recently the nfl has let teams have off-season training sessions, officially called "organized team activities" (otas). many teams use the otas to help develop players and make them better. these training sessions are in late may and early june. the otas are the only practices between the end of the previous season and the start of training camp. players new to the nfl attend seminars and lectures organized by the nfl from mid-june to mid-july. for veteran players, they use the off-time to sponsor football camps for children, golf outings for charity, or even some family time.