PLAYING & PRACTICE SEASON GUIDELINES
NCAA BYLAW 17

SPORTFIRST DATE
OF PRACTICE		FIRST DATE
OF COMPETITION		LENGTH OF SEASONDATES OF COMPETITIONNUMBER OF CONTESTS
BaseballSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlierSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlier132 days (one or two segments)N/A56
Basketball7 p.m. on the Friday nearest October 15The second Friday in November1See Bylaw 17.5.1N/A29 contests, or 27 contests and one multiple-team event
Cross Country21 practice opportunities prior to first competitionSeptember 1, or the preceding Friday if September 1 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday144 days (one or two segments)7N/A
Football40 practice units prior to the first gameThe Thursday prior to Labor DaySee Bylaw 17.11.1N/A12
GolfSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlierSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlier144 days (one or two segments)24N/A
LacrosseSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlierSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlier132 days (one or two segments)OTHER SEGMENT: 5CHAMP SEGMENT: 17
Men's Soccer21 practice opportunities prior to first competitionThe Friday prior to the 11th weekend prior to the start of the NCAA Championship2132 days (one or two segments)OTHER SEGMENT: 5CHAMP SEGMENT: 20
Women's Soccer21 practice opportunities prior to first competitionThe Friday prior to the 11th weekend prior to the start of the NCAA Championship2132 days (one or two segments)OTHER SEGMENT: 5CHAMP SEGMENT: 20
SoftballCHAMP SEGMENT: The second Thursday in February
OTHER SEGMENT: September 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlier		September 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlier132 days (one or two segments)N/A56
SwimmingSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlierSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlier144 days (one or two segments)20N/A
TennisSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlierSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlier144 days (one or two segments)254N/A
Track & FieldSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlierSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlier156 days (one or two segments)185N/A
VolleyballCHAMP SEGMENT: 29 practice opportunities prior to the first date of competition or prior to September 1, whichever is later
OTHER SEGMENT: January 1		September 1, or the preceding Friday if September 1 falls on a Friday, or two Fridays prior if September 1 falls on a Saturday3132 days (one or two segments)CHAMP SEGMENT: 28
OTHER SEGMENT: 4		N/A
WrestlingSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlierSeptember 7 or first day of classes, whichever is earlier144 days (one or two segments)16N/A
1 see Bylaw 17.5.3.1 for basketball scrimmage/game exceptions
2 see Bylaw 17.20.5.1.1 for soccer scrimmage/exhibition game exception
3 see Bylaw 17.28.3 for volleyball alumni game exception
4 including up to 7 multi-day individual singles or doubles tourneys (with no team scoring) counting as a single date
5 including up to 6 two-day meets counting as a single date
ANNUAL EXEMPTIONS TO THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CONTESTS/DATES OF COMPETITION
Please refer to the following sport-specific Bylaws:
Baseball17.4.5.3Lacrosse17.16.5.3Track & Field17.27.5.3
Basketball17.5.5.3Soccer17.20.5.3Volleyball17.28.9
Cross Country17.7.5.3Softball17.21.5.3Wrestling17.30.5.3
Football17.11.5.2Swimming17.23.5.3
Golf17.12.5.3Tennis17.26.5.3
CALCULATION OF PRESEASON PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES/UNITS FOR FALL SPORTS
(CROSS COUNTRY, FOOTBALL, SOCCER, AND VOLLEYBALL)
  • Count backwards, beginning with the day before your first scheduled competition.
  • Exclude Sundays when counting (remember, however, that practice may occur on Sunday).
  • Skipping Sunday, count one opportunity for each of the first six days immediately preceding the first scheduled competition.
  • After reaching "six," begin to count two opportunities per day, unless you have not yet reached the start of classes; only one opportunity may be counted for any day that is actually part of the fall semester.
  • Count two opportunities for each August day prior to the start of class, until reaching your sport's maximum (21, 29, or 40).