NFL OTAs: Time To Start Preparing For The 2010 Season

This is the time of year NFL players begin to trickle back to their respective teams for the start of Organized Team Activities (OTAs). This is the only set of practices for the teams between the end of the season and the start of training camp.

Essentially, they're practices. But there are a few rules involved.

First and foremost, all OTAs are voluntary, according to article XXXV of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

No player shall be required to attend or participate in any off-season workout program or classroom instruction of a Club other than as provided in Article XXXVI (minicamps). Any other Club off-season workout programs and classroom instruction sessions shall be strictly voluntary.

Coaches can't say or do anything that would indicate they're anything but voluntary, according to the CBA. No matter how clearly that is stated, every year coaches seem to say things that would indicate they're not voluntary.

There are only pads and shorts in these practices and no hitting is allowed. Teams have been punished in the past for allowing contact drills.

Teams can also run 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills provided no live contact occurs.

The players are not to be on the field for longer than 90 minutes at a time and can't be at the facility for longer than four hours each day and no more than four days per week.

There are 14 of these sessions and most teams are starting them this week and running until the middle of June.

The oddest part of it all? Above any workout bonuses a player may have in his contract, he'll receive $130 per day to participate in the workouts.