Countable Athletically Related Activities (CARA)
Countable athletically related activities include any required activity with an athletics purpose, involving student-athletes and at the direction of, or supervised by, any member or members of an institution's coaching staff (including strength and conditioning coaches) and must be counted within the weekly and daily limitations under.
Requirements to Practice
- Athletic Training Room Forms – Will be assigned to student athletes via ARMS prior to the academic year or prior to participation on an athletics team
- NCAA Compliance Room Forms - Will be assigned to student athletes via ARMS prior to the academic year or prior to participation on an athletics team
- Enrolled in classes Full Time
Practice
For sports other than Tennis, Golf and Rugby, championship segment is the season where the NCAA Championship is played.
Championship Segment – Daily and Hourly Limitation
- No more than 20 hours per week
- No more than 4 hours per day
- 1 day off per 7 days
ALL SPORTS (except Rugby) ARE PROHIBITED IN ENGAGING IN COUNTABLE ATHLETICALLY RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR 14 DAYS AFTER THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON CONCLUDES
For sports other than Tennis, Golf and Rugby, nonchampionship segment is the season where the NCAA Championship is not played.
Nonchampionship Segement – Daily and Hourly Limitations –
Sports other than Golf and Tennis
- Not more than 45 days long
- No more than 15 hours per week
- No more than 4 hours per day
- 2 days off per 7 days
Golf and Tennis
- Not more than 60 days
- No more than 20 hours per week
- No more than 4 hours per day
- A practice round in Golf may exceed the 4 hours limitation, but the weekly limit of 20 hours shall remain in effect
- 2 days off per 7 days
Golf and Tennis can declare alternate playing season. These sports championship segment may not necessarily be the semester where the NCAA Championship is played. This decision to play an alternate playing season is decided by the head coach.
Both Fall and Spring semesters are considered championship seasons for Rugby.
Some sports are restricted on the number of total days they are permitted to participate within their playing seasons.
- Gymnastics – 144 days – Championship Segment
- Rugby – 132 days – Nonchampionship and Championship Segment combined
- Swimming and Diving – 144 days – Championship Segment
- Indoor and Outdoor Track (combined) – 156 days
Outside the Playing Season
Sports other than football, outside the playing season during the academic year,
- 8 hours per week
- 4 hours of the 8 hours permitted for team activities (full team practice)
- 2 days off per week
Football
- 8 hours per week
- 2 of those 8 hours permitted for skill instruction
Each segment of the academic year (outside playing season, nonchampionship season, championship season) have start and end dates. Please refer to
Figure 17-2 for specifics for your sport.
Competition
Requirements to Compete
- Complete all requirements for practice
- Maintain all NCAA Progress Towards Degree Requirements mentioned in the NCAA Eligibility Rules section of this handbook
Each sport has limitations on the number of contests and dates of competition they are permitted to compete in. Please refer to
Figure 17-1 on those maximum number of contests and dates of competition for each sport.
Reporting CARA
All practices and competitions will be recorded in ARMS by your coach. Every week, a student athlete will be randomly chosen to approve these logs through ARMS.
Countable athletically related activities that must be reported weekly to the compliance officer should include: actual on-field practices, game competition,
- Coaches strategy sessions,
- Required weight training,
- Viewing of film,
- Team meetings,
- Individual workouts with coaches, and
On-court or field activities called by team members that are required for participation
