2-10-17
Q: I'm the high school boys soccer coach. Situation: I have been asked to join an adult league to play indoor soccer over the next couple months (out of soccer season but while school is in session). There is a different designated coach for this team not at all affiliated with the school, I would only be a player. This league allows 16 years of age to play and higher. There are a couple of players from my varsity team that were asked to play on this team as well by this other coach. I know I'm not to have any coaching contact with players during the school season post soccer season. My question is since I would not at all be in a coaching capacity, only a player, and have not in any way instructed the players to play on this team would I be allowed to play on this team for the league?
A: Coaches may not provide coaching instruction to their athletes out of season and out of the five unrestricted school coaching contact days. Competing with their athletes is considered providing instruction just as using their athletes as clinicians is considered instruction.
In school open gyms, coaches may recreate with their athletes. During the summertime with unlimited nonschool coaching contact, all coaches except football may compete with their athletes. Finally, the exception to the rule is that coaches may compete AGAINST their athletes out of season.
Here’s the article from page 10 of the August, 2016 WIAA Bulletin - https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/News/Bulletin/Bulletin8_19_16.pdf
Coaches Participating Against Athletes in The Off-Season
Except during Board of Control approved coaching contact days, WIAA rules indicate that coaches may not provide sport instruction to, or have coaching contact with student-athletes during the off-season. This rule and its interpretation had prevented coaches from participating against their athletes in structured, non-school league competition, during the off-season. The WIAA Board of Control approved a request by the WIAA staff for a change in interpretation. The present interpretation allows coaches to participate against their athletes in league competition, organized by a non-school entity, during the off-season. This means a volleyball coach, for example, could be participating in a volleyball league which included his/her volleyball players as members of other teams.
It continues to be a violation of WIAA rules for coaches to participate on the same team as their athletes, in out-of-season play, and to be involved in playing pickup activity with their athletes during the off-season except in school sponsored Open Gyms. The other obvious exception to this is in the non-school unlimited contact window in all sports except football, during the summertime, when school is not in normal session.
In the situation described below, you would not be allowed to compete on the same team as your athletes.
2-19-14
Q: My coach has asked me if he can coach kids out of season if they are wrestling in tournaments other that Folk Style Wrestling, such as greco-roman or free style?
A: Coaches may only coach their athletes during the season and five days during the summer with unrestricted coaching contact. Wrestling coaches have unlimited nonschool coaching contact during the summertime. Summertime is defined as last day of school to the first day of school. Greco-roman and free style are considered wrestling just as folk style is considered wrestling. So the restrictions above apply. They may not work with their athletes out of season during the school year in folk sytle, free style or Greco-Roman.
4-9-12
Q: Our Varsity basketball coach would like to work with our current 7th and 8th graders during the Spring (before school is out). Does he need to wait until school has concluded or can he coach the 7th and 8th graders in tournaments prior to school concluding for the summer.
A: The following text is contained in the WIAA Rules at a Glance: "Coaches may not have coaching contact with any athletes they will be coaching the following school season during restricted times (except their own children). There is no distinction between varsity and J.V. coaches, i.e., J.V. coaches cannot coach varsity athletes during restricted times, and vice-versa, nor any distinction between paid and nonpaid (volunteer) coaches. An exception is that varsity and J.V. coaches can have coaching contact with students who have just completed 8th grade or any preceding grade up until these 8th graders actually start their 9th grade year." The simple answer is JV and varsity coaches are allowed to have contact with students until they actually enter 9th grade. (See Art. I of the WIAA Rules at a Glance.) That being said, must caution about the sponsors/creators of such programming opportunities. (then read article II A and D) If that contact is taking place during the school year but outside of the actual school season – the opportunity needs to be created/provided by an entity other then the school.
2-8-12
Q: Can a boy's high school soccer coach now coach club competitive teams during the summer that can include players from the high school team they coach in the fall?
A: Fall soccer coaches may have non-school (club) coaching contact during the summertime (last day of school to July 31).
Q: I was wondering if you could pinpoint where the rules are on coaches meeting with a football team out of season. I'm just talking about a meeting, say in April/May, to discuss the summer plans, etc.
A: The rule you are referring to is located in your Season Regulations:
1. PRESEASON AND OUT-OF-SEASON
a. Organizational meetings may be conducted outside the season provided no instruction or practice is included and the meeting(s) has been approved by school administration.
5-21-10
Q.: I have a player on my summer club team that is being told by her high school coach that she has to play for a different summer team. Can a high school coach dictate to a player who they play for during the off season? Can he hold it against her if she doesn't do what he wants during the off season?
A.: You will find our Rules at a Glance on our website. The portion which may apply is contained in Section I. Coaches may not: 1) Mandate athletes participate in nonschool competition, or determine who may or may not participate in nonschool activity. 2) Require involvement in out-of-season activities as part of the requirements for making a school team, earning a school letter award, etc. Since there are times when we hear from parents and/or others who would hope to ambush a coach or a member school rather then help them to address or fix a problem if there is one, we ask that they contact the local athletic direc- tor to be a part of the solution.
Q.: Just clarifying my understanding of the out-of-season rule for current 8th graders involved in basketball. A varsity or JV coach could coach these current 8th graders throughout the summer an unlimited number of days. However, this would limit these incoming freshmen (current 8th graders) to be able to play only on the freshman team this coming winter season as that varsity/JV coach had already coached them during the summer months beyond the five days. The same scenario would hold true for a school with a sophomore team in addition to a JV team. If the sophomore coach has more than five days contact with incoming freshmen then those freshmen are not able to play the coming season on that sophomore team. Is this correct?
A.: During the summertime, varsity and JV coaches can have coaching contact with students who have just completed 8th grade or any preceding grade up until these 8th graders actually start their 9th grade year. This does not limit them to the 9th grade team, hence, the 9th grade coach is limited to the five days. Keep in mind, some schools do not have 9th grade teams. This is the one exception.
Q.: Can a current player of a coach's high school team assist the coach with AAA youth hockey practices during the summer prior to July 31?
A.: Hockey coaches are restricted in their contact with students they will coach to the sport season and five days during the summer before July 31. Coaches may not have coaching contact with any athletes they will be coaching the following school season during restricted times (except their own children).
4-24-10
Q.: What is the rule for the coach having the kids in the weight room, getting ready for next year? It's like he pushes them to come in the morning or even on the weekend. He also has said it depends if you play next year or not. This is not good for these young bodies to be pushed like this to work out all the time like he wants them to.
A.: If you have concerns, my recommendation is to talk to your athletic director. Our member schools have created WIAA rules which provide limits that are quite rigorous if followed. A member school is per- mitted to supervise conditioning programs under the open gym provisions, which may include weight lift- ing, speed, agility, fitness. The program must be limited to non-sport and non-sport-skill-specific instruc- tion. Basic "instruction" e.g., safe lifting, safe spotting, training regimen and rationale, are permitted. No sport implements and/or sport specific movement/drills should be part of the open gym or weight room. These conditioning programs must be made known and accessible to all interested students and must be voluntary. Coaches may not: 1) Mandate athletes participate in nonschool competition, or determine who may or may not participate in nonschool activity. 2) Require involvement in out-of-season activities as part
of the requirements for making a school team, earning a school letter award, etc. 3) Provide incentives such as T-shirts, etc., for participation in the off-season. Weight rooms are considered open gyms and the open gym rules state: Coaches and schools cannot be involved in out-of-season practice for athletes. However open gyms do not violate WIAA rules if they are conducted according to the following guidelines: 1) The open gym is made known and available to all students in the designated population of that school that are interested in attending. Open gyms may be gender specific. It is also acceptable to include people from the community. Schools may conduct "open gyms" in any activity. It is not acceptable to include ath- letes from another school, public or nonpublic. 2) There is no instruction during the open gym by a coach or anyone else. 3) Coaches may supervise open gyms, but they may not instruct, organize drills, etc. Coaches can also recreate with students in school sponsored, open gym settings that are purely recre- ational in nature, ie., there is no instruction, sport skill demonstration, organized drills or resemblance of a practice being conducted. 4) There is no organized competition, such as established teams participating in round-robin competition, etc. "Open Gym" is not a code word for out-of-season practice. The philoso- phy of the open gym is students from that school may attend, for wholesome recreation, or for purposes of improving their skills, but it's something they do on their own. It would be a violation of WIAA rules to mandate attendance at open gyms, or to provide incentives for athletes to attend open gyms, or to limit participation based on athletic status, or to allow athletes from other schools to come and work out or com- pete against the host school's athletes. (BL – Art. II and RE – Art. VI, Sect. 2)
3-15-10
Q.: I would like to know if someone can work with their set track athletes before the season starts. Example: Working with the hurdlers on tech. over hurdles and so on. Also taking/meeting the hurdlers at a indoor track complex and practicing. This coach will be coaching the hurdles during the season. What about the weight room and instruction in lifting techniques and lifting program.
A.: Coaches may only have contact with their athletes during the sport season during the school year. Track begins March 8. Before that date, coaches of the track team could not teach technique or provide any instruction to track athletes. Weight rooms are considered open gyms. Therefore, a weight room has limitations. A member school is permitted to supervise conditioning programs under the open gym provi- sions, which may include weight lifting, speed, agility, fitness. Basic "instruction" e.g., safe lifting, safe spotting, training regimen and rationale, are permitted. No sports implements and/or sport specific move- ment/drills should be part of the open gym or weight room. These conditioning programs must be made known and accessible to all interested students and must be voluntary. Please also review the relevant areas of the Rules at a Glance handout.
Q.: We are in the process of hiring for a JV baseball position. Our Legion coach has applied for the job. My assumption is he cannot hold both nor can we consider him a candidate because of his off-season involvement with our athletes. Am I correct? Also, if we have a community member who works with our softball team in the off-season, can he be a volunteer coach for us this spring? Again, as I read the rules the answer is no.
