VCSU Vikings Day Off Policy
NAIA Practice Definition (2022-23 NAIA Handbook)
Practice will be defined as follows:
An activity organized and/or directed by an identified member of the coaching staff of that sport in which appropriate equipment is used or instruction and/or evaluation of the athlete takes place.
NAIA Day Off Legislation (2023 NAIA National Convention: 23-B-18
Each institution must establish a written policy providing every student-athlete with one day off per week from athletic participation. Institutions have the autonomy to determine how such policies are defined, implemented, and enforced. Each institution’s policy must be published in its student-athlete handbook and on its athletics webpage and shall also be provided to the conference. Each institution’s policy must include an identified process or point of contact at the institution or conference for student-athletes or other individuals who feel their institutional policy is being violated.
NSAA Day Off Policy
Each North Star Athletic Institution will prohibit athletic-related activity one calendar day per week.
Competitive Season Activities
- Student-athletes will have one day per week in which there will be no physical activity required by their coach or by the strength and conditioning coach.
- The preference for this rest day would be the day after the student-athlete’s last game or contest of the week or weekend, preferably on a Sunday or Monday.
- No practice, lifting, physical activity, or conditioning will take place on these rest days. The only team activity allowed on the rest day will be team meetings, individual meetings, or a film session. Coaches are encouraged to have no team activities on these rest days.
Out-of-Season Activities
- Coaches will follow the 24-week rule established by the NAIA.
- Activities should be mainly strength and conditioning with the institution’s strength coach.
- Open gyms and skill development activities may be held but must comply with the 24-week rule.
- One day per week, as determined by the coach and/or strength coach, will have no conditioning activity.
- Coaches are encouraged to not require strength and conditioning activities on weekends during this out-of-season period.
Compliance
Alleged violations of this policy should be reported to the contact person listed below.
Anna Bratsch
Director for Sports Medicine and Associate Athletic Director
