While it doesn’t directly impact the day-to-day business of team dealers, some recent rules changes aimed at increasing the safety of its players has been passed by NCAA Division III delegates. The proposals primarily address concerns regarding head impact exposure in football by reducing contact overall in both the pre-season and traditional season while increasing opportunities to teach appropriate blocking and tackling techniques during the spring.

The football decision changes the preseason practice period in the following three ways:

• Increases the acclimatization period from five to six days.
• Establishes a maximum of eight practices in full pads.
• Establishes contact limitations of no more than 75 minutes of contact per day and no more than two consecutive days of full contact.

The newly adopted legislation limits football teams to two full-padded practices a week during the regular season. If a school has a bye week, it is permitted up to three practices in full pads that week.

This legislation allows student-athletes to wear helmets during all 16 days of the spring period. On four of the 16 days, student-athletes would be permitted to also wear shoulder pads and engage in drills focused on teaching appropriate tackling and blocking. For the 12 days of helmets only, there is no change in what constitutes a permissible activity.