A.: Might want to check when the contact occurred. Normally, a coach who has contact during restricted times cannot be a candidate to coach athletes they will coach the next season. However, baseball is allowed unlimited non-school contact during the summer. If the contact was during the school year, then he would not be a candidate. The key in both situations is that baseball and softball have unlimited non-school con- tact during the summer. If the contact was during the school year, then no (paid or unpaid).
2-5-10
Q.: There is a baseball center in our city that provides instruction to many of the high school players in Wisconsin. One of the instructors is interested in becoming an assistant coach at our school. He works with several of our players along with many other kids who are not at this hitting center. Is he eligible to coach for me? Would I be eligible to work at this hitting center during the winter months?
A.: Our coaching contact does not allow coaches to have contact with people who have worked with students they would coach the next season. Therefore, if an instructor wishes to coach for a school, he could not work with that school's student athletes which the school coach would work with. Otherwise, he could not be a candidate. In addition, WIAA rules prohibit coaches from having contact with the school athletes during the school year outside the designated season for that sport. As a school coach, you would not be able to work with your school's athletes at the hitting center.
1-15-10
Q.: I have a former athlete who coached our JV team in summer league. She wants to come in and scrimmage with our varsity players over break. She had no contact with any varsity players over the summer. Is that legal?
A.: The fundamental portion of this rule is: Coaches may not have coaching contact with any athletes they will be coaching the following school season during restricted times (except their own children). There is no distinction varsity and JV coaches, i.e., JV coaches cannot coach varsity athletes during restricted times, and vice-versa, nor any distinction between paid and nonpaid (volunteer) coaches. Therefore, she could not have coaching contact during the season.
12-18-09
Q.: We had a situation crop up that I need to handle in gymnastics. Please confirm that a coach is not allowed to coach athletes from two different schools during the season without a waiver. I am not going to request the waiver but want to confirm the rule before informing a coach that he can not work with our program. We had someone interested in volunteering with our team but they are giving private lessons with members of another team this winter.
A.: Our rules do not prevent coaches from coaching a school team and tutoring other students. An example would be a golf or tennis pro.
Q.: I am the head volleyball coach for varsity volleyball. I have been asked to play in a co-ed quad volleyball tournament by some girls that are current and former players at our school. The tournament is taking place to raise money for a trip to Washington D.C. Am I allowed to play with students in the tournament that will be on my team next year or is that a violation of WIAA rules?
A.: Membership rules would not allow you to play or participate with players who you will be coaching next year during the school year (or summer unless it is part of your five school contact days).
Q.: We have lined up a very knowledgeable person to run skills clinic for club volleyball in December. He has mentioned that he might be interested in applying for the high school freshman volleyball coaching position in the fall of 2010. If he runs a three hour basic skills clinic for our club in December 2009 for girls currently in 7th, 8th and 9th year would he be in any WIAA violation if he applied for the high school freshman volleyball coaching position for the 2010 school season? Most of the girls who will be on the club teams and at the clinic will be from that school and will also be playing volleyball during the 2010 school season. He won't be coaching any club team just running a basic skills clinic.
A.: Individuals who coach athletes may not coach their athletes out-of-season which they will work with the next sport season. An individual who worked with students out-of-season after the fall sports have completed would not be an acceptable candidate for the next fall sports season. All camps or clinics must be nonschool programs without school or coach involvement open to all interested people.
Q.: We had a spring graduate work with the girls basketball team in a league this past summer. I believe it ended up being four contests and the head coach did not use any of his contact days. Just a few weeks ago, the district cut the C squad basketball position, but still allowing the C squad games with a volunteer individual. May the girl that worked with the girls team in the summer fill the volunteer position and coach our C squad games. The head coach does not think she can coach according to WIAA rules. According to the WIAA, may the student that graduated last spring that worked with the girls basketball team in league this past summer, volunteer coach the C squad this season?
A.: If a person has had out-of-season contact with athletes beyond the five days, they may not coach them in the next sport season. Please provide the documentation of the days and when your district will apply them for the contact. Were they all before July 31? What grades were the athletes that she will work with? If she worked with the upperclassmen and will have zero interaction with them during the sport season, she could work with 9th graders.
Q.: I am a parent of a student athlete and was asked to coach summer basketball league this summer 2009. Now I am being asked to be an assistant on the team for this upcoming season. Can I take the position without breaking any rules?
A.: Our coaching contact rules state: Coaches may not have coaching contact with any athletes they will be coaching the following school season during restricted times (except their own children). There is no distinction between varsity and JV coaches, i.e., JV coaches cannot coach varsity athletes during restricted times, and vice-versa, nor any distinction between paid and non-paid (volunteer) coaches. An exception is that coaches can have coaching contact with students who have just completed 8th grade or any preceding grade up until these 8th graders actually start their 9th grade year. If someone has had contact with athletes which they will coach the following season, then they may not coach during the actual season.
Q.: In reading the latest Bulletin, it says coaches may recreate with athletes at open gyms if no instruction is given. My question is, how is "recreate" defined when applied to wrestling open gyms. Can a coach wrestle with an athlete there as long as they are not telling them moves to do (with the exception of what position to start in)? I just want to know what we as coaches are allowed to and not allowed to do. Language is not very specific for each sport, or if it is, I could not find it.
A.: Provided all of the open gym requirements are met, a coach may recreate with the students. He may wrestle, but must not organize any activity or provide any structure in competition. There is no instruction, sport skill demonstration, organized drills or resemblance of a practice being conducted in open gym settings. Be sure coach understands that there is a definite line between compliance and circumvention. The philosophy of the open gym is students from that school may attend, for wholesome recreation, or for purposes of improving their skills, but it's something they do on their own.
10-23-09
Q.: I have a question about out-of-season contact. My own two sons, who also play on my high school team, are playing baseball in a fall league. Along with them, three other players from our team are also playing on the same fall team. I'm not coaching, but I'm wondering if I can take book or coach first base for the guy that is coaching.
A.: While coaches may have coaching contact with their own children, the rules are clear that a coach may not have coaching contact with their players. "Coaches may not have coaching contact with any athletes they will be coaching the following school season during restricted times (except their own children)."
Therefore, coaching first base would not be an option and there should be zero interaction with the team during the game or during a practice. If, as a parent, you are maintaining the scorebook in the stands, I would not see a problem. However, maintaining the scorebook in a dugout or the vicinity of the team bench would breach the zero interaction guideline.
9-18-09
Q.: 1) Am a retired teacher/coach but help as a volunteer coach for a high school softball team. During the school year, cannot work with any athletes in relation to softball, but during the summer, there are five days (before July 31) in which I could work with some individual softball players? 2) Can an assistant basketball, volleyball, or baseball coach take what will probably be the varsity team for the upcoming school year to a summer tournament as long as it falls within the five days talked about in the article and before July 31?
A.: During the summer, softball has two opportunities once the school year is complete: Softball has five contact days of school contact where school resources and monies may be used. This must be done by July 31. Softball has unlimited contact from the last day of school to the first day of school where non-school resources may be used. The basketball coach only has unrestricted contact where school resources and monies may be used. They may use those days in any manner they wish. There are significant differences between "unrestricted" and "unlimited." Unrestricted means teams can assemble with coaches, school monies and resources can be applied, schools can sponsor the events/activities. Unlimited contact provides that coaches like the country club pro can have summer contact with every golfer in the county while running the club's summer program including kids from his own school. Or, the school's baseball coach can also coach the Legion baseball team. Above and beyond the five unrestricted days any other approved summer contact MUST be non-school sponsored. Examples would be the legion baseball team or the recreation department or the aquatic center, etc. Sports which have unlimited contact are: baseball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and wrestling. Also keep in mind an "acceptable non-school program" is one which is not limited based on school and/or team status.
Q.: I coach a club softball team in the summer that includes girls who are from my high school where I coach, and it also includes players from other schools. Our season has finished, and the girls are now getting ready for tryouts for next year's club teams. The parents have asked me if I would run some practices to prepare the girls for their upcoming tryouts. Do "unrestricted" rules for softball apply, allowing me to continue practicing with these girls before the school calendar year begins?
A.: Keep in mind that summer contact for softball is "unlimited" meaning that as long as the contact is nonschool and voluntary, contact may happen until the first day of school. After the first day of school, the coach may not have contact with athletes they are going to coach. If a freshman coach worked with players during the summer, then they must have zero interaction with the players that they worked with earlier. This means that they could not be at practice, on the bench during games, at try-outs, combined practices, etc., during the sport season.
Q.: I am a parent, have never coached at the high school level. I keep kids of various age groups active through- out the year. Example, I had boys playing in an indoor league this summer. Long story/short, I had no intention of coaching this year at the high school level. Then the assistant coach went back to school recently which then left a position open. The position has not been filled, practices start tomorrow. Over the weekend I was informed by the head coach that I cannot be an assistant, whether paid or non paid, this fall because I had contact with some of these boys throughout the summer even though I've never coached at the high school level. Is this accurate?
A.: It is correct that a coach who has had contact out-of-season during restricted times with athletes may not coach those athletes during the school year.
8-21-09
Q.: Going to give two different situations: 1) Am a retired teacher/coach but help as a volunteer coach for a high school softball team. During the school year, cannot work with any athletes in relation to softball, but during the summer, there are five days [before July 31] in which I could work with some individual softball players? 2) Can an assistant basketball, volleyball, or baseball coach take what will probably be the varsity team for the upcom- ing school year to a summer tournament as long as it falls within the five days talked about in the article and before July 31?
