Football Practice Guidelines: Acclimatization, Activity Limits, and FAQs

FB Acclimatization Period (Article I, Section H, Item 6 – Practice)

This simplified guide aims to ensure that both coaches and athletes understand the regulations, ensuring safe and compliant football practice sessions.

All student-athletes in football must undergo a five-day acclimatization period at the start of practice:

  1. Days 1-2: Helmets only.
  2. Days 3-4: Helmets and shoulder pads.
  3. Day 5 and beyond: Full pads and all protective equipment allowed.

Daily Activity Limits Before First Competition

Before the team’s first competition, each student-athlete is limited to a maximum of four hours of on-field or physical activity per day. This includes all practices, skills work, conditioning, and walkthrough sessions organized or directed by the coaching staff. Within these four hours, the following apply:

  1. Physical Activities: Maximum of three hours per day, including skills work, on-field practice, and conditioning.
  2. Recovery Period: A three-hour recovery period must follow each physical activity session, during which no on-field or physical activity or weight training can occur. This period can be waived if activities are interrupted by unforeseen events or weather.
  3. Walkthrough Sessions: Permitted as long as no protective equipment is worn, footballs are the only implements used, and no conditioning takes place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What if a student joins the team late? A: The acclimatization period is specific to each student. For example, if a student starts on August 4, they cannot practice in full pads until August 8.

Q2: Is the limit on physical activity three hours or four? A: Students can have up to four hours of total activity per day, with a maximum of three hours dedicated to physical activities. The remaining hour can be used for walkthroughs.

Q3: Does weight training count towards the three-hour physical activity limit? A: No, weight training does not count towards the three-hour limit but cannot occur during the mandatory recovery period.

Q4: Are walkthroughs considered physical activities? A: No, walkthroughs are not physical activities but are considered on-field activities and are subject to the four-hour daily limit.

Q5: Does “on-field activity” include other settings like swimming pools or indoor tracks? A: On-field activities are specific to the football field. Physical activities, including conditioning, can occur in other settings and are subject to the three-hour daily limit.

Q6: Can physical therapy or medical treatment occur during the recovery period? A: Yes, medical treatment and physical therapy can take place during the recovery period, along with other non-physical football activities like team meetings and film review.

Q7: Can a student participate in multiple small group workouts if they play multiple positions? A: Yes, provided the total time of the morning conditioning plus both position practices does not exceed three hours, and there is a three-hour recovery period between each practice.

Q8: What is considered a football implement? A: Any equipment specific to football, such as pads, helmets, footballs, sleds, tackling dummies, tees, and kicking nets, are football implements.