Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME 4, the Irish football players report to begin preparations for the Sept. 1 opener against Navy in Ireland. So much for having a summer vacation to unwind. This brings us to the popular inquiry of, "How much can the football Summer school at Notre Dame concludes on Aug. 3. Then on Aug. THE SOUNDS OF SUMMER SILENCE volvement with football practices, meetings, etc. — but no more than four hours on any given day outside of game day. One day off per week is mandatory. For the Irish, that day in recent years has been Monday, because Sunday is used for film review of the game, plus meetings. In the offseason, NCAA regulations allow players to spend eight players work out in the summer, and how involved can the coaching staff be with the players?" During football season, the NCAA permits 20 hours per week in- hours a week on mandatory workouts. Here are the basics from the NCAA Compliance manual: • The 20-hours-per-week-rule during the season drops to eight hours per week in the summer (no more than four hours per day). Players are required to have two days off per week. • In sports other than football, participation in up to two hours of skill instruction by coaches is permissible. In football, skill instruction activities are limited to review of game film — but with no coaches present. • Conditioning drills simulating offensive/defensive alignments are impermissible. Equipment related to the sport — shoulder pads, knee pads, etc., in football — may not be used (exceptions are made for hockey and swimming/diving). • Strength and conditioning coach Paul Longo becomes the most important figure in the summer because he has the during the winter and summer months. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND most interaction with the football student-athletes. During eight designated weeks of voluntary summer conditioning activities, the strength coaches may conduct workouts for student-athletes within the aforementioned eight-hour time frame during the week. • No "countable" coaches — meaning head coach Brian Kelly or any of his position group assistants — may be pres- tory voluntary workouts." This is where seven-on-seven passing drills are the norm at college campuses all across the country. Neither countable nor strength coaches can be involved with these workouts — other than the strength coaches may monitor the facility for health and safety purposes. A staff trainer also can be present for safety purposes or to treat any injuries. AUGUST 2012 19 ent. Furthermore, strength and conditioning coaches may not report back to countable coaches. • Student-athletes may work out at their discretion outside the eight hours per week — better known as "manda- There's little rest for fifth-year senior offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr., seen here working out in February 2010, and the the football team continued on next page