07/10/19- Post Dead Period Football Practice Reminders

July 10, 2019 Football Blog Updates

With the dead period concluding July 9 at midnight, and a number of inquiries being submitted about “what we”, and “can we”, it seems appropriate to remind everyone of the regulations regarding football practice, and the acclimation and acclimatization process that is required.

This information comes directly from Bylaw 23. If for some reasons there are still specific questions, please inquire immediately. The entire bylaw is online at CLICK HERE TO SEE ENTIRE BYLAW 23.

a) Organized practice shall be structured in football as follows:

(1) Football drill work and practice activity shall be defined in the following five categories:
a. “Level 0” or “air” means that players run a drill unopposed and without contact;
b. “Level 1” or “bags” means that a drill is run against a bag or another soft contact surface;
c. “Level 2” or “control” means that a drill is run at the assigned speed until the moment of contact; one (1) player is predetermined the winner by the coach; contact remains above the waist, and players stay on their feet;
d. “Level 3” or “thud” means that a drill is run at the assigned speed through the moment of contact; there is not a predetermined winner; contact remains above the waist; players stay on their feet, and a quick whistle ends the drill; and
e. “Level 4” or “live action” means that a drill is run in game-like conditions and is the only time that players are taken to the ground.
(2) Contact and non-contact shall be defined as follows:
a. “Contact” means that drills are run at Level 3, thud, or Level 4, live action; and
b. “Non-contact” means that drills are run at Level 0, air; Level 1, bags; or Level 2, control.
(3) Football contact and non-contact practice shall use the appropriate clothing and equipment (including current certification/recertification of equipment as stipulated by the manufacturer) for the level of drill, including:
a. A drill conducted in helmets-only shall be a Level 0, air, or Level 1, bags;
b. A drill conducted in shells (shorts, shoulder pads, and helmets) shall be a non-contact drill; and
c. A contact drill shall be conducted in full equipment.

(8) Non-contact interscholastic simulations during the period beginning on the day immediately following the dead period (Bylaw 24), July 10 and continuing through July 31:

a. Schools may participate in non-contact interscholastic simulations with other schools where no more than seven players are participating simultaneously during this period, and such participation does not count against scrimmage limitations provided that the first practice in full gear has not been conducted;
b. The school issued helmet may be used during these activities, but no other equipment included in NFHS Rule 1-5 may be used;
c. Activity may be required of team participants including the monitoring of attendance;
d. The KHSAA catastrophic insurance is in effect for these simulations if other schools are involved;
e. Heat index monitoring guidelines shall be complied with during any activity; and
f. Activity through the end of the non-contact simulations shall not include Level 3-”Thud”, or Level 4-”Live Action”.

(9) Preseason acclimation and acclimatization beginning July 10:

a. Heat index monitoring guidelines shall be complied with during any activity;
b. The KHSAA catastrophic insurance is in place for these drills and practice sessions;
c. Beginning July 10, the first legal organized practice wearing a helmet may be conducted;
d. The first five (5) days of organized practice shall be in helmets only;
e. During the first five (5) days in helmets only, the total practice time in helmets shall not exceed three (3) hours; and
f. During the days in helmets only, only Level 0-“Air” and Level 1-“Bags” drills shall be conducted;
i. Water breaks, rest breaks, and injury treatment shall not count against the 3-hour limit; and
ii. Weight training, conditioning, required meetings, required sport and skill specific film study, and teaching period/walk through simulations without equipment shall count against 3-hour limit;
g. Following the first five days, on days when the maximum of two practices of any type is held, a total limit of 5 hours per day of practice, not including the mandatory break shall be allowed;
i. Water breaks, rest breaks, and injury treatment shall not count against the 5-hour limit; and
ii. Weight training, conditioning, required meetings, required sport and skill specific film study, and teaching period/walk through simulations without equipment shall count against 5-hour limit;

(10) Beginning July 22 through July 31:

a. Practice may be conducted in shells (shorts, helmets, shoulder pads) for each player who has had at least five days in helmets only;
b. Only Level 0-“Air”, Level 1-“Bags” and Level 2-“Control” drills shall be conducted before the final non-contact interscholastic simulation;
c. Following the final non-contact interscholastic simulation, only Level 0-“Air”, Level 1-“Bags”, Level 2-“Control” and Level 3- “Thud” drills shall be conducted;
d. No person may participate who is not on the school roster at that time;
e. No single practice session shall be longer than three (3) hours;
f. Multiple contact practices shall not be held on any day where Level 3-“Thud” drills are conducted;
g. On days when the maximum of two practices of any type is held, a total limit of 5 hours per day of practice, not including the mandatory break shall be allowed;
i. Water breaks, rest breaks, and injury treatment shall not count against the 5-hour limit; and
ii. Weight training, conditioning, required meetings, required sport and skill specific film study, and teaching period/walk through simulations without equipment shall count against the 5-hour limit;
h. On days when only one practice of any type is held, a total limit of 3 hours per day of practice shall be allowed;
i. Water breaks, rest breaks, and injury treatment shall not count against the 3-hour limit; and
ii. Weight training, conditioning, required meetings, required sport and skill specific film study, and teaching period/walk through simulations without equipment shall count against the 3-hour limit;
i. A 3-hour break is required after a contact practice where Level 3-“Thud” drills are conducted during which no activity shall be held, and the athletes are located where cooling and recovery is possible;
i. During this break, there shall be no gear worn, and no activity that in any way simulates football or football drills. This restriction is in place regardless of where the practice occurs, including camps, home practices, or other workout areas. This period is solely for rest/recovery; and
ii. Weight training, conditioning, meetings, film study, and teaching period/walk through simulations without equipment shall not be conducted during the three-hour required break; and
j. The KHSAA catastrophic insurance is in place for these drills and practice sessions.