With Football Season Gearing Up, Coaches Need to Review Rules and Guidelines
By Cliff Odenwald | Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:18 PM
This is an exciting time of year for football coaches, players and fans. Communities and school districts are gearing up for the start of a new football season.
Players and coaches have spent many hours of hard work, dedication and sweat in preparation for the 2009 football season. The actual preparation for this season began at the end of the 2008 season during the off season period and continued during the summer conditioning program. The beginning of the preseason football workouts lets us know we are just a few weeks away from the first kickoff of the season.
As we begin our preseason practices there are important guidelines to keep in mind as we battle the Texas heat:
1) Remember to follow the preseason protocol that is outlined in The Constitution & Contest Rules and in the UIL Football Manual.
• Student athletes shall not engage in more than three hours of practice activities on those days during which one practice is conducted.
• Student athletes shall not engage in more than five hours of practice activities on those days during which more than one practice is conducted.
• The maximum length of any single practice session is three hours.
• On days when more than one practice is conducted, there shall be, at a minimum, one hour of rest/recovery time between the end of one practice and the beginning of the next practice.
2) Also, remember to be sure all players are adequately hydrated. With temperatures in the triple digits, we know everyone is being extremely cautious. We must ensure that water is available at all times during practices. Take frequent breaks allowing students to remove their helmets, cool down, and drink adequate amounts of water. Encourage players to replace fluids often throughout the day. For further details on hydration please consult the UIL Football Manual.
As we start the season we would also like to remind you of the rules that will be emphasized this year. Again this year, as in previous years, a major emphasis will be placed on sideline control. From what we have observed at games and from visiting with football officials, the sideline situation has greatly improved. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation regarding this matter of ensuring safety for all of those participating on the field. We will continue to emphasize sideline control in addition to two new points regarding mandatory equipment.
The first new item pertains to the adequate protection of the knees and length of uniform pants. Over the past few years players have started wearing smaller (i.e., shorter) pants. These shorter pants are causing the players to be in violation of NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations. The rules regarding mandatory equipment state that knee pads must cover the knees and be covered by pants. Prior to the game, any player that fails to meet this criterion will have to change into pants that comply with this rule. If during play, a player’s knee becomes exposed, the player must cover the knee before the next play begins.
The second new point of emphasis relates to the jersey covering all protective equipment. The UIL makes an exception to the NCAA football rules and allows jerseys to be waist length. It has become common for many players to leave their jerseys up during the game exposing protective equipment. If during play a jersey gets caught behind protective equipment, players must make sure that all protective equipment is covered before the next play begins.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation with these safety issues. Coaches face many challenges with each new season, and we appreciate your diligence in monitoring and adhering to these rules. We also recognize the time and effort that goes into planning and preparing for each upcoming season. Knowing that expectations are high for each team, we wish you the best of luck for a great season!