The Georgia Bulldogs and the rest of the SEC teams took another step toward playing a football season with Tuesday’s announcement that conference teams can open preseason camps Aug. 17.
The Bulldogs were to begin practice Aug. 7, but that was before the league opted to delay the start of the season until Sept. 26 and play a conference-only schedule. Tuesday’s news means teams will be able to get in the usual 25 practice opportunities before the first game, but with more days off in between.
NCAA teams have actually been able to work out and train as a team since July 15. But starting Aug. 17 they will able to practice 20 hours a week and eventually introduce pads and full-contact workouts. A five-day acclimatization period is required, with two days in helmets only, two days in shells and the fifth day in full pads.
In the meantime, teams are permitted increase to 14 hours of work a week for workouts, meetings and walk-through practices, as they have been doing the past three weeks.
The new preseason calendar was based on the recommendations of the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force.
Last week, the SEC announced it would play a 10-game, conference-only schedule starting Sept. 26. The dates of games and two extra league opponents for each team have yet to be determined.
In the revised SEC preseason football calendar, from Aug. 7-16 schools are permitted to conduct up to 14 hours per week of strength-and-conditioning work, meetings and walk-throughs.
Beginning Aug. 17 and until the opening game, schools are allowed 25 practices with a limit of 20 hours per week of practice time. Schools will be required to provide athletes a minimum of two days off each week until the week before the first game of the season.
