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: Use of Spider Pads During Non-Contact Spring Football Practice Sessions
As Division I football teams begin preparing for their spring practice sessions in the coming weeks, the restriction around which equipment may be used during non-contact practice sessions is being relaxed.
Specifically, Division I Bylaw 17.11.7.5 states that the spring “…noncontact practice sessions may involve headgear as the only piece of protective equipment.” Of the 15 days of countable activity permitted during the spring practice period, three of those days must be non-contact.
However, in February, at the recommendation of the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee, the NCAA staff approved a blanket waiver to permit the use of spider pads during noncontact practices for the 2022 football spring practice period.
The blanket waiver permits NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) student-athletes to wear headgear and spider pads during any spring noncontact practice session.
In granting the request, the academic and membership affairs staff noted:
One-time waiver request for the 2022 football spring practice period;
Noncontact practice sessions during the spring practice period may involve only headgear and spider pads as protective equipment; and,
The Football Oversight Committee supported a consistent approach to the use of headgear and spider pads during noncontact practice sessions throughout the football playing seasons model.
Back in 2015, the NCAA determined that in football, any items with padding (e.g. padded undergarments) are considered protective equipment and may only be worn for activities during which the use of protective equipment is permitted.
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.