A.: During the summer, softball has two opportunities once the school year is complete: Softball has five contact days of unrestricted contact where school resources and monies may be used. This must be done by July 31. Softball coaches may have unlimited contact from the last day of school to the first day of school where non-school resources may be used. The basketball coach only has unrestricted contact where school resources and monies may be used. They may use those days in any manner they wish. There are significant differences between 'unrestricted' and 'unlimited.' Unrestricted means teams can assemble with coaches, school monies and resources can be applied, schools can sponsor the events/activities. Unlimited contact provides that coaches like the country club pro – can have summer contact with every golfer in the county while running the club's summer program – including kids from his own school. Or, the school's baseball coach can also coach the Legion baseball team. Above and beyond the five unre- stricted days – any other approved summer contact MUST be non-school sponsored. Examples would be the Legion baseball team or the Recreation Department or the Aquatic Center, etc. Sports which have unlimited contact are: Baseball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and wrestling. Also keep in mind an 'acceptable non-school program' is one which is not limited based on school and/or team status.
Q.: If I coached high school girls through the YMCA swim club last school year (not knowing that there may be an opening this school year), am I eligible to coach this school year? I am in my final year of school and will be looking for a teaching job next year – do I really need to quit a job that I have now that helps pay my bills in order to "maybe" get a WIAA coaching job that may or may not even be available?
A.: Swim coaches at WIAA member schools are allowed to have contact with students in the summertime. Your contact during the school year is something the local AD might wish to document and establish a timeline on, should you be identified as a leading candidate in his search. This would establish a record that might be helpful later on if/when a coaching contact violation might be asserted. It is most typical that when one who desires to be a coaching candidate at a member school learns of a possible position – we see them disconnect from a coaching situation which might otherwise have them viewed as an ineligible can- didate. In this situation, summertime contact is permitted – it would be the coaching throughout the past school year/outside of the season that would most likely raise the questions/challenges if any were sum- moned. You will want to visit with the school's AD further – if he/she is in fact interested in you as a prospective candidate. In turn then, if he has questions he/she will be in touch with us.
Q.: Can our head coach organize and hold a girls basketball camp on Nov. 6, 7, 8 of 2009? It would be proposed for high school girls in the area and would be directed by other coaches and not coaches on the HS staff. Please verify.
A.: A simple answer is no. Coaches are not allowed contact with their athletes during the school year out- side the season of practice and competition. Please refer to the Rules At A Glace and Senior High Handbook (pgs. 26, 37-38) for further details.
Q.: My daughter lives in WI and plays soccer in MN during the summer, which is okay according to WIAA rules. My question is, can the high school coach of her WI high school be the coach of the MN summer league?
A.: A coach may coach in a summer league, but contact with their student-athletes from their schools is limited according to the rules of our members. All sport coaches have five days of unrestricted coaching contact opportunity in the summer, between the end of school and July 31; the days do not need to be consecutive. The five contact days must be the same for all levels within a sport program. Soccer coaches may not have contact in the summer beyond the five allowed days. You may wish to review the Rules At A Glance for further details.
Q.: Can you let me know the interpretation of contact days. My understanding is schools receive five contact days with the players and this even includes if they are transporting players to an instructional camp. I believe our volleyball coaches might be putting our program in situations that are violating the rules.
A.: Volleyball falls into the restricted category, but does have five days of unrestricted contact during the summer before July 31. I've provided a brief summary of our rules: There are significant differences between "unrestricted" and "unlimited." Unrestricted means teams can assemble with coaches, school monies and resources (this includes transportation) can be applied, schools can sponsor the events/activi- ties. Unlimited contact provides that coaches like the country club pro – can have summer contact with every golfer in the county while running the club's summer program – including kids from his own school. Or, the school's baseball coach can also coach the Legion baseball team. Above and beyond the five unre- stricted days – any other approved summer contact MUST be non-school sponsored. Examples would be the Legion baseball team or the Recreation Department or the Aquatic Center, etc. Sports which have unlimited contact are: baseball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and wrestling. Also keep in mind an "acceptable non-school program" is one which is not limited based on school and/or team status.
Q.: I'm writing for clarification regarding off-season contact days for boys basketball. Basically, here is what I would like to do and I want to be sure we are following the guidelines set by the WIAA: I would like to hold an off-season camp for the boys basketball program in late August or mid September. I fully understand that a var- sity coach must use their summer contact days by July 31. My two questions are: 1) May I, as the JV coach, hold a camp for any grade level (K-12) at any time during the off season? If so.... 2) May the varsity coach partici- pate in a camp held after the July 31 deadline if he is not coaching any of his own varsity players for the 2009- 10 season in that camp? Basically meaning he could participate in the camp if it were K-8.
A.: Coaches may not have coaching contact with any athletes they will be coaching the following school season during restricted times (except their own children). There is no distinction between varsity and JV coaches, i.e., JV coaches cannot coach varsity athletes during restricted times, and vice-versa, nor any dis- tinction between paid and non-paid (volunteer) coaches. An exception is that varsity and JV coaches can have coaching contact with students who have just completed 8th grade or any preceding grade up until these 8th graders actually start their 9th grade year. All sport coaches have five days of unrestricted coach- ing contact opportunity in the summer, between the end of school and July 31; the days do not need to be consecutive. If involved in a camp where your athletes are present after July 31, the varsity and JV coach may not have any contact with their players.
Q.: In the fall, we have a middle school softball league. Several coaches from our high schools coach various middle school teams. Last year, we were told we could not use our high school players as assistant coaches due to WIAA rules. Can you verify this for me? Secondly, if they cannot coach directly with us, can they be assistants for the coaches of our JV teams at these middle schools as long as they are not working directly with those of us who are high school coaches?
A.: Softball is a sport which has both the five days of "unrestricted contact" and the "unlimited contact" available. There is no distinction between varsity and JV coaches, i.e., JV coaches cannot coach varsity athletes during restricted times, and vice-versa, nor any distinction between paid and unpaid (volunteer)
coaches. Therefore, JV coaches may not coach with their athletes after the school year begins. A 9th grade coach may, but I would urge the same cautions.
Q.: My wrestling coach would like to have a guest speaker/clinician speak to any interested students in grades 5-12 on Friday, November 13. This would likely be opened up to other areas schools/students as well. As part of his presentation, he would like to demonstrate a few drills and techniques to those in attendance. Can one of our high school wrestlers be on the mat as his demonstration partner? Wrestling practice does not start until the fol- lowing Monday, November 16, so I wanted to be certain this was OK.
A.: A clinic which is open to anyone by a non-school program (a local wrestling club or booster club for example) may be held and a student may volunteer to be a demonstration partner. However, your coach- es (and school) may not be involved with the clinic out-of-season during the school year when your high school athletes are present. Coaching contact restrictions are to be observed. Some of the Bylaws and Regulations are listed below. In the Bylaws, Article II, Section 4 (page 26 in the Handbook) states school facilities may be used for non-school programs, according to board of education policy, which can result in clinics being conducted, outside the season, by non-school groups. The non-school group must request the facilities from the board of education or governing board, through normal procedures and are encour- aged to provide their own insurance protection. In the Rules of Eligibility (pages 37-38), Article VI, Section 2 (out-of-season) Paragraph A states no activity in which they are engaged during the school year should resemble in any way a school team practicing or competing out-of-season. Paragraph C, #1, states the activity may not be limited to students on the basis of school affiliation, athletic experience, team status, etc. Also keep in mind: the Rules of Eligibility (page 38) Article VI, Section 2, #5, states any fees for entrance to the clinic must be paid for by the students or parents in order to not affect the amateur status of of any participants.
Q.: I am a HS head varsity volleyball coach. I am interested in having some after school clinics with 3rd thru 8th graders in the spring time. We do not host any other sports for those ages during that time of the year. I under- stand I may not have contact with the high school athletes except for my five contact days. Is this OK to do with the younger students? My athletic director had heard that this may be illegal but wasn't sure.
A.: Schools may not conduct clinics during the school year - this type of opportunity must be organized by a nonschool group. You may have contact with students that are not your athletes or athletes who you will be coaching the following year, but it must be non-school, a volleyball club or recreation department. It must also be voluntary. Coaches may not have coaching contact with any athletes they will be coaching the following school season during restricted times (except their own children). Coaching restrictions apply to all sports during the school year, except during the respective sport season. Other then during the actual school season and as specifically approved in the summer, coaches may not have coaching contact with their athletes. A clinic or camp which is open to anyone by a non-school program (a local wrestling club or booster club for example) may be held and a student may volunteer to be a demonstration part- ner. However, coaches (and school) may not be involved with the clinic or camp out-of-season during the school year when your high school athletes are present. Coaching contact restrictions are to be observed. In the Bylaws, Article II, Section 4 (page 26 in the handbook) states school facilities may be used for non- school programs, according to board of education policy, which can result in clinics being conducted, out- side the season, by non-school groups. The non-school group must request the facilities from the board of education or governing board, through normal procedures and are encouraged to provide their own insur- ance protection.
7-10-09
Q.: We have a former student-athlete that has now graduated from college and has moved back into the area to seek employment. At this time this person has not found employment and has inquired about being a volunteer
coach this fall in our volleyball program. There is a volleyball camp scheduled at our facility the first week in August. Can this person run this camp at this time? Will this have any affect on her status to volunteer with our volleyball program in the fall?
A.: YES. Since it is August, the camp is obviously not able to be a part of your unrestricted contact days. Subsequently if this person coached kids "outside the season" they would then be seen as an ineligible coaching candidate for helping out in the fall school season. Whether paid or volunteer, a coach is a coach, is a coach, is a... This person could be included in your unrestricted contact days – and still be allowed to help out in the fall season.
Q.: Understanding the five contact days. If we have four high school coaches two for JV and two for varsity, and one of them has contact with the player for two days, does this count for all the coaches? Other words does this only leave three contact days left for the rest of the coaches?
