08-17-2024, 11:18 AM
The NCAA rules probably need updating now that we have such geographically-spread conferences increasing travel time and number of time-zone crossings. The rules currently have special rules for travel to/from Hawaii and Alaska, (SFO -> HNL 5.3 hours, 2 time zones; SFO -> MIA 5.6 hours, 3 time zones). The rules talk about time periods without specifying that the two endpoints are in the same time zone.
The NCAA attempts to put limits on athletic activity so as to allow time for study and for a healthy life. There are three categories of time spent related to athletics:
Considering the Tallahassee -> SFO -> Stanford leg for WVB. The team would probably avoid the 6AM flight as that would trigger the Midnight - 5AM rule (travel isn't just the time in the air). Suppose they took the quickest flight, 8:29 AM EDT - 1:48 PM PDT. They'd probably have to board the bus to the airport at 6:30AM. So, eat & pack beginning no later than 5:30AM EDT. They wouldn't get back to campus until, say, 3 PM PDT, more than 12 hours after they got up. That day could count as their "Day Off" for that week, BUT this is the first of 3 games in 6 days so the coaches aren't required to give them the day off
Per the NCAA Division I 2024-2025 Manual,
The NCAA attempts to put limits on athletic activity so as to allow time for study and for a healthy life. There are three categories of time spent related to athletics:
- Countable time. Time spent with coaches or other organized team activities meant to promote the skill. Limited to 4 hours per day, 20 hours per week. (Contests count as 3 hours)
- Required time. Time required by the sport (travel, media activities, ...)
- Voluntary time. Time spent by the student-athlete on their own (may involve safety supervision but not training)
Considering the Tallahassee -> SFO -> Stanford leg for WVB. The team would probably avoid the 6AM flight as that would trigger the Midnight - 5AM rule (travel isn't just the time in the air). Suppose they took the quickest flight, 8:29 AM EDT - 1:48 PM PDT. They'd probably have to board the bus to the airport at 6:30AM. So, eat & pack beginning no later than 5:30AM EDT. They wouldn't get back to campus until, say, 3 PM PDT, more than 12 hours after they got up. That day could count as their "Day Off" for that week, BUT this is the first of 3 games in 6 days so the coaches aren't required to give them the day off
Per the NCAA Division I 2024-2025 Manual,
Quote:17.02.1 Countable Athletically Related Activities. Countable athletically related activities include any required activity with an athletics purpose involving student-athletes and at the direction of, or supervised by, one or more of an institution's coaching staff (including strength and conditioning coaches) and must be counted within the weekly and daily limitations under Bylaws 17.1.7.1 and 17.1.7.2. Administrative activities (e.g., academic meetings, compliance meetings) shall not be considered as countable athletically related activities.
17.02.14 Required Athletically Related Activities. [A] Required athletically related activities include any activities, including those that are countable in the daily and weekly limitations, that are required of a student-athlete. Such activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
...
(h) Travel to and from away-from-home competition.
17.1.7 Time Limits for Athletically Related Activities. In all sports, the following time limitations shall apply:
17.1.7.1 Daily and Weekly Hour Limitations -- Playing Season. A student-athlete's participation in countable athletically related activities (see Bylaw 17.02.1) shall be limited to a maximum of four hours per day and 20 hours per week.
17.1.7.4 Required Day Off -- Playing Season. During the playing season, all countable athletically related activities (per Bylaw 17.02.1) shall be prohibited during one calendar day per week, except during participation in one conference and postseason championship and any postseason bowl games or National Invitation Tournaments, and during participation in NCAA championships.
17.1.7.4.1 Travel Day. A travel day related to athletics participation may be considered as a day off, provided no countable athletically related activities (see Bylaw 17.02.1) occur during that day.
17.1.7.7.1.1 Exception -- Return Travel Following Away-From-Home Competition -- Midnight to 5 a.m. [A] A day on which return to campus travel occurs between midnight and 5 a.m. from away-from-home competition may be considered as a day off, provided no required athletically related activities occur for a continuous 24-hour period starting from the time all participating student-athletes have been officially released following the return to campus.
17.1.7.7.8 Exception -- Three Contests in Seven-Day Period. [A] If an institution's team participates in three contests or three dates of competition in a seven-day period, an institution is not subject to the one-day-off-per-week requirement, provided the student-athletes do not engage in any required athletically related activities for two days during either the preceding or the following week.
17.1.7.11 Additional Restrictions.
17.1.7.11.1 No Class Time Missed in Conjunction with Nonchampionship Segment Competition -- Baseball, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball. In baseball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball, no class time shall be missed in conjunction with nonchampionship segment competition, including activities associated with such competition (e.g., travel and other pregame or postgame activities).
17.1.7.11.6.3 Away-From-Home Competition -- Return to Campus After 9 p.m. [A] If a student-athlete returns to campus after 9 p.m. (local time) from an away-from-home competition, the institution must provide the student-athlete a continuous eight-hour period during which required athletically related activities are prohibited. The eight-hour period begins when the student-athlete returns to campus and is officially released from team obligations.