New rules in effect as fall practices begin

Area high-school athletic teams began practice on Monday under new rules designed to reduce the risk of harm from the heat in all sports and to cut the risk of injury in football. The rules were put into place by the Kansas State High School Activities Association over the summer.

Ironically, it’s supposed to rain most of this week.

The most visible changes affect football as the usual sight of players working out in full gear will be witnesses less often. Two-a-day practices aren’t allowed until Saturday in any sport and there will be fewer of those as two-a-days can only be held every other day.

Initially, there will be less time in any gear during this first week. Coaches can bring their athletes together twice a day this first week but one of those sessions can only be a walkthrough. And during walkthroughs, no equipment can be used — not even a ball or a practice jersey.

A summary of the changes in rules can be seen below.

NEW FALL PRACTICE RULES

The changes to KSHSAA pre-season practice schedules affect all fall sports in the state of Kansas. Among them are:

Rule 30-1-8

Beginning Monday of (Calendar Week 7; Aug. 13 this year), the following practice rules apply to football, boys’ and girls’ cross country, boys’ soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, girls’ tennis and girls’ golf:

• Only one practice per day is permitted the first 5 days of practice. All individuals shall only practice once per day for the first five days the individual practices, no matter when the person joins the team or if the person misses days due to injury or illness.

• No single practice may last longer than 3 hours. All warm-up, stretching, conditioning and weight lifting is included as part of the 3-hour limit.

• A separate walkthrough is permitted in addition to the single practice. The walkthrough cannot be longer than 1 hour and must be separated from practice by at least 3 hours of rest. A walkthrough is defined as a teaching opportunity with the athletes in which no protective equipment is worn. No physically exerting activity, including any conditioning or weight lifting, may take place during the walkthrough.

• Beginning on practice day 6 (Aug. 18 this year), double practice sessions are permitted for any individual who has completed 5 days of single practices. Double practice sessions cannot be held on consecutive days. The day following a double practice day would be either a single practice day or a rest/recovery day.

• On days of multiple practices, no single practice may last longer than 3 hours and total practice time combined shall not exceed 5 hours.

• To be deemed a practice, a majority of the squad members must participate in the organized team training session.

Changes to football rule 35-1-1

• Players must have a minimum of one day of rest/recovery during any week (Sunday- Saturday), beginning Monday of (Calendar Week 7 through CW 21). Only injury treatments are permitted on a rest/recovery day.

Old rule: team meetings, walkthroughs with no equipment, conditioning and weightlifting were also allowed.

• Changes to Week One guidelines: Days 1 and 2, Helmets only (Air and Bags only permitted). Days 3 and 4, Helmets and shoulder pads permitted (Day 3, Air, Bags and Control permitted; Day 4, Air, Bags, Control and Thud permitted).

Old rule: Helmets only on Day 1 with Air and Bags only; Helmets and pads on Day 2 with Air and Bags only; Helmets and pads on Day 3 with Air, Bags, and Control permitted; Helmets and pads only on Day 4 with Air, Bags, Control and Thud permitted.

Source: Kansas State High School Activities Association.

Additional notes

• On days with multiple practices, only one may involve Thud and/or Live Action.

• Two-a-days cannot be held on consecutive days once they are allowed beginning on day 6 (all sports). Total practice time on those days cannot exceed 5 hours.

Definitions, per USA Football

• Air: Players run drills unopposed without contact.

• Bags: Drills are run against a bag or another soft-contact surface.

• Control: Drills are run at an assigned speed until the moment of contact; one player is pre-determined the winner by the coach. Contact remains above the waist and players stay on their feet.

• Thud: Drills are run at assigned speed through the moment of contact; no pre-determined winner. Contact remains above the waist, and the players stay on their feet and a quick whistle ends the drill.

• Live action: Drills are run in game-like conditions and are the only time players are taken to the ground.