A.: Yes to both questions. The entire program now has three days left. The five contact days should be identified by the head coach, for the entire program/system – all coaches/all levels/same five days.
Q.: I have a question on summer contact and want to make sure that I understand the rule properly. If I'm read- ing the rules correctly, all sports have five days of unrestricted contact which are documented on the form; how- ever, wrestling can have contact beyond the five days, through the rest of the summer as long as school is not in session - is that correct? Do they need to document those additional days on the form?
A.: You are correct in that wrestling coaches are now among the sport coaches who are permitted to have contact with students above/beyond the unrestricted contact days. However, "unlimited contact" is not the same as unrestricted. Those days of contact above/beyond the five unrestricted days – can only occur in non-school provided opportunities. There are significant differences between "unrestricted" and "unlim- ited." Unrestricted means teams can assemble with coaches, school $$ and resources can be applied, schools can sponsor the events/activities. Unlimited contact provides that coaches like the country club pro – can have summer contact with every golfer in the county while running the club's summer program – including kids from his own school. Or, the school's baseball coach can also coach the Legion team. Above and beyond the five unrestricted days – any other approved summer contact MUST be non-school spon- sored – like the Legion or the Rec. Dept. or the Aquatic Center, etc. Always remember that an acceptable non-school program is one which is not limited or restricted based on school and/or team status. An acceptable non school opportunity must be known and accessible to all/any interested students.
Q.: Over the summer our school usually holds open gyms for anyone and everyone. I am the girls head basket- ball coach and I realize I get five days to work with my girls; however, am I allowed to supervise the open gyms during the summer?
A.: Yes. Coaches can supervise open gyms and may recreate along with students. Read II-D the Rules At A Glance carefully. It is most clearly written I think.
Q.: Would a lunch meeting with athletes after the spring sport season count as one of the five contact dates for soccer?
A.: If "lunch" is just a post season thank you and wrap up - a social thing for and between coach and play- ers, I would not consider that coaching contact and it would not need to be one of the five unrestricted days. It might even include information on summer opportunities, open gyms etc. (Season Regs allow unlimited organizational meetings so long as you approve them.) If the lunch meeting is something other, more instructionally focused - walk-throughs, skills demonstration/instruction of any kind – then yes indeed it should be one of the five contact days.
Q.: I have a question on a varsity coach being the select coach of an 8th grade team. While the rules state that this is okay, this coach plans on putting seven or eight of these kids on the varsity team their freshmen year, bumping several juniors and seniors. In effect, he has been coaching these kids since April. He is the coach of the U14 team (I think) and he is a varsity coach for an area HS. He is also having a contact day tomorrow, and school is not out yet. Is this legal?
A.: WIAA rules do not prohibit JV and varsity coaches from having contact with students up until the stu- dents actually enter 9th grade. The decisions a coach might make with respect to who they keep on their school team, who gets cut and who plays and how much - are coaches and local decisions - not WIAA matters. Your concerns should be shared with your own school administration. They determine policy and philosophy for the school's programs. See Article I of the Rules At A Glance. Unrestricted contact days are NOT able to be used - except in the summer (when school is not in session) between the end of school and July 31.
Q.: I am a high school JV softball coach. There is talk of starting a fall softball league in our area of high school girls to play each other on Sunday afternoons for about six weeks this fall. The process right now is getting an idea if girls would be willing to play. My question is: Am I correct in interpreting the rules that neither myself or my assistant coach can coach these girls because of WIAA rules governing contact during the school year and outside of the sport. I do not want to risk myself or my assistant to be ineligible to coach in the spring because we were stupid and didn't get an opinion from the WIAA on this.
A.: If this fall league takes place when the school year has gotten underway – you are correct. Coaching restrictions apply during the school year, except during the actual softball season. Second, remind athletes that during the school year no assembly may resemble a school's team practicing and competing outside of the season. Be sure they put teams together comprised of students from more then just your school.
Q.: I was called by the Timberwolves/Lynx to see if my team would want to play at the Target Center this sum- mer. We can play against another team or against ourselves. We play a few hours before the Lynx play and then we can attend a Lynx game. If I use a contact day, am I allowed to do this? I would coach my team and then sit with them at the Lynx game. It is a one day event. It would be an awesome experience for the girls to play on that floor.
A.: So long as this was able to take place between the end of school and July 31 and was included in/among your five unrestricted summer contact days – WIAA rules would not prevent this.
5-26-09
Q.: In terms of summer contact, may coaches have unlimited contact with incoming 9th graders?
A.: Article I of the Rules At A Glance provides that JV and varsity coaches may have contact with students until they actually enter 9th grade. That contact may be unlimited - but it is not unrestricted. There are significant differences between "unrestricted" and "unlimited." Unrestricted means teams can assemble with coaches, school funds and resources can be applied, schools can sponsor the events/activities. Unlimited contact provides that coaches like the school coach who is also the country club pro – can have summer contact with every golfer in the county while running the club's summer program – including kids from his/her own school. Or, the school's baseball coach can also coach the Legion team. Above and beyond the five unrestricted days – any other approved summer contact MUST be non-school sponsored. Like the Legion or the Rec. Dept. or the Aquatic Center, etc.
5-8-09
Q.: We have a youth coaches clinic on May 11 which our high school coaches sponsor and run. The goal of this clinic is to educate our youth coaches about the game of football. Can our staff use our football athletes to demonstrate drills at this clinic for those coaches to see first hand?
A.: The only football players they could use without peril are this year's seniors – who have no remaining football eligibility. During the school year coaches are not allowed coaching contact with their athletes except during the actual school season itself. If coaches wished, they could wait until the end of the school year and use one of their unrestricted contact days and then work with any interested football player in this clinic setting.
Q.: I am a high school soccer coach and also coach summer travel soccer. I was wondering if there were any rule changes made at the April WIAA meeting that would allow more contact with high school players during the summer.
A.: No. The status relating to soccer coaches summer contact remains unchanged. The proposal which would have afforded unlimited summer coaching contact – under certain circumstances – was defeated by membership vote, 173 no - 130 yes.
3-27-09
Q.: During the five summer basketball contact days, are teams allowed to use funds from school accounts to pay entry fees, transportation costs and hotel costs if a team is attending a weekend tournament away from their area?
A.: Yes. School funds can be used to provide and/or support opportunities during the actual school season and during the five unrestricted days of summer contact.
2-13-09
Q.: Can a college student be a volunteer assistant coach for a high school varsity girls team in one town and be a head coach to an out-of-season girls club volleyball team from another town? The coach is not paid anything for being an assistant coach for a high school varsity girls volleyball team during the high school season. Is there a WIAA violation to be an unpaid assistant coach and a club coach with both teams being in different towns?
A.: Whether paid or volunteer, with respect to our member's contact rules, a coach is a coach, is a coach, is a... A violation would occur if this individual was coaching students on the club team, outside the school season and then would coach any of those same students again in the next school season. If the two teams this coach works with are 100 percent different students, then there is no peril from a coaching contact standpoint.
Q.: One of my track coaches has asked me if he can work at one of the camps that are being offered at the uni- versity this winter. Is my coach able to work a camp if one or two of the kids he will be coaching this spring dur- ing track season attends the camp? This to me seems to breach the coach contact rule. Am I correct in thinking that?
A.: Your understanding and "alert" are correct - your coach may not have coaching contact with his ath- letes during the school year except during the designated season. Now having said that, it - might be - pos- sible for him to work the camp so long as he will have zero interface/coaching contact with any/all of your school's athletes. He could still coach athletes from other area schools, provided the camp's organization- al design model would accommodate that sort of configuration (which if the organizers are smart, it should). Also, neither the school or coach may transport students to camps or clinics out-of-season.
1-16-09
Q.: I believe I fully understand the coaching contact during the school year and out-of-season; however, I do have one question: If School 'A' has both boys and girls track programs and each has its own coaching staff, is it permissible for an event coach from the boys team to work with members of the girls team? Again, this is not within the respective sports season or in the summer, it's during the school year.
A.: While this sort of configuration might technically be possible in some school settings, if the boys and girls track programs practice at the same time, same site and/or there is any interface with the female ath- letes during practice and/or competition at anytime during the next school season, then the answer must be no. The key to this configuration being "technically" compliant centers around the requirement that there is – zero - interface with the athletes during the next school season. I would advise that even though in some sports where the seasons are split, swim for example – even though the arranged contact may tech- nically comply with our member's provisions, we always hear about those sorts of arrangements described with a tenor of suspicion. While technically conforming, it feels to most to be more circumvention rather than compliance.
12-12-08
Q.: I have a question regarding out-of-season contact. Our basketball coach was wondering if he could take stu- dents who signed-up for his team to watch a practice at the local college. It is not a clinic, just a practice of the college team. Could they attend this?
A.: Yes. So long as the opportunity is voluntary and available to any who wish to attend, we consider this sort of assembly as acceptable under the Bylaws Art. XI, Sect. 2 which allows for group entertainment.
Q.: I am a varsity girls soccer coach and we have an opening for our freshmen coach. We have a candidate who coaches in our club at the U17/18 age group. I have been trying to find the rules on this. Am I correct in that as long as she would not be coaching the players that she worked with in the summer that would be OK? I am having trouble finding the Article 1 rules on this topic.
A.: It may be possible to employ a coach to work with 9th graders, who has worked with, coached, "upper- classmen" out of the season. The caveat is that the coach would have ZERO interface and involvement with the JV and varsity teams. Coach does not participate in "try-outs" for those levels, the frosh do not scrimmage the JV or varsity teams, the coach is not on the sidelines or assist with those levels in games or scrimmages.
