The NCAA is proceeding with a significant step toward prepping for the 2020 college football season.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the NCAA Div. I Oversight Committee was crafting a plan that would shape the path college football programs would take to prepare for the upcoming season. Last week, the NCAA announced that it has finalized its proposal for a preseason model for the sport. However, the plan still needed the approval of the NCAA Division I Council.
Thursday, that expected thumbs-up came to fruition as the council has approved what will essentially be a six-week preseason for college football. The NCAA writes that, "[a]ssuming a first game on Sept. 5, the model begins summer access activities July 13 and adds meetings and walk-throughs July 24. Preseason practice begins Aug. 7.” Schools that open the seasoning Week 0 (Aug. 29), all of the dates would get seven days subtracted from them. It’s unclear if teams whose first games are Sept. 3 will follow the Sept. 5 model or not.
The activities mentioned do not include the ongoing voluntary on-campus workouts.
As for the particulars? The NCAA referred to its previous release as a guideline:... student-athletes may be required to participate in up to eight hours of weight training, conditioning and film review per week (not more than two hours of film review per week) from July 13-23.
Then, from July 24 through Aug. 6, student-athletes may be required to participate in up to 20 hours of countable athletically related activities per week (not more than four hours per day) as follows:
— Up to eight hours per week for weight training and conditioning.
— Up to six hours per week for walk-throughs, which may include the use of a football.
— Up to six hours per week for meetings, which may include film review, team meetings, position meetings, one-on-one meetings, etc.
— During this 14-day period, student-athletes are required to get at least two days off.