Time management is paramount for student-athletes at all levels of competition. The commissioners of Power 5 conferences, however, want more time dedicated to books and rest than workouts.
Big Ten boss Jim Delany joined the four other commissioners of the ACC, SEC, Pac-12 and Big 12 Thursday in agreement on a proposed change in the balance of a student-athlete's life that would provide more time off. The first bit of change is known as "Flex 21."
From a Big Ten release:
The first area of change, Flex 21, will provide students, in many cases, with at least an additional 21 days in which they are free of required athletic activities during the academic year. These 21 days are in addition to the current rules related to time off.
Recognizing that every sport has different needs, the proposal includes flexibility so coaches, students and athletic directors can come up with a plan that best suits each sport. The proposed changes are the result of in-person meetings and survey feedback from students, head coaches, faculty and athletics administrators.
“We believe we have found the right balance between helping students participate in sports while also providing them with more down time,” the commissioners of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, PAC-12 and SEC said in a joint statement. “Different sports have different demands and we think the concepts we’ve agreed to will help tens of thousands of students achieve more balance as they pursue their academic and athletic commitments.”
[...]
In order to implement these proposed changes, head coaches and athletic directors will be required to work with the students on a plan so all parties are aware of anticipated time that will be committed to athletically related activities. The definition of “required athletic activities” is intended to be broader than the currently countable hours which includes activities such as practice, games, and conditioning. For example, this expanded definition would include, but not be limited to activities such as media requirements and mandatory community service.
“We heard from our students that they would like more certainty in their schedules in order to engage in other activities,” the commissioners said. “We recognize there will need to be a level of flexibility and reasonableness in carrying out these changes, especially with regard to travel, but students deserve time off and we want athletic departments to work in a sensible and appropriate way to provide it. We want administrators to have some degree of flexibility in implementing these rules, but they must be mindful that rest is important to a student’s health, in addition to their athletic and academic performance.”
Here are more details on Flex 21.
| SEGMENT | CURRENT RULE | PROPOSED CHANGES |
|---|---|---|
| In Season |
-No countable athletically related activities during 1 calendar day per week -Travel day related to athletics participation may be considered a day off |
-Travel days may not count as days off |
| Academic Year | -No countable athletically related activities during 2 calendar days per week outside season | -14 additional days off, used during or outside season |
| Overnight | -No countable athletically related activities between midnight and 5 a.m. | -8-hour block of free time, anytime between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. |
| Post Season | -Varies by sport | -7-day recovery time |
Each conference also has the right to see additional changes if it sees fit. Voting on whether or not to enact the adjustments is set for January at the NCAA's annual convention.
Source: bigten.org/genrel/070716aab.html
