INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA and LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY (April 12, 2024) — The NCAA Division I Committee for Legislative Relief approved a blanket waiver to permit member institutions to begin practice sessions in women’s volleyball 22 days before the first scheduled regular-season intercollegiate contest.

In granting the request, the Committee for Legislative Relief noted:

• NCAA Division I Proposal 2019-82 transitioned multiple sports, including women’s volleyball, from practice units to preseason practice days to simplify the determination of when preseason practice can begin;
• Proposal 2019-82 was effective beginning August 1, 2022;
• Proposal 2019-82 was not intended to decrease the number of preseason practice days in any sport, but in practice, it resulted in a significant reduction in preseason practice opportunities for a majority of Division I women’s volleyball teams;
• The blanket waiver provides one-time short-term relief to allow for additional discussion and review of a future legislative solution;
• The blanket waiver does not change the length of an institution’s playing season in women’s volleyball, which is limited to a 132-day season; and
• The NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee and the American Volleyball Coaches Association supported the blanket waiver request.

The blanket waiver is effective for the 2024-25 academic year.

Please use Case No. 1213694 for additional information. [Reference: Bylaw 17.27.2 (Preseason Practice – Women)]

Information originally posted at NCAA.org.