04/22/15-Football Equipment Timelines

April 22, 2015 Athletic Department Blog Updates

Below is an interpretative listing of the various equipment periods. Any conflict with Bylaw 23, Section 6 (Football) will yield to the Bylaw 23 section for enforcement :

PRE-SEASON (POST DEAD PERIOD) ACCLIMATIZATION AND ACCLIMATION THROUGH THE END OF REGULAR SEASON

(1) Acclimatization and Acclimation Starting July 10

1. July 10, First date of OFFICIAL practice in helmet only. Only Level 0 – “Air” and Level 1 – “Bags” drills can be conducted. The catastrophic insurance is in place for these drills and practice sessions. Heat index monitoring guidelines must be complied with during any activity. 
2. July 22, First date of practice in shells (shorts, helmets, shoulder pads) for each player who has had at least five days in helmets only. Only Level 0 – “Air”, Level 1 – “Bags” and Level 2 – “Control” drills can be conducted. The catastrophic insurance is in place for these drills and practice sessions. Heat index monitoring guidelines must be complied with during any activity.
3. August 1, First practice in full gear for all players who have had at least three practices wearing helmets and shoulder pads. Level 0 – “Air”, Level 1 – “Bags”, Level 2 – “Control”, Level 3 – “Thud” and Level 4 – “Live action” drills can be conducted. Level 3 – “Thud” and Level 4 – “Live action” drills can only be conducted in one practice per day. Once the first of these practices has been held, no 7-on-7 or other game simulations against other teams can be held.  Heat index monitoring guidelines must be complied with during any activity.
4. July 10 to July 31, schools may play noncontact game simulations (such as 7-on-7) against other schools. Provided that the play is between schools, the catastrophic insurance coverage is In place during this period.

(2) Requirements for Individual Players before playing against another school (game or scrimmage).

1. These are required of each player, and this listing is vital for those coming out for the team after practice starts.
2. Five days of helmets only in sessions with the rest of the team. Only Level 0 – “Air” and Level 1 – “Bags” drills can be conducted.
3. Three days of helmet and shoulder pads with the team. During these days, no contact with other players, only sleds and dummies. Only Level 0 – “Air”, Level 1 – “Bags” and Level 2 – “Control” drills can be conducted.
4. Three days of full practice in pads with team. The third day cannot be the day of the first desired game. Level 0 – “Air”, Level 1 – “Bags”, Level 2 – “Control”, Level 3 – “Thud” and Level 4 – “Live action” drills can be conducted.
5. If playing other sports after July 15 and electing to come out for football later, the five days in helmet only (acclimatization) can be waived, but three days of helmet and shoulder pads with the team, followed by five full days of practice with the team would be required before playing against another school.

(3) Once contact practice (practice in all equipment and drills using Level 3 – Thud and Level 4 – Live Action Level) begins on or after August 1:

1. Cannot have multiple contact practices on any day where Level 3 – “Thud” and Level 4 – “Live action” drills are conducted;
2. On days when two practices of any type are held, a total limit of 5 hours per day of practice, not including the mandatory break. Water breaks, rest breaks and injury treatment shall not count against the 5-hour limit;
3. A 3-hour break is required after a contact practice where Level 3 – “Thud” and Level 4 – “Live action” drills are conducted during which no activity can be held;
4. Weight training, conditioning, meetings, film study, and teaching period/walk through simulations without equipment shall count against 5-hour limit and may not be conducted during the three-hour required break.
5. If only one practice is held during a day, 3 hours per day is the limit.
6. Heat index monitoring guidelines must be complied with during any activity.
7. Schools must maintain heat index records which will be randomly audited.

OFFSEASON TIMELINE FOR ISSUANCE AND USAGE OF EQUIPMENT

(1) End of Season Through Start of Spring Practice

1. From the last game of the season to the first day of spring practice, no equipment (including helmet) may be issued except as detailed in the all-star game/individual camp exception to be detailed later.

(2) Spring Practice

1. Team must submit Spring Practice Dates on or before December 15.
2. First two days of previously submitted spring practice period are helmet and shoulder pads for any player who has not been on a winter sports eligibility list or has not participated in a minimum of eight (8) conditioning workouts.
3. During the spring practice period, a team may participate in Level 3- “Thud” or Level 4 – “Live Action” drills and game time simulations for no more than six of the practice sessions, and that the practice sessions be structured as follows:
   1. Two days Non-Contact (Air, Bags, Control)
   2. Two days Contact (Thud, Live Action)
   3. One day Non-Contact (Air, Bags, Control)
   4. Two days Contact (Thud, Live Action)
   5. One day Non-Contact (Air, Bags, Control)
   6. Two days Contact (Thud, Live Action)

(3) After Spring Practice (or if no spring practice is conducted) through July 9.

1. From last day of spring practice through May 31, no football equipment as detailed in NFHS playing rule 1-5 (including helmet) can be used for any reason except as detailed in the all-star game/individual camp exception to be detailed later. Any activity during this period, there is no catastrophic insurance coverage.
2. From June 1 through June 24, schools may not issue football equipment included in NFHS Rule 1-5 other than the helmet, with the exception of an all-star game or individual camp as detailed. During these periods, schools may not organize or participate in any football activities that allow players to be in football gear included in NFHS Rule 1-5 other than the helmet, even if contact does not occur. Activity during this period may not include contact (Level 3-”Thud” or Level 4-”Live Action”). The KHSAA catastrophic insurance provided by the Association is not in effect during this period. Heat index monitoring guidelines must be complied with during any activity.
3. From last day of spring practice through June 24, no session can be held where attendance is taken or any other implied or explicit required activity.
4. June 25 to July 9, including June 25 and July 9, Dead Period, no workouts can be conducted, no use of facilities, equipment, etc. due to Bylaw 24.

(4) All-star game/individual camp exception

1. Gear (including shoulder pads and other protective gear) may be issued to a player who has previously played for the team to participate in an individual camp or all-star game between the last day of the previous season and before July 31 (exclusive of the Bylaw 24 Dead Period) provided no more than four players from any school participate in the same sessions at that camp. The gear must be returned by the individual immediately following the camp.
2. No gear (including shoulder pads and other protective gear) may be issued for any event involving any person not enrolled at that school that is held at a KHSAA member school  or at a facility utilized for games by a member school except for the all-star game/individual camp exception detailed above. This includes camps sponsored by outside entities if a member school’s coaches are present or any equipment is issued to participants.

(5) Other Camp information

1. There is no opportunity for any team activity in football gear at camps where representatives of any other school are present except for the noncontact game simulations as detailed above. There is no allowance for full contact camps for teams or issuing other equipment to individuals except as detailed in the all-star game/individual camp exception to be detailed later.

Penalty for violation will be BOTH institutional, and against the coach, which may include multiple contest suspension.