During the playing season student-athletes are limited to 20 hours of athletically related activities per week, with no more than 4 hours per day.  Competitions count as 3 hours regardless of their duration.  This is applicable to all sports, with the exception that a practice round of golf may exceed the four-hours-per-day limitation, but the weekly limit of 20 hours shall remain in effect. 

Hour limitations outside of the playing season, during the academic year, are limited to 8 hours per week.  Countable athletically related activities include any required activity with an athletics purpose involving student-athletes and at the direction of, or supervised by one or more of an institution’s coaching staff members (including strength and conditioning coaches).  Coaches are not permitted to require or coerce an athlete into voluntary practices or workouts.

The following table outlines the playing and practice seasons in each sport, in accordance to the permissible dates in the NCAA Division I Manual (Figure 17-2).
 

SportFirst Permissible Practice Date

First Permissible Contest Date
or Date of Competition

End of Regular Playing Season
Baseball 
(Championship Segment)
January 24, 2014;
January 23, 2015;
January 29, 2016
February 14, 2014;
February 13, 2015;
February 19, 2016
Conclusion of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
(Nonchampionship Segment)September 1 of each yearSeptember 1 of each yearNovember 30 of each year
Basketball, Men's42 days before first regular-season contestNovember 8, 2013;
November 14, 2014;
November 13, 2015
(Exceptions: See Bylaw 17.3.3.1)
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship game
Basketball, Women's40 days before first regular season contestNovember 8, 2013;
November 14, 2014;
November 13, 2015;
(Exceptions: See Bylaw 17.3.3.1)
NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship game
Cross CountryDate that permits 21 "practice units" before first scheduled date of competitionAugust 30, 2013;
August 29, 2014;
 
Last day of final exams for academic year
FootballDate that permits 40 "practice units" before first scheduled contestAugust 29, 2013;
August 28, 2014;
September 3, 2015
Second Saturday or Sunday in December (Exception: See Bylaw 17.9.4)
GolfSeptember 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first (Exceptions: See Bylaws 17.10.2.1 and 17.10.2.2)September 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first (Exceptions: See Bylaws 17.10.3.1 and 17.10.3.2)Conclusion of the NCAA Division I Golf Championships
Soccer, Women'sDate that permits 21 "practice units" before first scheduled contestAugust 23, 2013;
August 22, 2014;
August 21, 2015
Last day of final exams for the academic year
Softball 
(Championship)
September 1 or the first day of classes, whichever is later, or September 15 (see Bylaw 17.20.2)February 6, 2014;
February 5, 2015;
February 11, 2016
Conclusion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship
(Nonchampionship)September 1 or the first day of classes, whichever is later, or September 15 (see Bylaw 17.20.3)
Volleyball, Women's (Championship Segment)Date that permits 29 "practice units" before the first intercollegiate contest (excluding an alumni match) or September 1, whichever is laterAugust 30, 2013;
August 29, 2014;
August 28, 2015
NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship [See Bylaw 17.1.7-(b)]
(Other Segment)January 1 of each yearJanuary 1 of each yearLast day of final exams for academic year
Volleyball, Men'sSeptember 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs firstSeptember 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs firstConclusion of the NCAA Division I Men's Volleyball Championships

OTHER INDIVIDUAL SPORTS:
   Gymnastics
   Swimming
   Diving
   Tennis
   Track & Field 

       (Indoor and Outdoor)

September 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs firstSeptember 7 or the first day of classes, whichever occurs first

Conclusion of the NCAA Division I or National Collegiate Championships, whichever is applicable in gymnastics, tennis, and track & field.

Last day of final exams for academic year in swimming and diving.