02/22/21- Football Schools Reminded to Submit Spring Practice Date Options for 2021

February 24, 2021 Football Blog Updates

Per KHSAA Bylaw 23, each school was to originally submit its spring practice dates on or before December 15. With the pandemic, many schools have had a great many interruptions and have not yet submitted dates for this year, if such practice will be conducted. It is a local decision whether or not to conduct these practices at any level, however, if conducted, these practices must follow the progression and restrictions contained in Bylaw 23 as listed below. Failure to submit these dates by the delayed date (for this year only) of March 15 results in the school not being permitted to conduct spring practice. Spring practice may extend (for 2021 only) until May 31.

There is no requirement to conduct spring practice and the earliest any school can choose is March 22 with the rescheduling of the basketball postseason (Monday following district tournament elimination).

It should also be noted that in-person recruiting by collegiate (NCAA) coaches is restricted through May 31, so the scheduling of dates need not depend on that aspect of the process.

Once submitted, these dates cannot be changed without the request of the member school Principal, and only then, to a period starting with the Monday following the last date of the originally adopted Spring Break for the school. There will be NO extensions due to coaching vacancies, etc. THE SETTING OF THESE DATES IS A FUNCTION OF SCHOOL CALENDAR AND NOT PERSONNEL.

Go to this link —
http://khsaa.org/fb103-spring-practice-dates-designation/ and submit your intent dates for 2021 on or before March 15, 2021. If no dates are submitted, spring practice will not be permitted and this will be noted on the listing of schools..

The Spring Practice regulations are reprinted below–

Each football school may conduct ten (10) spring practice periods of not more than two (2) hours in length and not more than one practice per day over ten (10) days during three consecutive calendar weeks, which shall be chosen by the school on or before December 15.
Failure to submit the schedule by this date will result in a loss of the ability to conduct spring football practice.
Once dates are established by the school, the dates may not be changed except by request of the member school Principal, and only if the newly requested period begins not later than the Monday following the conclusions of the originally scheduled school spring break.
g) Each football school may elect to conduct spring football practice under the following conditions:
(1) A school may conduct ten (10) spring practice periods of not more than two (2) hours in length and not more than one practice per day over ten (10) days during three consecutive calendar weeks, which shall be chosen by the school on or before December 15;
(2) Failure to submit the schedule by December 15 will result in a loss of the ability to conduct spring football practice;
(3) The three consecutive calendar weeks shall not begin prior to the Monday following the school’s elimination from postseason play in basketball, and shall not conclude later than the last day of school on the original school calendar;
(4) Any period of time when school is not in session on a weekday, including testing and breaks, shall not count as one of the ten (10) permitted days, and practice shall not be conducted on those days;
(5) All equipment authorized by the football playing rules may be used during this period;
(6) There shall be no interscholastic competition during this period, and all participants shall be eligible according to all KHSAA eligibility rules;
(7) After December 15, the dates shall not be changed except by request of the member school Principal, and only if the newly requested period begins not later than the Monday following the conclusions of the originally scheduled school spring break;
(8) Practice sessions shall conform to the following rotation of types of practice;
a. Two days Non-Contact (0-“Air”, 1-“Bags”, 2-“Control”);
b. Two days Contact (3-“Thud”, 4-“Live Action”);
c. One day Non-Contact (0-“Air”, 1-“Bags”, 2-“Control”);
d. Two days Contact (3-“Thud”, 4-“Live Action”);
e. One day Non-Contact (0-“Air”, 1-Bags, 2-“Control”); and
f. Two days Contact (3-“Thud”, 4-“Live Action”);
(9) A student below grade nine or in grade 12 shall not participate;
(10) Only students currently eligible by all KHSAA rules including Bylaws 2 through 12 may participate;
(11) Intrasquad games may be held but shall be counted as one of the ten practice sessions;
(12) Any student who has neither participated in organized competition in a KHSAA-sanctioned winter or spring sport, nor has documentation of supervision by a coach qualified under Bylaw 25 in a minimum of 8 conditioning workouts after the previous season and before the start of spring practice (including competition on a competitive weight lifting team at the school), shall have two (2) days of practice in helmets only and two (2) additional days in shells (helmets and shoulder pads) for acclimation prior to wearing the remainder of the allowable football gear; and
(13) There shall be no mandatory participation (including school or coach imposed penalty) by any person on a spring sports eligibility list (or entering any spring sport scrimmage or contest) or any other student desiring not to participate.

Thanks in advance.