The following questions and answers are designed to assist Division II football coaches and administrators as they apply Proposal No. 29, new legislation that regulates preseason football practice in Division II. The legislation was approved at the 2003 NCAA Convention in Anaheim, California:

Q: When is the first permissible practice date for football?

A: In Division II, teams may conduct their first practice as early as 21 days before the first permissible playing date. The first permissible playing date in 2003 is August 28, so the first permissible practice date is August 7. Team pictures and equipment checkout can be done one day earlier (August 6). Teams may report to campus April 5 to sign compliance forms and to administer medical examinations/physicals. Sundays are countable days.

Q: What kind of medical examination is required?

A: Pre-participation medical evaluations/physicals are required for all student-athletes first entering the institution's athletics program. The initial examination should include a comprehensive health history, immunization history and a relevant physical exam, part of which should include an orthopedic evaluation. Returning student-athletes (that is, those who were at the institution and participating in athletics the previous year) are not required to undergo a complete medical examination. The medical history for those student-athletes should be updated and evaluated annually.

Q: Are physical tests permitted before the first practice date?

A: No. Conditioning, speed, strength and agility tests cannot be conducted before the first practice date on August 7, 2003.

Q: What equipment is permitted during the five-day acclimatization period?

A: Day 1 -- helmets only. Day 2 -- helmets only. Day 3 -- helmets and shoulder pads. Day 4 -- helmets and shoulder pads. Day 5 -- full pads.

Q: What are the limits on on-field practices during the acclimatization period?

A: During the five-day acclimatization period, there can be one on-field practice per day, not to exceed three hours.

Q: What if a player joins the team after the rest of the squad has started or completed the acclimatization period?

A: If a player joins the team after it has started or completed the acclimatization period, that player must complete his own separate acclimatization period.

Q: What are the limits on multiple on-field practice sessions after the acclimatization period?

A: After the five-day period, a team CANNOT have consecutive days of multiple on-field practice sessions. Every other day may be a multiple practice day (multiple/single/multiple/single).

Q: What restrictions exist on multiple practice days?

A: There must be at least three continuous hours of recovery time between the end of the first practice and the beginning of the last practice. Also, during the three-hour recovery period, student-athletes are not allowed to participate in meetings or any athletically related activity, including weight training. Sports medicine rehabilitation is permitted during this time.

Q: What is the maximum time permitted for on-field practice during multiple practice days?

A: The maximum time allowed for on-field practice during any practice day in which multiple on-field practice sessions are conducted is five hours.

Q: What is permitted with regard to walk-throughs?

A: After the five-day acclimatization period, on single practice days only, a single, one-hour, on-the-field walk-through is permitted. No equipment, helmets, pads, blocking sleds or balls are permitted to be used during the walk-through. In addition, there must be at least a three-hour recovery time between a practice and a walk-through.

Q: What restrictions exist on single-session practice days?

A: On single-session practice days, student-athletes may not engage in more than three hours of on-field activities, and student-athletes may not engage in other physical activity organized or conducted by the institution, except weight training.