Definition of Practice
Link to NAIA bylaw
Practice is defined as an activity organized and/or directed by a member of the coaching staff in which appropriate equipment is used, or instruction and/or evaluation of the athlete takes place. This includes activities where coaches are present, organizing, or evaluating athletes.
- The definition of practice has two components: an activity organized or directed by a coach; and involving equipment or evaluation in that sport.
- The bylaw itself does not articulate the entire spectrum of events that could occur that would be incorporated in what is considered “organized” or “directed,” and how they should be treated. For those activities that possibly implicate the practice definition but are not entirely obvious, we rely on the standard Webster definition of the particular words used and past interpretations.
- Organize: to arrange and plan; to create an administrative structure; to arrange by systematic planning and united effort.
- Direct: to regulate the activities or course; to carry out the organizing and supervising of; to determine the course of.
Conditioning
Approved Ruling: Conditioning and weight-training activities that do not utilize equipment associated with a sport will not be considered practice in that sport.
A coach can require a team to condition on the playing field and it will not count towards the practice definition. However, at the point that a coach brings out sport equipment and provides guidance or direction, this will count as a practice.
Example: A soccer coach can take his athletes to the soccer field for conditioning drills. However, if the coach brings out a soccer ball and provides direction through a drill, this will automatically be considered a practice.
Coach Presence and Open Gyms
Coach attendance at an open gym is considered a practice and must be included in the 24-week season. The presence of a coach, whether observing or directing, provides an opportunity for evaluation, thus meeting the criteria for a practice. If a coach directs an open gym or arranges for athletes to participate, it counts as a practice, regardless of whether the coach is physically present.
Volunteered Guidance
Coaches are allowed to give guidance relating to drills or conditioning as requested by players as long as it is voluntary and they are not held accountable to the activity. A coach can provide this type of informal guidance, as long as the coach is not leading, directing, or organizing, regardless of the coaching staff being present.
Legitimate Alternative Roles
If a coach has a legitimate alternative role (e.g., lifeguard, facilities manager) requiring their presence during an open gym, this does not automatically constitute a practice. The coach must limit their involvement to their alternative role and avoid engaging in or observing the athletes’ activities to the extent possible.
Tryouts and Practices
If a coach organizes for potential student-athletes to participate with current athletes in an open gym, this constitutes a tryout and must adhere to tryout regulations. Tryouts are not included in the 24-week season.
There is no such thing as a joint practice!
- Any time sport-specific activities are performed between or against competitors of the same sport not identified with the institution, it must be considered a competition of some sort, be it a scrimmage, exhibition, or a contest. Teams from different schools cannot practice together. In the NAIA, there is no such thing as combined or joint practices.
- The only exception to this is that an alumni event
FAQs and Clarifications
- Facility Supervision Role: If a coach’s employment requires them to supervise the facility and they limit their involvement to this role, it is not a practice. However, if the coach observes or evaluates the athletes beyond their supervisory role, it becomes a practice.
- Gym Schedule Arrangement: Organizing gym time specifically for the team with the expressed instruction to attend, even without being present, counts as a practice. If the gym time is open to all students and not specific to the team, then it is not a practice.
- Lifeguard Duty: If a coach also serves as a lifeguard and does not direct or instruct the athletes, it is not a practice. Their presence is for safety, not evaluation.
- Video Review Sessions: Video sessions for evaluating athletes count as practice time and must be included in the 24-week season.
- Captain-Led Activities: Activities organized or directed by team captains without coach involvement are not considered practices. However, if the coaching staff provides practice instructions, it becomes a practice.
Guidelines for Voluntary Activities
- Do not organize the activity.
- Do not supervise the activity.
- Do not observe and evaluate athletes if your presence is for a legitimate purpose.
These guidelines ensure that voluntary activities remain distinct from official practices, allowing for compliance with the 24-week season rule.
How Non-NAIA Activity Can Still Count as Practice
Any time student-athletes engage in sport-specific activity and receive coaching or instruction, it constitutes a practice under NAIA rules—even if the setting or event is not officially recognized or sanctioned by the NAIA.
This includes activities such as:
- Greco-Roman or freestyle wrestling exhibitions
- Indoor soccer or futsal competitions
- Off-season dance or cheer events like hip-hop or pom solo routines
- Unattached track or swim meets where the athlete enters independently
If a coach is involved—offering guidance, overseeing training, or using sport-specific equipment or space (like mats, nets, courts)—those actions count as practice time. We cannot distinguish between NAIA and non-NAIA contexts if the athletes and coaches involved are members of an NAIA sport.
Check out these articles on Joint Practice, Definition of Practice, Open Gym and Football Acclimatization Period