Q.: In past years, I've e-mailed you these questions about youth clinics...and after looking over the Bylaws and Rules of Eligibility, I'm fairly certain that policy has not changed...but I hate to assume things! Any info you can give me is appreciated. 1) In the past it's been OK for an outside group (Kiwanis, Rotary) to sponsor a clinic dur- ing the high school season for students in grade eight and below with HS players and coaches serving as instruc- tors. Is this still OK? (HS players and coaches would be asked to volunteer as clinicians). 2) Can registration fees still be donated or "gifted" back to the school program by the sponsor? 3) Would school team members be able to instruct at such a clinic held on a "day off" after six consecutive days of practice/competition with the school team?
A.: Yes to all three questions. Be certain that you document that the day is "off" and participation is vol- untary. There have been no changes in this rule.
Q.: I am an assistant JV girls volleyball coach. Where can I find the rules regarding what players I can coach during the volleyball club season?
A.: In a nutshell, club coaching, while also a JV level coach at a member school: you can coach your own children; you can coach students still in grade school and middle school; you can coach students from any school - except where you coach a school team (if you intend to continue to coach there next season). Whether paid or volunteer, a coach is a coach, is a coach, is a... You should review Article I for additional details.
Q.: I am the HS baseball coach, and I am wondering if it is OK for me to conduct a meeting during the school year for kids and parents concerning information relative to a nonschool club team (costs, schedule, start/end dates, travel, tournaments, etc.) even though the team members will in all likelihood be playing at our school this spring? The meeting would be off-site from our school and no instruction would occur...just organizational things to be communicated to the families so they can plan and budget for it.
A.: A club can hold organizational meetings as they wish and determine. Remember an acceptable non- school program is one which is not limited to students based on school and/or team status. (Sr. High HB- p. 38, C-1). The sponsors should see that the opportunity is made widely known and is available and acces- sible to any who are interested and of appropriate age/grade. There is no reason you could not attend such a meeting.
Q.: I am contacting you from a residential/boarding school. The question arises from the Article VI, Section 2 - Out-of-Season C. 3) c. "This provision shall not prevent a coach from having supervisory responsibilities out- side of the designated season of a sport. Supervisory involvement, however, does not include situations like club team coaching, driving (or accompanying) student to competition or training (clinics, camps, etc), conducting drills... or any other activity which could be regarded as coaching or instructing." This seems to imply that my soccer coach could not drive soccer players to a "club" game/practice outside of the soccer season. As residen- tial students, this often keeps our kids off of club/travel opportunities. Would it be within WIAA rules for our coach or other faculty member to drive players to a clinic/camp/club game or tourney?
A.: Residential schools, acting as the parent, can provide transportation to the sort of events/activities you describe, same as a parent might. Be sure opportunity is available to any interested student who resides full time with you and that participation is voluntary. Best advice/recommendation would be to find or contract a qualified driver – other then school's coach.
Q.: We had a parent who coached many of our girls this summer at camps. He has never been a coach for our HS teams. He coached the girls four days this summer. We have a young basketball coach - in my conversations with him, I suggested he find an older volunteer assistant to bounce ideas off. He would like the person who coached the girls those four days this summer. Our coach used his unrestricted contact days but this parent was not involved in that at all. Is this legal and okay with WIAA rules regarding summer contact and coaching?
A.: As described, we would consider this individual an ineligible coaching candidate. While there is prece- dent for waiving the coaching contact restrictions when school administration identifies a coaching emer- gency, we are not able to recognize an emergency within this situation. This individual could of course attend your games just like anyone else who purchases a ticket. If he and your coach wished to confer, nothing prevents that. Coaching contact with the same athletes during the upcoming school season as this person worked with out side of the season, above and beyond the unrestricted contact days, would not be in compliance with the member's provisions.
10-24-08
Q.: I am coaching my son's sixth grade basketball team, I am wondering if there is any WIAA restriction in hav- ing a varsity/JV/freshman basketball player helping out as a coach either now or during their season?
A.: So long as you are not a high school coach (other coaching contact restrictions would need to be observed) if there is a HS student who would volunteer to help out a youth team, there would be no eligi- bility peril in that for the student. In some communities HS athletes are doing that sort of thing to satisfy community service requirements. I would encourage you to continue this conversation with your school's AD, just so he/she isn't taken by surprise.
Q.: We are a parochial athletic program and are considering enlisting the assistance of a local private/parochial high school in running our interscholastic basketball league for fifth through eight grades. We are meeting some resistance from a principal from one of the grade schools. One of her reasons for resisting is that she believes a high school being involved in running our league could jeopardize a student's eligibility in high school. Based on what I understand, high school coaching contact regulations don't take effect until a student has entered ninth grade. Can you help clarify this for me?
A.: First, as you will see in Article I of Rules At A Glance, JV and varsity coaches are allowed to have contact with students until they actually enter ninth grade. So in part, you are right. However, the principal's concerns with respect to eligibility are not completely displaced, either. Our member's rules provide that a student will not be afforded eligibility if his/her attendance at a school comes as a result of recruitment and/or undue influence. What is most common and generally not seen or brought to us as a concern for recruiting is when the local HS coach works with his/her own "feeder" schools. For the public school, it is with those middle schools whose students most commonly matriculate to that coaches high school. For our private school member's, it is most common to be broke down along parish or synod lines, e.g. I am not at all certain of the configuration of your league; how many schools, what faiths, etc. Considering all those things and given the nature of things in/around your community, specifically, I would recommend some time be spent to consider the various "affiliations" of the schools involved in your league and solicit involvement, help – or at least create awareness with those associated high schools. In the long run, it might diminish the hard feelings and suspicions which otherwise will creep in.
Q.: I coach a third grade YMCA basketball team and am wondering what the "rule" is with high school helpers. I am also the high school JV girls' basketball coach. I'm thinking even though it would be "in-season" it's prob- ably not allowed, as Saturdays would be an extra contact day but want to check with you to be sure before I turn them away. I've had a few girls ask about helping down at the Y for community service opportunities and/or psych class hours for their volunteer requirement. Can they help other teams (if I'm not the coach)? I think being on their own is more than they're wanting to commit to this year, but helping out sounded good to them.
A.: There are more then a couple ways this would not be, or not need to be a problem, allowing the girls to help out in this league. If the Y league runs during the school season and the girls would only be help- ing out the coach's' team or other teams in the Y league – not a problem – because contact is allowed dur- ing the school season. If the league starts earlier, or runs beyond the school season, your girls could still help other teams if they wished. They can not assist their coach during the school year, outside of the school season, however.
Q.: Our boys and girls basketball coaches are presenting a clinic for our youth coaches in October. I was asked if high school players can be used to demonstrate drills. My inclination is NO – that this would be out-of-season contact – but I'm not sure! I can't find a specific reference in the Handbook.
A.: Simplest answer is "No." During the school year, players may not be assembled, you may not have coaching contact until the start of the HS season. Also, remember "schools" may not sponsor camps clin- ics except in the summer time. That's when you may use your athletes as clinicians, up to July 31.
Q.: Both of my high school softball coaches also coach softball at the middle school, which is a fall sport in our district. They would like to know if WIAA rules prevent their high school players from helping them coach at the middle school. I told them that I thought that they could not, but that I would check with you to be sure one way or the other.
A.: You are correct. HS athletes can only be used as "clinicians" and asst. coaches, if you will, 'in the sum- mer' between the end of school and July 31. Certainly, during the HS softball season, players can volun- teer to assist their coaches in any manner of youth and lower level instruction.
Q.: I have taken a full-time position at a new sports facility being built. Part of my responsibilities will be to help out with instruction at camps, clinics and private instruction sessions. Is this a problem if any of the kids from my school/team go to the facility?
A.: You will be vulnerable to allegation of violation if you are there when players from your school are there. If you coach any of your players during the school year outside of the season, it would be a contact violation. Best practice is for you to schedule your work times at times other then when your players are there.
9-19-08
Q.: We have a parent-volunteer assistant on our soccer team. He coached a group of players this past summer in a U16 league in a nearby community, with kids from a couple different communities including ours. Is he legal to coach?
A.: First, whether paid or volunteer, a coach is a coach, is a coach, is a... Second, if this individual had con- tact with students outside of and/or above and beyond the five unrestricted days, then he is not an eligible coaching candidate. See Art. I of the Rules At A Glance. The fundamental rule is that the person who has coaching contact out side the season and outside the unrestricted contact days, may not also have any coaching contact during the school season. If this individual has been working with the team - a violation may already have occurred.
8-15-08
Q.: I am a volunteer coach for the girls varsity team this summer. What I am wondering is if I am allowed to coach in the winter during the season with either the varsity team or the junior varsity? I will always be a vol- unteer coach but didn't know what the rule is.
A.: The fundamentals to begin with include: Whether paid or volunteer - the contact rules apply the same. A coach is a coach, is a coach, is a... The second "fundamental rule" is as outlined in Art. I of the Rules At A Glance, i.e., except during the actual school season and in the unrestricted summer contact days, the person who will be coaching students in the next school season can not also coach them outside the sea- son. And that rule makes no distinction between JV and varsity. Thus, given who you worked with out of the seasons, the only group you could have coaching contact with (including practices, scrimmage, etc.) during the next school season would be 9th grade and below.
Q.: I've got a question in regard to an individual possibly coaching one of our volleyball teams this fall. He was involved with coaching a group of girls in "club volleyball" that will be sophomores this fall. I assume that he cannot coach the JV squad, but coaching the freshmen team would be OK? Other concerns: can he be on the bench assisting the varsity during matches (more than likely, there will be a sophomore or two on varsity that he coached)? NOTE: He did coach them outside the allowed summer contact time - can he be allowed in to take part in the evaluation of players for the cut-downs for each team?
