NFL teams are waist deep into their offseason programs as the league calendar heads into June. This marks Week 2 for many teams in the Organized Team Activities phase. Then minicamps will commence starting next week.

What are the mechanics for these practice sessions? And what (if any) are the differences between OTAs and minicamps? Here’s a look at the ins and outs of OTAs and minicamps:

What’s the layout for OTAs and minicamp?

The outline comes from the NFLPA:

• Maximum four weeks total for OTAs and minicamp
• Maximum three weeks for 10 total OTAs
• Maximum of three OTAs each week for the first two weeks
• During Weeks 1 and 2, a fourth non-OTA workout is allowed but phase two rules apply
• A maximum of four OTAs for the third or fourth week
• One week for minicamp
• No pads except protective knee and elbow pads, plus helmets are permitted
• No live contact
• 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills will be permitted provided no live contact takes place

Teams aren’t allowed to work in pads and hold live contact drills until the fourth day of training camp, which starts near the end of July.

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Why NFL teams have OTAs and how they can get the most out of them

What are the differences between OTAs and minicamp?

First and foremost, OTAs are voluntary, while minicamps are mandatory. This means that a player can be fined for missing a minicamp practice but can’t be fined for missing any or every OTA session.

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Yes, coaches certainly frown upon players for missing OTAs. That’s why you typically don’t see middle-tier roster players, “end-of-the-roster” players or rookies skip OTAs because coaches can waive or release players any time. Typically players having contract disputes or well established veterans will sit out OTAs.

There’s also a difference in hours on site. Minicamps (practices, classroom work, etc.) can last as long as 10 hours per day, but teams can only hold a maximum of 24 hours in three days. The timeframe for OTA days can max out at six hours per day. Here’s a snapshot from the NFLPA on minicamp:

• Physicals on Monday, but no practice
• Practices Tuesday-Thursday, with a day off on Friday
• Two practices allowed totaling 3½ hours of on-field work per day
• Second practice limited to walkthrough activities only

Also teams with a new head coach were allowed a voluntary minicamp phase in April for an extra acclimation period.

Do teams have to use all OTA and minicamp days?

They don’t, which often brings joy to players. It’s not a rarity for teams to call off an OTA session or two during the period. But it’s rare for teams to call off minicamp. Consider the Bengals and Eagles as the exceptions this year, as both teams aren’t holding minicamps.

Sometimes the NFL penalizes teams for breaking the OTA rules and will cut sessions as punishment. Hence the Patriots this offseason.

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Patriots docked 2 OTA practices for rules violation

The Patriots were docked a pair of practices during OTAs and head coach Bill Belichick was fined $50,000 due to a rules violation from earlier this offseason, league sources told The Athletic. The team lost practices scheduled for May 26 and May 30.

NFL OTA and minicamp dates

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