change
The new NCAA regulations were instituted because of a long-standing concern for heat-related issues involving student-athletes. This concern was brought to the attention of the President's Oversight Committee, which is comprised of NCAA Division I presidents and deals with issues concerning Division I football schools. Due to recent heat-related tragedies, this has become an issue the NCAA felt must be immediately addressed.
How the legislation was decided
A subcommittee made up of student-athletes, doctors, trainers and coaches was formed to consider the best legislation to address the concerns. Research was conducted for over a year and the specific issues were hammered out. Last summer, five schools modeled this new practice format across the country, including Texas and Virginia Tech. After much research and with the student-athlete's welfare being the No. 1 priority, new legislation was passed.
Opinions and concerns of coaches
Most coaches understand and agree with the rational for the new rules. The goal is to ensure that the players are properly conditioned and acclimated before embarking on full contact drills. Studies show that this will decrease the number of heat-related injuries. All coaches believe in protecting the welfare of the student-athlete and recognize that they may not be experts in the best way to acclimate players to the heat.
Most coaches seem to share the same concerns as the new system is implemented.
1. Elimination of freshman orientation
Most coaches are concerned that by eliminating the three day freshman orientation period, it will be much more difficult for the freshmen to adapt and make the transition to college football. Now that the freshmen will report as the 105-member squad, it will be almost impossible to give them the individual attention they had in the past. Coaches are concerned that they will be playing catch up from the beginning.
However, the NCAA has allowed for some individual attention during the first three days of practice. Schools are allowed to have a separate three-hour practice for freshmen and newcomers. Many schools across the country are taking advantage of this and dividing their squads up so the newcomers can learn at a slower pace.
2. New regulations penalize the veterans
To ensure that schools have the same 29 practice opportunities as last year, preseason has been spread out over a longer period of time. This means the veteran players will start camp earlier than ever before. The biggest problem is that the extension conflicts with summer classes at a lot of schools. Coaches and players must juggle the schedule for the first week of practice. Players are eligible to practice while summer school is in session, but it causes difficulties in getting everyone there at the same time.
3. Additional expense
By spreading preseason camp out three days longer, schools now have the additional expenses for 105 players and staff. The additional three days can make the increase in costs of training camp significant.
4. Parity
By regulating training camp procedures and schedules, the opportunity for individual coaches and staffs to outwork and out-prepare opponents is significantly reduced. Many coaches felt their individual plans gave them the advantage over opponents -- particularly in opening games. Now everyone's schedule is pretty much the same.
5. Longer practices
On single practice days, the NCAA has established a three-hour practice limit. Coaches, when only practicing once a day, will obviously take advantage of the entire three-hour window. This is actually longer than most teams across the country have practiced at one time. Some coaches feel that two 1½ hour practices are much better for student-athlete welfare than one three-hour practice.
Conclusion
Most coaches are comfortable with the acclimatization and the concept of not holding successive two-a-day practices. The reality is that a lot of schools already used a similar format to protect their players in early preseason camp. However, there is always concern any time a change is made. The legislation was well researched by the subcommittee led by Grant Teaff, president of the American Football Coaches Association.
By passing legislation that makes every school abide by standardized rules for preseason camps, college football is actually way ahead of both professional and high school football. With players staying on campus all summer and working with strength and conditioning coaches, they are now reporting in much better shape than in the past. This reduces the amount of practice time needed. The bottom line is that everyone shares the same goal: Do what is best for the player so he can perform at his highest level. This legislation addresses that issue and is a step in the right direction.
Editor's note: As architect of top defenses at Texas A&M and Notre Dame, Bob Davie is recognized as a top Xs and Os coach. His Football 101 broke down offensive and defensive schemes last year on ESPN.com. This fall, his Football 101 will take the process to a new level as part of ESPN.com's Insider.