A.: Assuming the coach has not coached any incoming frosh, he could be employed as 9th grade coach or middle level. He is not able to interface in any way, practice, scrimmage, try-outs or games with JV and varsity programs. Zero interface.
Q.: A local civic group sponsors a fall baseball league for kids in our city. The league starts mid-August and goes through the first week of October. The organizer of the league asked me to coach a team of 12-13 year olds. I have a couple questions: 1) As a high school coach, am I able to do this? None of the kids on the team will be current students at our school. I couldn't find anything about this in the rules. 2) Can one of my assistants at the high school help me coach this team? Can prospective players at our school help me coach this team (I'm guess- ing NO on this one since it's out-of-season)?
A.: JV and varsity coaches are able to have contact with students until they enter 9th grade. So if the play- ers are still in middle school - or students at a school other then your own HS - 1) Yes. 2) If the coach is your varsity assistant or your JV coach - Yes. 3) Prospective players - yes* up until school begins (baseball coaches are allowed to have contact in the summer). Once school begins coaching contact with current players must cease.
7-18-08
Q.: My wrestling coach had a question regarding summer contact days. During his five unrestricted days, can kids from a neighboring HS school come and wrestle with them as well? He's looking to try and find some other kids that are the same weight as our kids to change things up. He said it would be "nice to have different kids to wrestle against." The only issue I could see would be if the kids from the neighboring school were going to have contact days with their coach as well.
A.: Students from the other school could come in during the summer unrestricted contact days. They would not necessarily need to be the same contact days used by the other school - unless their coach was present and coaching.
Q.: Can I legally work at a basketball camp that my high school players are participating in? It is a reputable camp that is open to anyone from any school and is publically advertised.
A.: The answer to your question is - "yes." There are two possible ways in which this could happen and still remain in compliance. First, if the camp is in the summer prior to July 31, you can use your unre- stricted contact days which would allow you to work the camp without care and be able to coach your own school's players when those encounters would arise. The school could also assist in transport if they desired – or you could transport your players yourself – if you desired; all within the rules. The second: If you do not wish to use contact days for the camp, you could still work the camp but have zero coaching interaction with your own school's players. When they come to your "station" – you or they step out.
Q.: Can a football coach have classroom meetings with his future players going over plays, on the board, rules, expectations, etc., more than once in the spring?
A.: Technically - he can't have that kind of meeting - even once in the spring. "Organizational meetings" - do not include football instruction. None. They address camp opportunities - when the weight room's open, open gyms, fund-raisers, etc. Going over plays providing coaching instruction - will lead to a diffi- cult tenure. Those style meetings can only be held during the season and on the five unrestricted days in the summer.
Q.: I had sent you an email last week about a question my basketball coach had on contact days. Because of the snow, our exams were moved back one day. Our boys have a tournament that our coach is coaching in on the 13th-15th of June and he would like to use a contact day the 12th (snow make-up) to prepare for the tournament.
A.: YES. Under the circumstances you describe, coach contact may be allowed on the previously unsched- uled, make-up day. There is precedent in other areas for a similarly liberal perspective being taken when school is cancelled for snow and academic eligibility is involved also, with the re-scheduling of contests after tournament series have begun - when events previously scheduled were interrupted by weather and etc.
5-22-08
Q.: Can a spring head baseball coach a summer baseball legion team?
A.: Simple answer is yes - though it cannot be an opportunity limited in a manner which just recapitulates the schools team.
Q.: We have an individual that is thinking about coaching a club volleyball team, which would include a group of the high school's athletes. This individual is also interested in being an unpaid volunteer assistant next fall for the high school team which will have a few of the same girls on it. I am checking to make sure this will not be a violation of any WIAA rules.
A.: Whether paid or volunteer, a coach is a coach is a coach is a... This individual may not have coaching contact outside of the season and then come and coach the team in the fall (the exception is that they could always coach their own child, only, and they could coach a club on the five unrestricted contact days your head coach identifies in the summer, from the end of school to July 31).
Q.: We are going to have a youth coaches clinic just for our community's football program where varsity coach- es present to our youth coaches. Is it legal for us to use current high school players to demonstrate drill work? We've stayed away from using current players in the past because I assumed it was against the rules.
A.: It still is against the rules to use players with remaining eligibility. You could use this year's seniors who have exhausted their eligibility, recent graduates, or you could use 8th graders.
5-1-08
Q.: Is the girl's JV soccer coach from a school allowed to coach a summer soccer team made up of players from the boy's soccer teams from the same school? What if there is only a couple of players from the school on the team? What if the person coaching the team is the boys tennis coach? Can any member of a schools athletic staff coach that school's athletes in other sports, out-of-season or off season?
A.: In the most strict and technical interpretation, "yes" to all your questions. The fundamental coaching contact rule provides that the person who will be coaching students in the next school season may not coach those same kids during restricted times. In soccer, the only unrestricted contact times are during the actual school season and for up to five days in the summer, between the end of school and July 31. ALL other periods both during the school year as well as the summer – are restricted. No coaching contact. But in the scenarios you outline, so long as those individuals have ZERO interface/involvement with the team during the next school season, then 'technically' they are in compliance. I use the term technically and in quotes – due to the fact that there are many who view the boys coach working with the girls teams and vis a vis – more as a form of circumvention rather then compliance. School administration should be aware of the existence of that stigma if they intend to allow that sort of arrangement. To an extent and by virtue of having the "girl's coach" or the "boys coach" heading up the summer program for the opposite gen- der's team diminishes the member's stated philosophy of summer involvement being voluntary. Lastly, remember – it is only in the summer time, that students can voluntarily assemble in a manner which might resemble the school's team..and then, without school and/or coach involvement.
Q.: I've got a question a parent presented to me recently. His son is a hard worker who enjoys one-on-one coach- ing, but in our area there are few if any opportunities to get instruction or even participate in AAU league unless he were to drive a couple hours. This parent presented the idea of paying me or another coach at the school by the hour to work with his son in the summer, believing that might be allowed under WIAA rules. I told him I would check, but I honestly have no idea. It's my understanding that a coach can work with his own players if it's a camp open to anyone interested.
A.: This is not a correct understanding. The fundamental rule is that you may not have coaching contact outside of the school season with students you will be coaching in the next school season. There are only two exceptions. Parents can always coach their own children – even when the parent is a school coach. Coaches may have contact only during the five unrestricted contact days in the summer and during the actual school season. Working a camp open to everyone – does not dispense the coaching contact restrictions.
Q.: I have a couple questions regarding the change in summer coach's contact days for football. First, do the five days have to be consecutive? Second, do the days have to be before July 31 or could the last day of camp be on July 31?
A.: Football summer contact days no longer need to be consecutive. Additionally, the number of contact days has been increased from four to five starting this summer. The last day of camp/contact could be inclusive of July 31. Lastly; if travel is involved with summer contact, the days of travel must be counted as part of the five unrestricted days – both to and returning from.
Q.: Can I use current players as demonstrators for a youth football coaches teaching clinic this spring? This is a coaches clinic NOT a youth football camp.
A.: No. Coaching contact with your current players is limited to the five unrestricted days in the summer and to the actual school season. You could use former players (graduates); players who are seniors right now (whose eligibility is completed) or, you could use 8th graders. Also remember a school can only spon- sor camps in the summer. A 'spring' camp would need to be sponsored by a nonschool provider.
Q.: Can you please clarify two things for me on the summer contact days for basketball? Do I understand correctly that the five days may include players that will be entering 9th-12th grade, and not just limited to a "varsity" team? Also the five days are the same days for all levels, meaning you could not have five days for fresh- men, five days for sophomores and five days for juniors and seniors, which theoretically could mean 15 different days.
A.: A member school could include any/all students who have student status within the school's pro- gram/system regardless of grade in school on contact days, if you wished. You are correct. The school bas- ketball PROGRAM has a total of five days. The five days are the exact same days for all levels of spon- sored opportunity. Typically the days are set by the head coach and AD. (Certainly, the boys program may have five days - and the girls program five different days.) But no program has more than five days total.
Q.: Is my coach allowed to assemble his wrestling team this summer and wrestle a dual meet against another school?
A.: Within the five unrestricted contact days school administration can allow just about anything you wish. They are unrestricted - so if you said "yes," it could happen within the parameters of the summer unrestricted contact. Obviously, that will not diminish your school's risk if/should you allow, and if after only a few days of training/acclimation a boy is seriously injured.
Q.: I was wondering if you could answer a question for one of my coaches. If they are going on an overnight for one night, and then traveling back to town the next day, do they need to count the travel day when coming back. They aren't planning on any meetings etc., on the second (travel) day.
A.: Travel days must be counted and included into the five unrestricted summer contact days.
Q.: Right now I am the head varsity baseball coach for a member high school and the community legion is ask- ing me to be their head Legion coach for the summer. My question to you would be if I am the head varsity coach during the spring high school season, can I be the head legion coach for the summer?
A.: Simple answer is - "yes, you can coach both." A key element would be that the local legion team not be limited to just your high school players. Article I of the Rules At A Glance addresses coaches contact.
4-11-08
Q.: I have a few questions about boys soccer contact days. It's my understanding that there are five unrestricted days allowed and that they must occur before August 1. I am now president of a soccer club and we would like to schedule a pre-season tournament on July 26 and 27 for boys high soccer teams. We would like to promote itas an opportunity to use two contact days where schools would be able to play against other schools with the added benefit that teams could actually be coached by their own high school coaches. Teams would pay an entry fee. Is this legal? Would WIAA refs be required?
