More Like 200 Hour Rule! -The confusion and reality about NCAA's "20-hour rule"

I received an e-mail from FAU athletics on Sept. 23 about the NCAA "20-hour rule."

The e-mail discussed how student-athletes are confused about this rule, what it really means, and how FAU enforces it.

(I guess the name of the rule isn't self explanatory.)

According to the e-mail, the National Collegiate Athletic Association started the 20-hour rule in 1991 to help reduce the amount of time students spent with athletic-related activities to allow more time for academics and other college experiences.

The following conditions define the rule:

1. The athletic activity must be monitored by a coaching staff.
2. Practice cannot exceed four hours per day. (except golf)
3. No matter how long competitions/games last--it only counts as three hours.
4. You must have one day off per week. (may be a travel day)
5. Preparing for practice and time spent in the training room does not count as mandatory practice.
6. Compliance team meetings do not count.
7. Voluntary workouts must not be required to report back to the coach.

What I don't understand is- they're the ones who write the rules, but the rules are not followed at all. Actually, it is clear from NCAA survey information that this rule is regularly broken in college athletics all over the country.

This rule is broken so often that I'm pretty sure FAU football, and many other FAU teams, will exceed the four hour daily practice limit everyday this week.

I don't think you could find one athlete on campus that only practices 20 hours per week. But no athlete will step up because that would be complaining or laziness.

But, of course, we (the athletes) are the ones "confused," right?

We'll see if FAU athletics starts to enforce the NCAA 20-hour rule, but for now it looks like time is up.