The NCAA News - News Features

Committee will seek increase in 20-hour participation limit

The committee, meeting October 28-29 in Indianapolis, agreed it will ask the Management Councils next year to consider increasing the current 20-hour-per-week limit on practice and competition to 24 hours per week. The increase will not be proposed for team sports.

The sports include men's and women's fencing, golf, gymnastics, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field, as well as wrestling.

The committee expects to propose an increase from four to five hours in the daily participation limit in those sports.

The committee believes it is appropriate for the proposal to be considered separately by each division. The committee anticipates forwarding the proposal to the Management Councils in Divisions I, II and III in August 1997, when restructuring of the Association is scheduled to become effective.

In preparation, the committee asked the national office staff to compile data on NCAA student-athletes' performance in international competition under the 20-hour limit.

Representatives of national governing bodies (NGBs) in most Olympic sports have told the committee that they believe the 20-hour rule hinders student-athletes who compete individually in international competition. The committee will seek documentation of the NGBs' claims.

Committee members, however, believe that all student-athletes may benefit from increased practice opportunities. The committee noted that it is charged with ensuring that all student-athletes -- not only elite athletes involved in international competition -- are beneficiaries of its recommendations.

The committee noted that many student-athletes already participate in up to 24 hours of practice weekly under Bylaw 17.02.1.2.1 -- the "safety exception" that currently permits coaches to be present to provide safety or skill instruction during voluntary individual workouts in some Olympic sports.