How much of the year are NFL players working?
NFL players begin preparations for the season at three-day mini camps held each week in May and June. After a couple of weeks ofrest and recuperation, preseason preparations intensify with training camp kicking off in the last week of July. August consists of further daily practices (twice per day on most occasions) and four or five preseason games. The regular season kicks off early in September and runs for 17 weeks until the end of December. The playoffs run throughout the month of January with the Super Bowl scheduled for Sunday February 1st. Players are then free to do as they please until mini camps begin again in May. However, many teams insist their players stay in town and participate in the club’s “voluntary” off-season conditioning programme, making the working life of an NFL player an almost year-round occupation.
