The NCAA has released suggestions to limit the amount of times college football teams hold contact practices - involving tackling and full-speed blocking - during the week.

According to ESPN, the NCAA announced Monday they recommended team hold contact practices no more than twice per week. The new suggested regulations are not mandatory, but are a result of a summit on safety and concussion research from earlier in the year.

"When we were working with the coaches and talking to them about this, it was amazing to see how many already were self-regulating because they realize that when the kids are beat up, they just aren't as ready to perform as well," Dr. Brian Hainline, the NCAA's chief medical officer, told The Associated Press. "And some of them have a very illuminated view of this because they also understand that when kids are beat up, they're at a greater risk of injury."

The Ivy League, Pac-12 and several other schools have already adopted guidelines for less contact in weekly practices, so the NCAA is encouraging the rest of college football teams do so. The NCAA did not provide any studies that suggested less contact in weekly practices could reduce concussions and other injuries. However, the NCAA is recommending schools hire independent doctors to evaluate injuries and help athletes with concussions transition back into the classroom.

"These guidelines are strict in concept but flexible in design, allowing coaches ample freedom to design practice schedules while limiting the amount of full-contact situations that players will experience," Montana State head football coach Rob Ash said in a press release

. "There is no doubt in my mind that coaching staffs across the country at all levels will enthusiastically endorse these guidelines and incorporate them into their football practice regimen."

Ramogi Huma, president of the College Athletes Players Association, said he was skeptical of the suggested practice guidelines. He is currently aiding the Northwestern University football team in forming a players union and called the NCAA's announcement a "fake reform."

"There is a difference between guidelines and enforceable mandates. College athletes cannot afford for the NCAA to continue to enforce rules prohibiting players from selling their own bowl ring while coaches and trainers are free to put players with concussions back in games without any punishments," Huma told Inside Higher Ed. "College football players are facing yet another season of unnecessary brain trauma risks because NCAA conferences and universities focus too much on their multibillion TV deals and too little on their players' health."