Countable Athletically-Related Activities

As is outlined in Bylaw 17 of the NCAA Manual, a student-athlete's participation in countable athletically related activities (CARA) shall be limited to the following:

During the Playing Season
Daily Limit: 4 hours
Weekly Limit: 20 hours
At least one (1) day off per week

NOTE: A competition day is considered three (3) hours of activity regardless of the actual duration of the event (this includes pre-game warm-ups, shoot-around, etc.). No countable activities may take place after a competition.

Outside the Playing Season
Daily Limit: 4 hours
Weekly Limit: 8 hours
At least two (2) days off per week

Coaches are required to log their team's weekly playing/practice hours through ARMS.  

Voluntary activities do not count toward the limitations displayed above. However, any activity at which a coach is present must count against daily and weekly hour limits (other than meetings initiated by student-athletes during which no other countable activities occur). Compliance and academic meetings do not count against daily and weekly limits.

Further, the daily and weekly hour limitations on CARAs do not apply to the following time periods:

  • During preseason practice prior to the first day of classes or the first scheduled contest, whichever is earlier

  • During LSU's term-time vacation periods (e.g., Fall break, Thanksgiving, MLK Day, Mardi Gras, Spring Break, etc.) as listed in the official academic calendar

  • During the academic year between terms when classes are not in session (i.e.., Winter Break)

For more details on athletically-related activities and what constitutes a countable activity (and what qualifies as voluntary), click HERE.