Off-Season Conditioning Guidelines

The Board of Directors has established the following guidelines relative to off-season conditioning programs conducted by member schools:

1. Definitions.
    (a) Off-season. "Off-season" means the period of time during the regular school year but outside the defined sport season for a specific sport.
    (b) Sports Season. "Sports season" means the period of time for a specific school team in each respective sport that begins with the first permissible date of practice in that sport and ends either with (a) the last permissible date for a regular season contest (if not participating in state series competition) in that sport; (b) the date of the team's elimination from state series competition in that sport; or (c) the state championship game in that sport; whichever first occurs for that team. During a sports season a school may organize its teams in the sport for practice and interscholastic athletic competition within the regulations established to govern that specific sport.
    (c) Conditioning. Weight training is the use of free weights and stationary apparatus. Cardiovascular conditioning is distance and interval training. Plyometrics is the use of pre-set conditioning programs. Conditioning IS NOT teaching sport specific skills and drills, and DOES NOT involve the use of sport specific equipment (i.e. starting blocks, hurdles, rebounders, ball machines, bats, balls, rackets, etc.).

2. Off-season conditioning programs conducted by a school shall be open to participation by all students enrolled in that school.

3. All preseason and/or postseason conditioning program participants shall file with the school the “FHSAA Consent and Release of Liability Certificate” and the “FHSAA Preparticipation Physical Evaluation” form.

4. Participation shall be voluntary and shall not be required, either directly or indirectly, for membership on an interscholastic team.

5. Supervision by school personnel is required.

6. It is recommended that instruction be part of the off-season conditioning program.

7. It is recommended and strongly encouraged that schools provide information in the following areas:
    (a) Proper use of weightroom equipment
    (b) Proper weight training techniques
    (c) Proper nutrition
    (d) Proper cardiovascular conditioning techniques
    (e) Ergogenics

8. The school administration shall assume the responsibility for ensuring compliance with these guidelines.

9. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in the assessment of penalties including, but not limited to, the following:
    (a) Assessment of a minimum fine of $2,500 per violation.
    (b) Loss of permissible practice time.
    (c) Loss of privilege to participate in a preseason jamboree or preseason classic with reimbursement of a minimum of $500 to each affected school and the FHSAA.
    (d) Reduced number of regular season “home” contests.
    (e) Loss of privileges to participate in the FHSAA State Series.


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