The NCAA is expected to approve a plan with the idea of starting the upcoming football season on time, according to multiple reports.
According to Ross Dellenger of SI.com, the NCAA is close to approving a proposal which would allow coaches to work on the field with their players as soon as mid-July. The NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee is expected to approve a six-week preseason practice plan and will recommend it to the NCAA D-I Council later this month.
The plan would roll out in phases. Previously, the NCAA granted schools the ability to hold on-campus voluntary workouts, which do not include coaching interaction, beginning June 1. This proposed plan would transition to required summer workouts beginning July 13. This training period would last two weeks, making up the first portion of the proposed six week practice plan. During these two weeks, players would be allowed six hours with the strength staff and would be allowed two hours per week with coaches for film study.
The plan would then move into an enhanced summer training program which would allow 20 hours for activities per week – eight hours of strength training with an hour daily meeting and an hour walk-through practice each day. Players will not be allowed to helmets or pads but programs will be able to use a football. This period would also last two-weeks and has been compared to NFL OTAs.
Programs would then be allowed to hold a typical four-week preseason camp after the enhanced summer training period, beginning Aug. 7.
Liberty allowed student-athletes back on campus beginning June 1, for voluntary workouts. Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw has repeatedly said that his department is preparing for a full 2020 football season.
“We’re starting to model different approaches in terms of providing a safe environment for our fans that is welcoming and makes them feel very comfortable,” McCaw said in an interview last week. “We have some good plans that we are formulating right now. We’re trying to get best practices and hearing from others around the country as to what they’re doing, and I think we will end up with a really good situation as we move into football season in the fall.”
McCaw says he is hopeful to be able to open Williams Stadium to the full capacity, but Liberty has also begun modeling 75% and 50% capacity if the Flames are force to limit the number of fans in attendance.
“We are really encouraged by the direction things are going and very hopeful we will be back with a full Williams Stadium on September 12th.”
