NCAA Reportedly Close to Approving New Practice Plan for Summer Football

NCAA football is bound to look very different this season, but all signs point to kickoff coming as expected. As players return to campus to prepare for the upcoming season, many may be left wondering how teams are supposed to practice and interact amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Recent reports indicate the NCAA is approaching a plan to address those questions and get players back on the field this summer.

Originally reported by Sports Illustrated, the NCAA is formulating a six-week preseason practice plan that will feature players and coaches working together prior to the season's start. Earlier, the NCAA confirmed players could return to campus on June 1 for voluntary workouts, without any coaching interactions.

With the new plan, coaching interactions can begin 25 days prior to the preseason practice period, set to begin Aug. 7. This means that coaches can begin working with athletes as soon as July as part of normal summer workouts.

During this period, athletes are granted six hours of weight training and two hours of film study with coaches. From there comes "enhanced" strength training, kicking off the new proposed plan with 20 hours of weekly activities in something similar to NFL OTAs. Then, a typical four-week preseason camp would follow.

All of these dates and timetables are subject to change depending on the team's first week of the season.

While it may not be anything major, any news that bring us one step closer to the college football season is good news.