A.: Correct. We typically publish it as – from end of school in spring – to no later then (by or before) July 31; making no mention of August. Bottom line, your dates work fine! Exactly as described - with all participating schools using two of their unrestricted contact days – 'YES' this would be in compliance with summer contact provisions. I think that given the risk of injury just days before the start of the school sea- son using WIAA licensed sport officials would be far and away more attractive to our members. Why would you not want to use WIAA officials?
Q.: Two questions: 1. Football now has five unrestricted contact days is that correct? 2. A coach cannot hire a personal trainer for his or her players. Is that correct? Can a coach hire a personal trainer for his or her players but have the student athletes pay for the services?
A.: Yes, football coaches now have the same contact opportunity as other coaches in the summer. When it comes to camps, clinics specialized training/instruction – only student/family are able to cover 100 percent of costs. But, not certain I completely understand all the dimensions which may surround this question that would be needed in order to provide quality interpretation. In season – out-of-season? Boys, girls? Personal funds, booster money or activity account? Concerns are rooted in amateur status, gender equi- ty. Remember, too, participation in out-of-season programs must be voluntary.
Q.: Two questions concerning team camps used for a coaches contact days. 1) If a team travels out of state, do the travel days count towards the five contact days? 2) Can teams fund raise to pay for the travel expense to these team camps. Example is the need to pay for the rental of vans, can the players fund raise for that expense?
A.: YES to both questions – but remember, fund-raising efforts must be voluntary, and if the team camp is part of the five unrestricted days then school can pay for all/any students interested in attending a team camp (school might use fund-raised money, held in activity account). If school is not paying for all inter- ested students and/or camp is outside of unrestricted days, then each student writes their own check for camp. And, at the end of the fund-raising day, each student receives their earned dollars and if they wish to use it on a team camp they may.
3-28-08
Q.: What are the rules regarding assistant coaches coaching AAU? Can they coach or help AAU coaches if the players on that AAU team are current members of the high school team?
A.: Article I of the Rules At A Glance outlines fundamental coaching contact rule. The simple and least confusing answer to your question is 'NO.' To paraphrase the fundamental rule: Whether paid or volun- teer, a coach may not have coaching contact outside of the season, during restricted times, with students he/she will have any coaching contact with in the next school season. There are a couple nuances to that fundamental rule, e.g., 1. during your five designated, unrestricted contact days in summer you/your coaches could have contact with your players in the AAU / club setting. 2. Some programs may have an 8th or 9th grade coach interface with a summer club – provided that coach has zero involvement with the high school kids (JV and varsity) and programs during the next school season. (i.e. Does not attend try- outs, not on team bench, 9th graders practice different time and/or different site, never scrimmage JV or varsity..etc. - zero interface) Then technically that can comply with the fundamental rule.
Q.: Can our high school varsity basketball coach, coach an AAU team that has his son on the team? There would not be any other of our players on the team.
A.: Yes. See Article I of the Rules At A Glance. A coach who is also a parent can always coach their own child.
Q.: My question involves my being an unpaid assistant baseball coach at a member school and also coaching the junior legion team in our town during last summer. The junior legion team consists of freshman and sophomores from multiple high schools. My question is, does my coaching the junior legion team last summer make me inel- igible to be an unpaid assistant coach for the school baseball team this spring?
A.: No. The member's provisions relating to summer coaching contact in the sport of baseball (as well as several other WIAA sponsored sports) allows baseball coaches to have contact in the summertime in non- school programs, above and beyond the allowed five days of unrestricted contact days. So long as the assembly of students does not resemble the school's team practicing and/or competing outside the season. Obviously, the final decision to hire a coach, whether paid or unpaid, rests within the authority of the member school.
Q.: I am a parent of a soccer player. Many parents asked me what are the rules for a coach to have contact with a player during off season. Our school is under the WIAA rules. So is the soccer coach allowed to have contact with the soccer players during off season or not. The soccer season is always in the fall of each year.
A.: Article I of the Rules At A Glance addresses coaching and coaches contact as our members have defined it. Soccer coaches are only allowed coaching contact - during the actual school season and for up to five days in the summertime.
Q.: My boys basketball coach talked to me about working with the 8th grade group of boys. I told him that once school was done, the 8th graders would then fall under a normal high school student athlete and would fall under the five summer contact days. He is under the impression that because they haven't started high school, there is unlimited contact time. I really can't find it anywhere in the hand book.
A.: The simple answer is JV and varsity coaches are allowed to have contact with students until they actu- ally enter 9th grade. (See Art. I of the Rules At A Glance.) That being said, must caution about the spon- sors/creators of such programming opportunities. (then read article II A and D) If that contact is taking place during the school year but outside of the actual school season – the opportunity needs to be creat- ed/provided by an entity other then the school.
Q.: We are in the process of hiring girl's soccer coaches for this spring and I have a few questions. Question: Can a coach be hired as a JV girl's soccer coach and remain a girl's U-16 summer league coach as well? A poten- tial JV coaching candidate also coaches a girl's summer U-16 team made up of girls from the greater metro area. It is an open try out select team (of which in the summer of 2007 approximately four to five of the 18 to 20 girls on the team were from our school.) The coach would like to continue to coach summer soccer and also be con- sidered for the JV position but only if he doesn't have to give up summer soccer.
A.: To be clear: WIAA rules would not prevent coach from being both a school and club coach. However – outside of the actual school season and five days in the summer, coach may NOT have coaching contact with students from your school's team if he intends to return to your school and continue coaching.
Q.: I have a question for you regarding coaching contact and eligibility in the off-season from my volleyball coach. "Is it a violation if an adult who volunteers and assists from time to time with both the varsity and JV team during the regular school season, works with the kids on the off-season? Wasn't sure if it relates only to paid coaches or not.
A.: YES. Whether paid or volunteer, a coach is a coach, is a coach is a ... Have all your coaches read Art. I of the Rules At A Glance – it really is very clear.
1-18-08
Q.: I asked multiple coaches what was acceptable at an open gym. Basically most of the coaches seemed to feel that as long as they were not training soccer that they could run/organize/set up/direct fitness for everyone that showed up for open gym. Is that true? My AD has told me that instruction of any kind to any one is not allowed. That is what I have been doing and what I will continue doing. If, in fact, I can instruct these young people in fitness activities that are not soccer related I sure would like to know because they certainly need it!
A.: Art. II-D of the Rules At A Glance the provisions our members have put in place for Open Gyms. When an open gym – weight room, speed, agility, fitness is offered by a member school a limited amount of non- sport and non-sport-skill-specific instruction might be allowed – how to safely lift/spot, e.g. Some mem- bers simply do not wish to put their school's program in a position of being vulnerable to allegation of vio- lation – that's their prerogative and is understandable. If/when an open gym is able to be described to us as nothing other then a school's team practicing/training and or competing outside the season, our expe- rience shows that sooner or later, (most commonly) a disgruntled parent, or opposing coach will describe it to us as such.
Q.: I have a question concerning coach player contact on AAU basketball teams. I know coaching one's own child is alright, but how about extended family ie. nephew or cousin? A.:
A parent can always coach their own child. We don't think it gets much simpler/clearer then that. The coach contact exception – allowing parents to always be able to coach their own child – does NOT extend to relatives – in any respect or direction. Aunt and uncle may not coach niece/nephew, best friends of 'my child' or cousins, etc., and/or any other combination of relation you can configure; just their own child. Same is true with transporting – outside of season.
Q.: Just wondering if you can still have your last contact day on July 31 or does it have to be done before July 31.
A.: July 31 may be used - as the last contact day of summer.
Q.: My varsity head wrestling coach is asking for permission to coach freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling in the spring and summer time. In doing this he may coach athletes that are a part of his varsity program. Is a waiv- er necessary? Does this violate any contact rules?
A.: There is no waiver of the coaching contact provisions. This scenario would violate the contact rules in the spring, while school is in session. In the summer a number of possibilities exist whereby contact could take place without peril. If he has ANY coaching contact with his own wrestlers in the spring/out side of the season/during the school year – your program would be in non-compliance. See Sr. High Handbook, p.19 for penalties. In the summer time, when school is not in session, there are some other possibilities – a. coach is allowed unrestricted contact for up to five days in the summer. b. In addition to those five unre- stricted days, wrestling coaches have in recent years been added to the list of those coaches who may have unlimited (but not unrestricted) contact with some of their kids (in non-school sponsored settings) above and beyond the five unrestricted days – without peril. All out-of-season participation must be 100 percent voluntary.
12-21-07
Q.: The father of our pitcher for softball is going to be a volunteer coach this season. In the past, him and his daughter have practiced together in the gym in the mornings before school (pitch and catch). If he assumes the role of a volunteer coach, can he still do that or would that be a contact rule violation?
A.: A coach can always work with their own child - see Art. I of Rules At A Glance. BUT - becoming a coach for the team - would now preclude the parent and pitcher from including any other friends/students who would be team mates/any other team members this spring.
Q.: I coach cross country and track at one high school, but I teach at another high school. I was thinking about starting up a high school running club during the winter so kids from both schools could run together and also involve students from an area private school. Would this be against WIAA rules or not? There would be no money involved, just meeting at the school's on a rotating schedule.
A. This would not work as initially described. First, you are correct in that coaches can now recreate with students in school sponsored open gym settings... kids/coaches could run together, recreationally in/as part of an open gym. A running club - or running at the club - is not open gym. Open gyms are school spon- sored opportunities and may not include students from other schools.
Q.: Has there been anything published regarding sport coaches training athletes in the weight room during the off-season? How can they help the strength coach? What can't they do? I want off season sport coaches to be able to help me in the weight room during their off season. Any potential problems?
