12/21/2012 – Reminders about what football gear/equipment can be worn throughout the year

December 21, 2012 Football Blog Updates

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Based on annual inquiries, the following is a reminder to all schools from the Handbook about the wearing of gear for football workouts/practice throughout the year.

What equipment can be worn, what activities can occur, and what restrictions are in place for football practice and the wearing of football gear? The following are the allowances and timelines for the wearing of pads and the conducting of practice based on specific time of the year:

(1) From the team’s elimination from postseason play through the end of the school year with the exception of the official spring practice period, the following stipulations are in place.

a. No football gear, including the helmet, can be worn. This does not preclude the issuance of protective gear to individual athletes for specific singular activities such as an all-star contest or to attend a skills combine; and
b. There is no KHSAA catastrophic insurance during this period.

(2) During the Official Spring Practice Period as designated by Bylaw 23, the following stipulations are in place:

a. It is highly recommended that the first two days of this period be used for acclimation to contact and re-introduction of the rigors of football to the student-athletes, particularly for those students who have not been participating in a winter or spring sport at the time;
b. All football gear may be worn and normal contact practice can be conducted within the restrictions contained in the bylaw; and
c. The KHSAA catastrophic insurance is in effect during this period.

(3) From the earlier of the day following the last date of school or June 1, through June 24, the following stipulations are in place:

a. The restrictions of Bylaw 24, Sec. 2 (Restrictions on Football and Boys’ Basketball) and its interpretations including the fact that school money cannot be expended for football activities are in place;
b. A helmet is the only equipment that can be issued, and can only be worn during coach supervised, on campus activity in compliance with off-season restrictions. This equipment prohibition does not preclude the issuance of protective gear to individual athletes for specific singular activities such as an all-star contest or to attend a skills combine; and
c. There is no KHSAA catastrophic insurance during this period.

(4) From June 25 to July 9 (inclusive of those dates) is the KHSAA Dead Period (Bylaw 24).

a. The restrictions of Bylaw 24, Sec. 3 (Summer Dead Period) and its interpretations are in place;
b. There can be no practice (individual or team) and no equipment or facilities may be issued; and
c. There is no KHSAA catastrophic insurance during this period.

(5) July 10 to July 14 is a Helmet-Only Period:

a. The helmet may be issued and worn, but no other gear as defined by NFHS Football Rule 1, Section 5 may be issued or worn; and
b. There is no KHSAA catastrophic insurance during this period.

(6) July 15 to the first day of practice wearing full pads is a Helmet-Only Period with the exception of the final three week days, which are to be helmet and shoulder pad periods:

a. No gear other than the helmet as defined by NFHS Football Rule 1, Section 5 may be worn except for the three shoulder pad acclimation days;
b. Legal, on-campus, non-contact, non-interscholastic activity is covered by the KHSAA catastrophic insurance;
c. Non-contact game simulations may be conducted and not applied to scrimmage limitations provided that the first contact practice has not been conducted. The KHSAA catastrophic insurance is not in effect for these simulations if other schools are involved;
d. During this period, no full contact drills or other activity can occur which would result in a player completing a tackle, or being blocked or tackled to the ground. Padded and protective equipment such as pads held by a single player (but not blocking sleds and other structures designed for work with full pads) can be used; and
e. Provided all practice and activity are compliant with KHSAA rules, the KHSAA catastrophic insurance is in place.

(7) The earlier of August 1 or seven week days prior to the first date of school for the student body (but no earlier than the fourth Monday in August) through the team’s elimination from postseason play is the defined season. This is a practice in pads period (including acclimation days required by Bylaw 23):

a. All other pads as defined in Rule 1-5 in addition to the helmet can be worn following the helmet-shoulder pad days;
b. Full contact practice may begin for all individuals who have previously (after July 15) had five days of supervised helmet only practice and the three days of helmet-shoulder pad practice;
c. Teams cannot conduct multiple contact practice sessions on consecutive days. If multiple contact practices (up to a maximum of two) are held on a day, then only one contact practice session can be held on the following day and mandatory three-hour cooling periods are required following each contact practice;
d. There is not currently a restriction on the number of non-contact practices conducted on any day;
e. Any play involving at least one player from more than one team shall count as a scrimmage; and
f. Provided all practice and activity are compliant with KHSAA rules, the KHSAA catastrophic insurance is in place.

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