NAIA Required Day Off Policy – Effective August 1, 2023
Amendment to the Constitution: 23-B-18
NAIA Institutional Day Off Policy NAIA Bylaws Article I, Section H, Item 7
From August 21 – May 15 (Academic Year) A week is defined as Monday (12:00 a.m.) through Sunday (11:59 p.m.)
During the academic year,
all countable athletically related activities (per our definition) shall be prohibited during one calendar day per week (
pre-season and breaks will be exempt).
- ZERO expectation for anything towards the countable athletic related activities; including community service, fundraising, camps/clinics.
- No other requirements may be asked of the student-athlete on their day off.
- The Head Coach is responsible for communicating the "Day Off Policy" with their student-athletes at the first team meeting. Each teams’ alignment with the Day off Policy will be monitored by Athletic Administration. Please document your day off on your Outlook calendar.
Countable Athletically Related Activities The following are considered countable athletically related activities:
Practice, which is defined as any activity organized and/or directed by any member of the coaching staff in which either (a) appropriate equipment is used or (b) instruction and/or evaluation of the athlete takes place.
Practice is considered to have occurred if
one or more coaches and one or more student athletes engage in any of the following activities:
- Field, floor or on-court activity; practice, scrimmage/exhibition/competition
- Setting up offensive or defensive alignment (walkthrough drills);
- Chalk talk;
- Lecture on or discussion of strategy related to the sport;
- Activities using equipment related to the sport;
- Discussions or review of game films, motion pictures or videotapes related to the sport;
- Sport specific activity classes only available to invited students;
- Required weight-training and conditioning activities held at the direction of or supervised by an athletic department staff member.
Non-athletic COUNTABLE activities that are prohibited on DAY OFF
- Required participation in camps, clinics or workshops;
- Fundraising, Community Service;
- Team building activities;
- Media activities;
- Compliance meetings;
POTENTIAL NON-COUNTABLE ACTIVITIES
- Participation in a physical-fitness class conducted by a member of the athletics staff.
- Voluntary activities initiated by student-athlete, no Athletic Department staff present or filming.
EXCEPTIONS:
- Three Contests in Seven-Day Period. If an institution's team participates in three contests or dates of competition in a seven-day period, an institution is not subject to the one-day-off-per-week requirement.
- Canceled Competition. When an institution's competition is canceled prior to the start of competition or canceled prior to the competition being considered a completed event in accordance with the playing rules of that sport, an institution may use that day as its required day off, provided the institution does not engage in any further countable athletically related activities during that day.
- Unforeseen circumstances. I.E., travel complications, weather or health related issues.
Department Contact for questions regarding this policy:
- Jo Ann Gordon, Associate Athletic Director/Compliance Officer
Violation of Day Off Policy:
- Verbal Notice to Head Coach
- Written Notice to Head Coach
- Suspension of Head Coach
- Plan of Action with Human Resources
- Potential Dismissal/Exit
