Amanda Knapp
Division 1 student-athletes face a significant challenge in balancing their academic and athletic commitments. While NCAA rules limit athletes to 20 hours of practice per week during the season, with one day off, the reality is often very different. Many athletes report practicing over 30 hours per week, with some sports requiring more than 40 hours. This discrepancy may be due to the definition of practice, which excludes activities such as weight-lifting, conditioning, and travel. The demands on Division 1 athletes are so high that they are equivalent to having two full-time jobs, leaving little time for anything else.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hours Division 1 athletes practice | 6-7 days a week, 2-2.5 hours a day on average |
| Number of hours spent on athletically related activities per day | Maximum of 4 hours |
| Number of hours spent on athletically related activities per week | Maximum of 20 hours during the season, 8 hours during the off-season |
| Number of hours spent on individual skill workouts during the off-season | Maximum of 2 hours per week |
| Average number of hours spent by D1 athletes on athletics per week | 33 hours |
| Average number of hours spent on athletics by football players per week | 50 hours |
| Average number of hours spent on athletics by student-athletes per week | 30-40 hours |
| Average number of hours spent on athletics by Division I student-athletes per week | 30+ hours |
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What You'll Learn
NCAA rules and limits
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has explicit rules and limits on the amount of time dedicated to games, practices, and team meetings or "countable athletically related activities". NCAA rules regulate the number of hours a student-athlete can participate in these countable athletically related activities.
During the playing season, student-athletes are limited to a maximum of four hours of athletically related activities per day and 20 hours per week. During the off-season, athletically related activities are limited to a maximum of eight hours per week, of which not more than two hours per week may be spent on individual skill workouts. The NCAA requires coaches to give athletes at least one day off per week (although athletes are not required to take this).
However, there are many loopholes to these rules. Firstly, the NCAA's definition of what constitutes a practice does not include "voluntary" student-led workouts, administrative meetings, weight-lifting, conditioning, film study, and activities incidental to participation, such as taping, visits to the trainer, and rehabilitation. Game days count as three hours, even though they often require travel and hours of pre- and post-game meetings and activities. Additionally, travel days can count as days off, and the rule does not include time spent travelling to and from practice, or time spent in the training room. Due to these loopholes, some athletes report spending 30-50 hours per week on athletics.
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Student-athletes' views
Division 1 student-athletes believe they are overworked, committing nearly 60 hours to school and sports, and are therefore in favour of a mandatory break from their sport at the end of the season. They also support a 1-3 day, in-season break from games and practices, and want to stop counting travel days as off-days. Student-athletes also want to limit sports-related activities during exam periods and pursue educational or career development opportunities.
Student-athletes have a lot to manage, and playing at the highest collegiate level while enrolled in regular college courses can be demanding. A typical day for a Division 1 student-athlete might include a morning team run, shower, eating, studying, class, more studying, lunch, a visit to the athletic trainer, practice, a team dinner, and packing for the next day, with some more studying before bed. To manage their time, student-athletes plan out their schedules, writing down everything they need to do, and cutting down on unnecessary activities.
According to research by the NCAA, the average Division 1 student-athlete spends 33 hours on athletics per week, with football players reporting spending about 50 hours per week. This is because the NCAA's "athletically related activities" exclude injury treatment/prevention, visits to the athletic trainer, recovery, and travel. With these extra components, student-athletes' schedules can easily become physically and mentally demanding, requiring a great deal of passion for their sport to keep up.
While the NCAA has explicit limits on the amount of time dedicated to games, practices, and team meetings, with a maximum of four hours per day and 20 hours per week during the season, student-athletes argue that these limitations do not work. This is because activities such as travelling to and from practice, stretching, rehabbing, and seeing the trainer are not counted towards the time limits, and coaches can push athletes much harder.
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Coaches' views
NCAA rules limit the amount of time dedicated to games, practices, and team meetings or countable athletically related activities. Student-athletes are only allowed a maximum of four hours per day and 20 hours per week during the season, with one day off, and eight hours per week in the offseason, with two days off. However, many coaches use practically all of the allowed hours. According to research by the NCAA in August 2023, with the extra components, the average Division 1 student-athlete spends 33 hours on athletics per week.
Some coaches take advantage of loopholes in the system. For example, "voluntary" student-led workouts do not qualify for the 20-hour rule. Administrative meetings, weight-lifting, conditioning, film study, and activities incidental to participation, such as taping, visits to the trainer, and rehabilitation, also do not count towards the 20-hour limit. As a result, some student-athletes report practising at least 30 hours a week on average, with some sports reporting weekly practice commitments of more than 40 hours.
