Guidelines for Practices and Scrimmages

The Board of Directors has adopted the following policy relative to the practicing and scrimmaging of member school athletic teams:

A. Practices
   1. Only those student-athletes who are bona fide students in a member school, or who are either home education program or charter school program students registered with a member school, may participate in the practice of an athletic team which represents that member school.
   2. Practice sessions and/or practice games in which students from two or more schools participate are prohibited.
   3. The conduct of practice sessions of any kind on a Sunday is prohibited.
   4. Student-athletes who are seniors may not participate in spring football practice.
   5. Eighth-grade students may participate in spring football practice at the public high school for which the students are zoned and will attend as ninth-graders in the following school year under the following conditions:
   (a) The students may practice on or in the high school facility only if such practice is approved in writing to the FHSAA Office by the District School Superintendent.
   (b) The students may be instructed in practice by high school coaches only if such instruction is approved in writing to the FHSAA Office by the School District Superintendent.
   (c) The principals of both schools must give their permission in writing to the FHSAA Office for the students to participate in such practice.
   (d) The students must have catastrophic insurance coverage for such practice.
   (e) The students must have the written permission of their parents or legal guardians to participate in such practice on file in the school office.
   (f) The students must have undergone a physical examination within the last calendar year.
   (g) The students must not suffer any loss of time from school.
   (h) The students may not participate in a spring football jamboree or spring classic game.
   (i) The students may not participate in practice or have contact in any manner with student-athletes in the ninth, 10th or 11th grades who are members of the high school team.

B. Considerations for Fall Preseason Practice
   1. Intent.
   To encourage state high school athletic associations to recommend a preseason acclimatization and recovery model for fall sports that enhances student-athlete well-being.
These guidelines provide general recommendations for conducting preseason practice for secondary school-age student-athletes. In addition, these guidelines can be applied during the academic year to ensure the athletes arrive with adequate sport-specific conditioning. Actual practice should not be based solely on the information contained in these guidelines, but should be customized to the specific geographic location of the school or practice facility. Each individual using these guidelines is responsible for prudent judgment with respect to each practice, athlete and facility and each athlete is responsible for exercising caution when following these general recommendations.
   2. Rationale.
   Research has supported the findings, which indicate an increase in heat-related injuries resulting from inadequate preseason acclimatization practices. Similarly, the incidence in stress-related injuries (i.e. stress fractures, tendonitis) has been found to be directly proportional to the work-rest ratio of the athlete. For these reasons, it is the recommendation of the National Federation of High School Association’s (NFHS) Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s (NATA) Secondary School Committee that fall sports (cross country , fall soccer, football, and swimming and diving) use acclimatization and recovery principles to develop their fall preseason practice schedules for the purpose of enhancing the student-athlete well-being. The primary focus of the preseason period should be to provide an adjustment period to the intensity and duration of exercise and environmental conditions. The guidelines are based on medical literature that differentiates sports with equipment due to the unique stress on the body’s heat dissipation capabilities. Equally important, consideration should be given to the varying levels of fitness in the high school student-athlete.
   3. Definitions.
   Prior to participation in any preseason practice activities, all student-athletes are required to undergo a Pre-Participation Medical Evaluation (PPE) administered as required by state law.
   A practice is defined as the time a participant engages in physical activity. It is recommended that each practice be no more than three hours in length and consist of no more than 90 minutes of intense exercise. Warm-up, stretching, and cool-down activities are to be included as part of the practice time. All conditioning and/or weight room activities shall be considered practice.
   The acclimatization period is defined as the first 14 calendar days of the season beginning with the first allowable date of practice in that sport or the first date an athlete begins practice, whichever is later. This period shall begin once equipment is used. Any practices conducted prior to the utilization of any equipment, protective or otherwise, shall not be considered a part of the acclimatization period. All student-athletes, including those who arrive to preseason practice after the first day of practice, are recommended to follow the guidelines of the first days of the acclimatization period. During the acclimatization period, it is recommended that student-athletes not participate in more than six consecutive days of practice.
   A walk-through shall be defined as a teaching opportunity with no protective equipment (i.e. helmets, shoulder pads, shin guards) or equipment related to a given sport (i.e. footballs, blocking sleds, pitching machine, soccer balls, marker cones). It is recommended the time engaged should not be more than one hour in length. This time does not include conditioning or weight room activities.
   A recovery period is defined as the time between the end of one practice or walk-through and the beginning of the next practice or walk-through. During this time, it is recommended that no physical activity be permitted (speed, strength, conditioning, agility, or walk-through).
   4. During the first seven calendar days, it is recommended that participants not engage in more than one practice per day.
   5. If a practice session is interrupted by inclement weather or heat restrictions, it is recommended the session may be divided for the good of the student-athlete’s welfare as long as the total practice time does not exceed three hours for that session.
   6. A walk-through is permitted during Days 1 – 6 of the acclimatization period. However, a one-hour recovery period is recommended between the end of practice and the start of the walk-through or vice-versa.
   7. During Days 1 – 3, only the goalkeeper in their respective sport shall be permitted to wear all protective equipment deemed necessary to participate in their sport. Football only: The first three full days of practice shall be restricted to conditioning drills. Helmet and dental guards may be issued, but deliberate contact as well as contact with sleds during this three-day period is prohibited.
   8. Beginning Day 8, it is recommended that the practice schedule not exceed a 2-1-2-1 format. This means that a day consisting of two practices should be followed by a day with only one practice. One walk-through session would be permitted each day. If a two-practice day were followed by a day off, a two-practice day would be permitted on the following day.
   9. On days when two practices are conducted, it is recommended that either practice not exceed three hours in length and student-athletes not participate in more than five total hours of practice activities on these days, excluding walk-through sessions. warm-up, stretching, and cool-down activities are included as part of the practice time. Practices should be separated with at least three continuous hours of recovery time between the end of the first practice and the beginning of the very next practice.
   10. On days when a single practice is conducted, it is recommended that practices not exceed three hours in length. A walk-through is permitted and should be separated with at least one hour of continuous recovery time between the end of the first practice and the walk-through, or vice-versa.
   11. Cross Country. Individuals must participate in a minimum of 10 practice sessions on 10 separate days prior to the first contest.
   12. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.
   Question: My school/school district has established a practice policy. Which should I follow?
   Answer: The intent of this information is to provide guidance for principals, athletic directors, coaches and school districts where there is none.
   Question: This document recommends only one (1) practice per day during the first seven days of practice. What if my team practices more than once a day during this time?
   Answer: The decision to allow practice more than once in a 24-hour period rests with the member school’s principal.
   Question: My student-athletes have attended a conditioning program prior to the season’s beginning date. Is it still necessary to wait until the fourth day of practice for that student-athlete to engage in physical contact?
   Answer: Yes, it is necessary for the individual student-athlete to wait until the fourth day of practice before engaging in physical contact. This includes student-athletes who may begin participation and practicing with the team after the first date of practice is allowed.

C. Scrimmages
   1. Only those student-athletes who are bona fide students in a member school, or who are either home education program or charter school program students registered with a member school, may participate in the scrimmage of an athletic team which represents that member school.
   2. Scrimmages and scrimmage games in which students from two or more schools participate are uncontracted interscholastic contests and are prohibited. Such scrimmages and scrimmage games may be on an intra-squad basis only.
   3. Scrimmages and scrimmage games involving groups, alumni teams, league teams, etc. comprised in whole or in part of individuals who are not bona fide students of the member school are prohibited. Such scrimmages and scrimmage games may be on an intra-squad basis only.

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