Athletics Veritas is a weekly series aimed at helping higher education executives, faculty, and other stakeholders stay tuned in on trending national issues impacting college athletics, especially NCAA Division I. Athletics Veritas is created by senior DI athletic administrators around the nation.
Term-in-Ology: Protecting The Final Exam Runway For NCAA Student-Athletes From Countable Athletic Activity
NCAA playing season rules expressly note that, in sports other than football, all countable athletically related activities outside of the playing season are prohibited one week prior to the beginning of the institution's final examination period for the applicable academic term through the conclusion of the institution's academic term.
Although football is separated out from the above rule in the NCAA Manual due to football’s unique spring football practice and week counting formulas, the week before and through final exams for Division I football student-athletes are customarily designated as “student-athlete discretionary time” without the overlap of countable football activities— this approach enables football student-athletes to be similarly positioned as student-athletes in other sports to focus on studying for finals and completing class projects.
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