The excessive demands on student-athletes can negatively impact their mental health and well-being. Only half of student-athletes believe that their athletics department prioritizes mental health, and only 53% reported that coaches take their mental health concerns seriously. This highlights the importance of coaches being mindful of their athletes' workload and well-being, ensuring that they have a healthy balance between athletics and their academic commitments.
While coaches may prioritize athletic performance and success, it is crucial that they also support the holistic development and well-being of their athletes. This includes recognizing the importance of education and mental health and working together with athletes to find a sustainable balance between their athletic and academic pursuits. Ultimately, coaches play a pivotal role in shaping the athlete's overall experience, influencing not only their performance but also their overall well-being and long-term development.
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Daily schedules
The daily schedule of a Division 1 basketball athlete can be quite demanding, requiring excellent time management skills and dedication. These student-athletes essentially juggle two full-time commitments: their academics and athletic pursuits. To comply with NCAA rules, Division 1 basketball athletes are limited to a maximum of four hours of practice per day and 20 hours per week during the playing season. However, in reality, the situation is more complex, and athletes may engage in additional activities that contribute to a more extensive overall schedule.
A typical day for a Division 1 athlete might look like this: they wake up at 7:00 AM, start their morning team run at 7:45 AM, quickly shower, eat, and squeeze in some last-minute studies before their noon classes. After classes, they may eat lunch, visit the athletic trainer, attend another practice session at 4:00 PM, and then join their teammates for dinner at 6:00 PM. The evening could be spent preparing for the next day's meet, studying, and finally, getting a good night's sleep.
It is important to note that Division 1 athletes often practice six or seven days a week, with two to three sport-related activities each day. This could include morning and afternoon practices, lifting sessions, team meetings, and team meals. Additionally, athletes must also factor in time for travel, recovery, and injury treatment or prevention, which are not always included in the official practice hour calculations.
To manage their busy schedules, Division 1 athletes often rely on meticulous planning, journaling, and cutting down on unnecessary distractions like excessive social media scrolling. Despite the challenges, many athletes are passionate about their sport and strive to excel in both their athletic and academic pursuits.
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Workload and well-being
Division 1 student-athletes have a lot on their plate, with the dual demands of sports and academics to manage. The workload is such that it can easily take a toll on their physical and mental well-being.
The Workload
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has rules in place to limit the number of hours student-athletes can participate in athletics-related activities. During the playing season, they are restricted to a maximum of four hours per day and 20 hours per week. In the off-season, this limit is lowered to eight hours per week, with no more than two hours dedicated to individual skill workouts.
However, these rules have been criticised for their numerous loopholes. For instance, "voluntary" student-led workouts, administrative meetings, weight-lifting, conditioning, film study, and activities incidental to participation (such as taping, visits to the trainer, and rehabilitation) do not count towards the 20-hour limit. Moreover, the NCAA's definition of "athletically related activities" does not include injury treatment/prevention, visits to the athletic trainer, recovery, or travel. As a result, student-athletes may end up committing 30 to 50 hours a week on athletics, in addition to their academic responsibilities.
Impact on Well-being
The heavy workload leaves little time for anything else, impacting the well-being of student-athletes. A study of 44,058 student-athletes found that they believe they are overworked, while coaches want them to dedicate even more time to sports. This conflict of interest arises because coaches are financially incentivised to get the best results from their players, creating a disconnect between their stated support for education and the reality of demanding more practice time.
The excessive demands on Division 1 student-athletes have led to calls for change. Student-athletes have advocated for breaks during the season, including stopping the counting of travel days as off-days and halting athletic activities during winter breaks. They also support limiting sports-related activities during exam periods and having a mandatory break after the season ends.
To cope with their busy schedules, student-athletes rely on meticulous planning, writing down everything from big events to small tasks like eating and sleeping. They also emphasise cutting down on non-essential activities, such as social media scrolling. Despite their efforts, the workload remains a challenge, underscoring the need for reforms that prioritise the well-being of these individuals.
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Frequently asked questions
Division 1 basketball athletes are limited to a maximum of eight hours of athletically related activities per week during the off-season.
Division 1 basketball athletes are limited to a maximum of four hours of practice per day and 20 hours per week during the playing season.
The 20-hour rule is an NCAA regulation that limits student-athletes' in-season practice to 20 hours per week or four hours per day.
While the NCAA restricts student-athletes' practice to 20 hours per week, some athletes have reported practicing for more than 30 hours a week, with some sports reporting weekly commitments of more than 40 hours.
The 20 hours of practice include scheduled practices, competition days, and film sessions. It does not include travel time, time spent with the athletic trainer, or team meetings and meals.
