Given its popularity and high level of visibility, it’s generally assumed that NCAA Division I athletic programs are the pinnacles of college sport. But the truth is, there are more schools offering athletics – and more athletes competing – in Division III. And in many sports, DIII teams and athletes have the ability to compete with DI programs and the differences aren’t that noticeable. 

If the athletic talent gap isn’t always that significant, then the lack of athletic scholarships in DIII must be the big difference from DI, right? Well, that’s right and wrong. It’s correct that Division III schools don’t offer athletic scholarships. However, 80% of DIII athletes receive some form of financial aid compared to 57% in DI. So, while there obviously are more athletic scholarships in Division I, more Division III athletes receive financial aid in academic scholarships and merit- or need-based aid.

So if it’s not talent or scholarship money, what’s the biggest difference between Division I and Division III athletics? Time! Yes, the NCAA’s Bylaw 2.14 specifically limits Division I athletes to 20 hours a week spent on athletically sponsored activities during the season and eight hours a week in the off-season. However, with millions of dollars at stake in many sports, the reality is quite different. And the time commitment difference between DI and DIII athletes is even more significant. 

What The Rulebook Says

The NCAA rule book has time limits delineated for athletes in every sport. As an example, compare the limits set forth for basketball players in Division I and Division III:

DI

Summer

• Enrolled in summer school
• 8 weeks of summer training on campus
• 8 hours of mandatory training with coaches per week (2 hours of on court skill instruction per week, 6 hours of strength and conditioning per week)
• “Voluntary” basketball-related activities or strength and conditioning throughout the week 
• Foreign tour with coaches (only allowed once every 4 years) that would include multiple practices and games against professional/semi-professional teams.

 Offseason During The Academic Year

• 8 hours of mandatory training with coaches per week (2 hours of on-court skill instruction per week, 6 hours of strength and conditioning per week)
• “Voluntary” basketball-related activities or strength and conditioning throughout the week

 In-season

• 20 hours of “countable athletically related activities” per week (>4 hours per day)
•  Practices 
•  Required meetings with a coach
•  Required strength and conditioning 
•  Review and discussion of game film
•  Athletic competition 
• 1 required day off from all countable athletically related activities
• Any “voluntary” basketball-related activities or strength and conditioning

Division III Basketball

Summer 

• No mandatory training with coaches is allowed. The summer training schedule is completely self-determined
• Foreign tour with coaches (only allowed once every 4 years) that would include multiple  
• Practices and games against professional/semi-professional teams.

Offseason During The Academic Year

No mandatory training with coaches is allowed

• Offseason training is determined by “voluntary” practices and strength and conditioning workouts
• Usually 5-6 days per week of these activities without coaches lead by captains (1-3 hours per day)

In-season

• 20 hours of “countable athletically related activities” per week (>4 hours per day)
• Practices
• Required meetings with a coach
• Required strength and conditioning 
• Review and discussion of game film
• Athletic competition 
• 1 required day off from all countable athletically related activities
• Any voluntary basketball-related activities or strength and conditioning

The Reality

While the summer and off-season affords more time to DIII athletes, the stated rules put hard limits on how much time an athlete can spend pursuing their sport at DI and DIII schools during the season. However, according to one NCAA survey, Division I athletes spend an average of 33 hours a week engaged in their sport in one form or another during the season. How is that possible when they’re limited to 20 hours a week? Loopholes!

Note that the word voluntary is in quotes above. That’s because many DI coaches, basketball, and other sports, make it known that “voluntary” means “mandatory.” Plus, most coaches know when and how extra practice times are allowable for away games and plan their travel schedule accordingly.

While there are voluntary times allotted in DIII, the broader focus on academics at those schools means that, more often than not, those activities truly are up to each athlete’s discretion as to how and when they participate. In fact, while many DIII athletes are happy to exceed the 20-hour rule on their own voluntarily, many more choose to use that extra time for studying, on- and off-campus activities, internships, and even other sports.

The perceived competition and the scholarship considerations aside, when you add it all up, the most significant difference between competing in Division I or Division III athletics is simply time. Every student-athlete is different, but if you want to essentially have a full-time job as an athlete while also carrying a full academic load, then DI is the place for you. But if you want to be a full-time student, compete at the college level, and still have the time to enjoy everything the college experience offers, then it may be time to consider what Division III schools have to offer.