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ATHENS — Kirby Smart could be back in front of his team coaching football by mid-July — as DawgNation has projected for weeks — based on a draft released by the NCAA Division I Oversight Committee.

The NCAA is expected to approve the draft this week. The plan includes four phases and would provide for a six-week lead in to the season, as the oversight committee had recommended earlier this spring.

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SEC teams began voluntary workouts on Monday (June 8).

Georgia football players have all been tested for COVID-19.

The school has not released the results, and Smart has yet to make himself available to provide an update on his roster or the health status of returning players.

The players are allowed to perform drill work and training under the supervision of the strength and condition staff overseen by Scott Sinclair.

The football coaching staff, however, remains limited to eight hours of virtual contact (Zoom meetings) per week.

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The calendar indicates a period including supervised walk-through activity and use of a football is projected 14 days before the first permissible preseason practice date.

Walk-throughs and voluntary 7-on-7 work is often downplayed, but those things will prove pivotal at Georgia.

The Bulldogs have a new offensive coordinator and a 5-man quarterback derby, so every minute will be crucial.

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There will be 20 hours of countable activity during this walk-through period, which will also include up to eight hours per week for weight training, conditioning and fit review.

The walk-through (football) activity will be limited to six hours per week, with another six-hour maximum allotted for team meetings.

The preseason practice starts with the so-called “acclamation period,” projected on Aug. 7 per the chart, as first reported by Sports Illustrated.

The oversight committee announced on Monday that there are currently no plans to change the timelines or sites for fall championships.

The statement from the NCAA:

“After review of the conference survey feedback and based on the information currently available, the Division I Competition Oversight Committee’s position on fall championships remains unchanged. The plan at this time is to keep the same formats, the same timelines and the same previously determined sites for fall championships.

This approach is consistent with what we heard from the membership in terms of current planning. We continue to acknowledge the ongoing uncertainty about the spread of the virus and the different actions and approaches states are taking to address it may cause modifications to be made to the playing and practice seasons and the championships as matters progress. Further, we will remain nimble to react to a fluid and unpredictable environment in ways that protect the health, safety and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, administrators and spectators.” 

— Lynda Tealer, Division I Competition Oversight Committee chair and University of Florida executive associate athletics director for administration

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