Introduction
The purpose of this policy is to help prevent injuries and reduce or eliminate non-traumatic and traumatic deaths with the combination of optimal healthcare delivery by the sports medicine staff and transparency and accountability in workouts by sport and strength coaches. This policy is the result of NCAA guidance and recommendations.
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is a foundational principle to NCAA athletics and creates the moral and ethical framework for all athletic activities. Sportsmanship combined with safety guidelines will create the framework for the cultural foundation of sport safety initiatives. This includes:
- All practices and competitions adhere to existing ethical standards for all sports
- Playing or protective equipment as a weapon is prohibited during all activities
- Deliberately inflicting injury on another player is prohibited
Acclimatization and Conditioning
Many non-traumatic deaths and season-ending injuries occur within the first week of activity following a period of inactivity. For this reason, it is imperative to establish transition periods. This will ensure proper exercise and heat acclimatization are implemented. It takes approximately 7-10 days for the body to acclimatize to the physiological and environmental stresses placed at the start of a conditioning or practice period, especially during hot weather. Collegiate athletes are especially vulnerable to exertional injuries during the first 4 days of a transition period. Modification during these days will greatly decrease the risk of injury and catastrophic events.