Summer Conditioning Program to Include 7th and 8th Grade Students in 2010
By Cliff Odenwald | Monday, December 14, 2009 12:26 PM
School administrators, coaches and UIL staff all agree that the summer strength and conditioning program has been very successful. Since 2003 school coaches have been able to instruct student-athletics during the summer in strength and conditioning drills. This additional summer instructional time has helped prepare students for the physical demands of participating in all athletic programs.
The UIL Legislative Council and the Commissioner of Education approved two changes to the summer strength and conditioning program that will go into effect for the 2010 summer. Students in the seventh and eighth grade will be allowed to participate and receive instructions in this summer program. Each school or school district also will have some flexibility when scheduling the actual dates of their summer and conditioning program.
The new amendment changes to Section 1206 (h) in the Constitution and Contest Rules state:
SUMMER STRENGTH/CONDITIONING PROGRAMS. Summer strength and conditioning programs may be conducted by school coaches for students in grades 7-12 from that coach’s attendance zone only under the following conditions.
(1) Sessions may be conducted by school coaches only on Monday through Thursday for six weeks during summer vacation until the second Monday in August and shall be no more than two consecutive hours per day.
Allowing seventh and eighth graders to participate in the summer strength and conditioning program will also be beneficial to these students as they prepare for their sport or sports. Current summer and conditioning programs will need to change to fit the needs of this age group. UIL staff also recommends that seventh and eighth grade students workout in separated groups from the students in grades nine through 12. Remember that attendance at all summer strength and conditioning programs is voluntary and not mandatory.
Each school or school district will now have the ability to designate a starting and ending date for the strength and conditioning programs not to exceed a six-week period during the summer. As stated in the amendment change, the six-week period can begin during summer vacation and has to be completed by the second Monday in August.
The six-week period does not have to be consecutive weeks. For example, a school could decide to workout two weeks, take the week of July 4 off, workout two more weeks, take a week off, and then workout two more weeks.
No student can participate in more than a total of six weeks in the summer. Any student who participates in a sport that has preseason practice beginning before the second Monday in August has to complete their six weeks summer and conditioning program before preseason practice begins. This amendment change allows schools or school districts the flexibility to schedule the summer strength and conditioning program to fit the needs of their students.
Continue to refer to Section 1206 in the Constitution and Contest Rules and UIL Sport Manuals FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) section for all UIL rules that govern the summer strength and conditioning program. These new amendment changes will definitely affect the summer calendars for students, parents and coaches. Hopefully, by receiving this information in advance, all parties will have ample time to adjust their schedules.