On the second Wednesday of every month, a member of the Compliance staff will give a behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on around its area and the department. Over the course of every month, each department will be featured at least once. Coming Monday: Communications.
One of the most anticipated times of the year is the holiday season. It’s a time in which classes are finishing up and student-athletes, coaches, and faculty are able to spend time with their families. It is also a time in which student-athletes have an opportunity to hone and refine their skills. It is important to note that there are still rules in place regarding practice for student-athletes during a vacation period. A vacation period is any period listed on the University’s official academic calendar during which classes are not in session.
Normally, during the designated playing season, student-athletes may engage in only four hours per day and 20 hours per week of countable athletically related activities (CARAs) with one day off required per week. A CARA is any activity with an athletics purpose involving student-athletes that occurs at the direction of or supervised by one or more institutional coaching staff members (i.e. assistant coach, strength coach, graduate assistant).
During a vacation period, student-athletes that are in-season have no daily or weekly limitations. If a vacation period occurs during any part of the week in which classes are still in progress, then the CARA limitations apply and student-athletes are required to have one day off (which can be the actual vacation day).
Outside the designated playing season, student-athletes may be required to participate in up to eight hours per week of strength and conditioning activities as well as individualized skill instruction (i.e. shooting drills, batting practice, film review). Outside the playing season, student-athletes must be given at least two days off from required activities per week.
During a vacation period, student-athletes outside their playing season are permitted to engage in voluntary workouts at athletic department facilities. Strength and conditioning coaches, as well as any non-countable coaches, may design and conduct specific workout programs for returning student-athletes, provided those workouts are entirely voluntary and are conducted at the request of the student-athlete. The only exceptions to countable coaches being present are in sports with a safety exception (i.e., hurdlers), and individual sports only if a one-on-one workout with a countable coach is conducted or supervised at a facility that charges a fee and the fee is paid by the student-athlete in the same manner as any member of the general public.
Georgia State University’s vacation periods include:
| Georgia State University Holiday Schedule 2014/2015 | |
| Labor Day | September 1st |
| Thanksgiving Break | November 27th-28th |
| Winter Break | December 22nd – January 3rd |
| M.L.K Day | January 20th |
| Spring Break | March 16th – March 22nd |
| Memorial Day | May 26th |
| Independence Day | July 4th |
–Tyler Rosenberger
Compliance Intern
InsideGSUSports 