NCAA is close to a plan for preseason Football practice

We're getting close to mid-June, which means we're a little less than three months away from the college football season. Having a college football season is paramount to most schools in terms of having a budget, with or without fans. But in the era of the coronavirus, even if it's dissipating in most states that have had a long quarantine, the NCAA has to make sure or at least guide their schools in a safe manner.

The NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee will vote on Thursday and is expected to approve a six-week preseason practice plan and then recommend it to the NCAA Division I Council.

College football is basically a year-round sport for student-athletes. They usually have workouts during the summer, after spring practice, more for conditioning purposes. But with the pandemic, most schools had a limited spring practice and are just attempting to bring athletes back for volunteer workouts.

Volunteer workouts began on June 1 in certain states. Under the new plan, schools can have normal "required" summer workouts, which will begin for some as early as July 6. The plans would mean that athletes can spend six hours a week with the strength staff on weight training, conditioning and two hours with coaches for film study. This would be a two-week stretch as part of the first portion of the six-week plan.

That is followed by enhanced summer training, where the athletes are allowed 20 hours a week for activities. It's basically the same as the first two weeks with longer hours and no pads or helmets during walk-throughs. A football apparently can be used. After that, preseason practice will begin and the start will depend on the team's first game. If teams have a game on Labor Day weekend, they can start camp on August 7.

As for protecting older staff members, there is a discussion about them wearing some sort of protective mask. Nick Saban and Mack Brown are one of five FBS level coaches who are 65 or older.