NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 23
Preseason Training Camps

Section 7(c)
Conduct of Practices

(c)

Following the five-day on-field acclimation period, two-a-day practices shall be permitted, subject to the following rules: (i) players may be on the field for a total of no more than four hours per day; (ii) players may participate in no more than one padded practice per day, which shall be no longer than 2.5 hours of on-field activities; (iii) there must be at least a 90 minute interval between practices; and (iv) the second practice on the same day may only be for a maximum of the remaining four-hour on-field time, and shall be limited to only walk-through instruction and drills and plays conducted at an acceptable walkthrough pace (i.e., Pro Bowl practice pace), as demonstrated in a video jointly approved by the parties, with offensive players lining up across from defensive players, or kicking team players lining up across from return team players. No helmets may be worn during the second practice. On days on which either a padded practice or a fullspeed, non-padded practice is scheduled, but no second practice is scheduled, the padded practice or the full speed, non-padded practice remains subject to the 2.5-hour time limit for on-field activities. The two on-field practices may be conducted in either order. The 2.5-hour limit on padded practices and full-speed, non-padded practices shall begin as soon as position coaches begin to coach a player or players on the field. Padded practices may not be held on more than three consecutive calendar days, and such three-day practice periods may not be held more than three times during preseason training camp. Additionally, none of the three permissible three-day practice periods may begin until at least three calendar days have elapsed since the conclusion of the Club’s previous three-day practice period. During the period between the mandatory reporting date for veteran players and the final day of preseason training camp, no Club may hold more than a total of sixteen padded practices. In any League year with three or fewer preseason games (excluding the Canton Hall of Fame Game or any American Bowl game scheduled around the Canton Hall of Fame Game), the final week of preseason training camp shall be a bye week (i.e., no games are scheduled), and a Club may hold one padded practice subject to the rules set forth in this Subsection unless the parties agree otherwise. All other practices held during the bye week may be full speed, non-padded practices subject to the rules set forth in this Subsection except that (i) players may be on the field for a total of no more than 3.5 hours per day; (ii) players may participate in no more than one full speed, non-padded practice, which shall be no longer than 2.0 hours of on-field activities; (iii) there must be at least a 90 minute interval between practices; and (iv) the second practice may be for a maximum of the remaining 3.5 hour on-field time and is limited to only walk-through instruction and drills and plays conducted at an acceptable walkthrough pace (i.e., Pro Bowl practice pace), as demonstrated in a video jointly approved by the parties, with offensive players lining up against defensive players, or kicking team players lining up against return team players. No helmets may be worn during the walkthrough practice. The definition of a “padded practice” under this Article shall be the same as the definition used for regular season practices in Article 24, Section 1(c) of this Agreement. In the event that a Club begins a padded practice but such practice is cancelled within sixty minutes of its commencement due to inclement weather or for any other reason beyond the Club’s control, such practice shall not count as a padded practice under this Article or Article 24.