Bylaw: Article I, Section H, Item 2
“The following number of scrimmage dates per sport will be allowed in addition to the maximum number of varsity games, contests, or playing dates which an institution may schedule or in/on which a student may compete.”
Additional Scrimmage Dates Effective Fall 2023:
| Sport | Number of Scrimmage Dates |
| Baseball | 2 (plus 3 additional scrimmage dates to be conducted before the end of the fall term, and to be played only during weekends and other non-scheduled class dates.) |
| Basketball (men’s and women’s) | 2 |
| Bowling (men’s and women’s) | 0 |
| Competitive cheer | 1 |
| Competitive dance | 1 |
| Cross country (men’s and women’s) | 0 |
| Football | 1 |
| Golf (men’s and women’s) | 0 |
| Lacrosse (men’s and women’s) | 2 (plus 3 additional scrimmage dates to be conducted before the end of the fall term, and to be played only during the weekends and other non-scheduled class dates.) |
| Soccer (men’s and women’s) | 2 (*note the three additional soccer scrimmage dates is listed under their frequency of play limits) |
| Softball | 2 (plus 3 additional scrimmage dates to be conducted before the end of the fall term, and to be played only during weekends and other non-scheduled class dates.) |
| Swimming and diving (men’s and women’s) | 0 |
| Tennis (men’s and women’s) | 1 |
| Indoor and outdoor track and field (men’s and women’s) | 0 |
| Volleyball (men’s) | 2 (plus 3 additional scrimmage dates to be conducted before the end of the fall term, and to be played only during weekends and other non-scheduled class dates.) |
| Volleyball (women’s) | 2 (plus 3 additional scrimmage dates to be conducted after the end of the fall term, and to be played only during weekends and other non-scheduled class dates.) |
| Wrestling (men’s and women’s) | 0 |
Interpretation
In addition to the frequency of play limits listed in Article I, Section H, Item 1, some sports are allotted two additional scrimmage dates, all of which can be used at any time during a team’s 24-week season, and an additional 3 scrimmage dates that is allocated to a specific time of the academic year.
Unlike the frequency of play limits and the two scrimmage dates to be used at any time throughout the 24-week season, the wording describing the three additional scrimmage dates is drawing the distinction that these dates are limited to a particular time-frame ( for example, “to be played only after the fall term has concluded”).
This equates to game, contest, or date limits + 2 additional varsity scrimmages (to be conducted at any time during the 24-week season) + 3 dates (to be conducted specific to the time-frame listed in the scrimmage dates).
Example
A women’s volleyball team has scheduled two scrimmages to take place on two separate dates prior to the fall season starting. During the fall season, the women’s volleyball team competes in 26 dates. In the following spring academic term, the team competes in five matches on three separate dates. Did this team exceed their frequency of play limits?
No. Per the frequency of play bylaws, a limitation expressed as a “date” does not limit the number or type of contests that can occur on that date. The three additional dates that the women’s volleyball team is allowed to have does not limit the number of games that can be held on each date. Therefore, the women’s volleyball team is within the frequency of play limits with 2 scrimmages + 26 dates + three additional spring dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: The bylaw says the scrimmages can only occur on non-scheduled class days and weekends. Is it permissible to scrimmage on a Friday after classes have concluded at our school?
A: No. The bylaw requires that these additional scrimmages can only be used on non-scheduled class days. If classes were scheduled on Friday, you would not be permitted to use one of the spring scrimmage dates that day. You could use it on Saturday or Sunday, or another Friday in which no institutional classes are scheduled.
Q: Can our men’s volleyball team or baseball team have more than three scrimmage dates scheduled in the fall if we do not intend to use all of our scrimmages in the spring?
A: Yes. The three specific fall scrimmage dates in this example, are new and additional scrimmage opportunities that could be scheduled and played during the fall term only. It would not restrict you from using either of your other two available scrimmage opportunities at any point in your 24-week season, including the fall term.
Q: Can we schedule more than one scrimmage on a Saturday?
A: Yes. The bylaw is specific to scrimmage “dates.” Therefore, multiple scrimmages may be held on one date, but will only count as one date out of the “three additional dates” allotted.
Q: Can we play scrimmages in the fall prior to the start date of competition in the spring?
A: Yes, each sport’s practice start date also applies to scrimmages, meaning scrimmages may be initiated at the same time. For the sports of men’s volleyball and baseball, the fall start date for practice, scrimmages, and exhibitions is on September 1 of each year.
Q: Can we hold regular season games during the week and host scrimmages during the weekend?
A: It is perfectly allowable to conduct regular competitions during the week and host the additional scrimmage dates on the weekends, assuming the start dates have been met. Each sport is held to a specific start date for practices/scrimmages/exhibitions, as well as for their regular competitions. The current start date for men’s volleyball and baseball’s practices, scrimmages, and exhibitions begins on or after September 1. Additionally, fall competitions for these particular sports can also start on or after September 1. Note that any competition that does not meet the definition of scrimmage or exhibition that occurs during the fall will count towards a team’s frequency of play limits.
Q: My baseball team wants to host a scrimmage the first weekend in September, but we host several other games on Saturdays and we don’t allow Sunday play. Could we host the scrimmage on Friday night?
A: That depends on whether your institution hosts classes on that Friday or not. If your institution holds classes on that Friday, then it must be considered a class day and could not be used towards one of your three additional scrimmages that has the “non-scheduled class date” restriction. You could, however, choose to host the scrimmage anyway and simply use one of your two allotted scrimmage dates that are available to be used at any point during the 24-week season on a Friday or anytime during the school week.
Q: How does this bylaw work for quarter or trimester schools?
A: The bylaw dictates the additional scrimmage dates must be used during the fall term. This applies to any school’s fall term, regardless of whether it’s a semester, quarter or trimester institution. There is not a separate calendar or interpretation for non-semester terms.
Q: Can these scrimmages be played before classes start in the fall term?
A: The dates between May 16 – July 31st are not regulated by the 24-week season or frequency of play limits and your institution is free to practice or compete with returning students and eligible incoming students. Therefore, you may conduct scrimmages in between these specific dates that will not count towards a team’s 24-week season or frequency of play. However, beginning August 1, baseball and men’s volleyball teams must cease to practice or compete until their official practice, scrimmage, and exhibition start date of September 1.