A.: Fundamentally within our member's Bylaws, strength/conditioning opportunities fall under "Open Gym" provisions. Coaches may supervise Open Gyms. In open gym weight rooms are seen a bit differ- ently from other sport based open gyms, due to the fact that theoretically, they are not sport and/or sport skill specific. In addition, a certain amount of 'instruction' e.g., safe lifting, safe spotting, training regimen and rationale, are 'understandable' and permitted. There are a few sticky spots where when move into speed/agility/quickness phases. Randomly offered: Tough for track coaches to be involved in running training - speed, form running starts, etc. (plyometrics/box/jumping training might be ok). No sport implements and/or sport specific movement/drills should be part of the open gym. If it looks like spring football practice/training - chances are we are going to hear about it. You may review the BYLAW relat- ing to this topic in Sr. High Handbook, p. 26, Art. II, Section 2A-2. Also read carefully/thoughtfully: Art. I, Art.II-A and II-D of the Rules At A Glance.
12-06-07
Q.: Is it OK to hire as a freshman boys basketball coach who coached our varsity boys basketball team at some summer tournaments outside of the five allowed contact days? And can he sit on the varsity bench during games?
A.: Yes, OK to hire as the freshman coach - so long as he has ZERO interface with students he coached all summer – in both practice, scrimmages as well as games. This coach cannot sit on the varsity bench, nor can he be "charting"/in the locker room at half-time, etc. Zero direct involvement.
10-27-07
Q.: An area physical therapist is a volunteer coach for our basketball team two to three nights a week. I have some questions about if this would be legal. Last spring we had open gyms in the mornings that everybody in our school was invited. He has a basketball training camp that he was running over in a nearby community and I asked him if he would be interested in coming over to our school and running kids through some drills (ball handling, passing and shooting). He did this free of charge with the kids ranging from grades 7th -12th with both boys and girls participating. Basically he took whoever showed up at 6:30 in the morning and worked them out. He came in a maximum of 8 times. At the most there would be 10 kids total but some will play varsity that he had contact with. Can he be a coach at all this year? how about next year? Can he coach our freshmen? I would have never asked him to run workouts for the students if I had known that he would transfer jobs and be able to coach this year. I was wondering what the rules say about his being a coach for us.
A.: The coaching contact provisions as detailed in Article I of Rules At A Glance - are interpreted that whether paid or volunteer – a person may not coach students during restricted times and then coach them again during the next school season. This person is not presently an eligible coaching candidate. He could put himself into a position to be a viable candidate next year. Second, you are going to need to visit with your coach and probe a little bit further to determine whether there's been a violation here. Please See Art. IJ-D-2 of Rules A/A Glance. In school sponsored open gyms – there is no organizing/instructing – by a coach or anyone else. We will not consider your coaches casual/informal communication with you to be gospel. But it raises concerns we need to point out to you.
9-21-07
Q.: One of the levels of our youth football program is really struggling. The coach is well meaning, but just does- n't have a football background. The level is 7th grade. Would there be anything prohibiting myself or any of my high school coaches from attending a practice to try to offer some direction? I want their experience to be positive. Right now I fear we might lose these kids from the sport.
A.: In Rules At A Glance, Article I provides that JV and varsity coaches can have contact with student's until they actually enter 9th grade. So - from a coaching contact standpoint, I see little peril. The poten- tial boomerang in this might be if this team is made up of both public and private school students - some room for asserting recruitment/undue influence. If team is made up 100 percent of students from your feeder religious school, I see little concern. If team is made up of both pubic/private middle level students, then the solution I'd recommend is 'inviting' your public school counterparts to donate some of their time/attention to this struggling group of youngsters.
Q.: My daughter attends a member high school. In the past two fall seasons, girls at the school have participat- ed in a nonschool softball league. The varsity softball coach is restricting the players on this team based on her choice. Is this OK? If not, does my daughter risk ineligibility if she plays?
A.: If accurate, the coach is more likely putting the school's program in jeopardy – and thus indirectly, the individual athlete who would potentially be impacted if the school program was determined to be in non-compliance.
Q.: May a varsity girls soccer athlete assist a junior varsity coach in coaching a youth team, or would that be inappropriate contact? The youth team season is this fall.
A.: Outside of the actual school season and/or during the five unrestricted days in the summer, this would be considered out of season coaching contact. Student could coach the team or coach could coach the youth team...Never together.
Q.: I may be coaching middle school volleyball this fall. My son is a high school volleyball athlete and expressed a desire to assist, and work with his little brother's 8th grade team. He would volunteer when other commitments allow, and assist with the running of drills and techniques at practice. Since this is not associated with his high school, and is not a coaching situation for him, is this OK? I do not coach at the high school level, and am not involved in a high school program in any way.
A.: From your description, I see no obvious peril from a WIAA perspective - for your son or his school team - if he wished to assist you in the manner you describe.
8-20-07
Q.: I am a varsity girls basketball coach, and I am holding a middle school camp from Aug. 6-9. Can one of my varsity players work the front desk at the camp and get paid for it? They would help with registration and would sell food. Is this allowed? The camp is being run totally separate from the high school. It is a camp that I have run for over 10 years in another state until I relocated to Wis. It is my own camp company and it is a registered LLC. Any info you could give me in this area would be appreciated.
A.: What you have described could be allowed without peril. But be clear - the rules in this area indicate that if/when students are used as clinicians - that can not happen after July 31. Since what you are describ- ing is not a clinician's role, technically - it could happen without peril. But - you will place student in a position of 'vulnerability' just by being present. Best advice - find alternate and/or be sure student keeps out of/away from gym.
Q.: I am a basketball coach and was just told by someone that another student and his family may be interested in moving to our district and that I might be receiving a phone call from the student's father BEFORE they make the actual move. How should I handle this situation? Tell him to contact our principal to tell him that they are interested in moving but have some questions about our academic and athletic programs and let the principal handle it? Or, guidance counselor? Or whom?
A.: My advice to you – Be polite, but brief. If/when contacted respond along the lines of, "Glad to hear from you Mr. Smith and to know of your interest in moving to our district and attending our school. In so far as basketball, will be glad to answer all your basketball and team related questions once 'Tommy' becomes our student. If you have questions about enrolling in our school, you should get in touch with our principal/admissions/counselors, and in-turn they will introduce you to our AD – who will get you point- ed in the right direction in order to determine 'Tommy's' potential eligibility at our school. Immediately notify principal/AD of contact, and then you or AD SHOULD call AD and/or the coach at the 'sending school' and let them know you've just been contacted by the family. I always recommend to take the approach of – 'how would I want to be treated' in dealing with these occurrences. Students come and go, every year – no single one of them is worth bruised reputation (yours and schools) or bruised relationships with other member schools.
7-13-07
Q.: If there is any way I could get a copy of the rules and regulations of coach player contact outside of the spring high school girls soccer season, especially between JV coaches and varsity players, that would be great. I just need to know the off season contact I can have with the varsity team being that I am a JV coach. I just coach at a club in the area and I do camps in the summer. I just needed to know what is allowed and what is not.
A.: See Article I of Rules At A Glance for Coach Contact information. JV and varsity coaches are consid- ered one-in-same. No distinction is made. You are able to have up to five days – as identified by the head coach – of involvement with students who are currently in 9th, 10th, 11th grade. JV and varsity coaches are able to have contact with students that have just completed 8th grade and/or lower grades – until students actually enter 9th grade. See also; wiaawi.org, pull down on Regulations icon and click on Eligibility Q/A, then Coach Contact; also Summer Coach Contact calendar and reminders.
Q.: Our girl's basketball program will be hosting a summer basketball meeting in June with kids and parents to discuss the upcoming summer schedule. 1) Is this OK? 2) Can a summer contact day be used to show kids what we expect from them during the summer months. Which would include instruction from agility drills to shooting drills.
A.: 1) YES – see: Winter Season Regulations, p. 3 - #1. 2) YES – so long as that day falls between the end of school and July 31. Most candidly, using one of your unrestricted contact days for such contact and instruction is the 'safest', most appropriate way to accomplish your stated objectives.
Q.: We are currently making a head coaching change in our boys volleyball program. Our freshman coach will be applying for the vacant head coaching position; however, he currently coaches in a club volleyball league and has had contact with a couple of our returning varsity players. My question is, if we hire this coach, would this be in violation of WIAA rules, or should I eliminate him as a candidate? What if he were to resign his position with the club, would this clear him to be hired by us? I have a seven member panel and a rather rigorous inter- view process, so this individual may not even be offered the position, but if he is the lead candidate after the process, I want to be completely up front with him.
A.: It is appropriate and expected that if/when a school coaching vacancy becomes known/available and a club coach has an interest in pursuing it – the club coach will cease/desist contact with the particular school's athletes in the out-of-season /restricted times – in order that they might be viewed as an 'eligible' candidate. Does not mean he can not coach club...might just need to be assigned a different team..or do some personnel switches. If this individual is willing to immediately disconnect from your school's athletes – we would not object to your affording him consideration as a candidate.
Q.: I am a 8th grade boys basketball coach and am inquiring about the five contact days granted to high school basketball coaches and their athletes. My questions are: Are middle school (junior high) basketball coaches also granted contact days with their athletes outside of their season as well?
A.: Yes – The same five "program days" identified (most typically) by the basketball program's head var- sity coach and must be between the end of school and July 31.
Q.: I am looking for an official clarification of the rules pertaining to summer (when school is not in session) coaching of softball players. We have been told different rules by other coaches and athletic directors and have come to the conclusion that everyone we've met has a different interpretation of the off season coaching rules. First question: We understand that all summer practices and scrimmages are voluntary, we never mandate any girls participate during the summer. I read the rule to say we can have only five coaching contacts during the summer before July 31. Some coaches tell us we can have unlimited coaching contacts during the summer before July 31 or some say before the start of school in the fall. We have two coaches who have asked us to play scrim- mage games during the summer and one believes we can play an unlimited number of them. Am I reading the rule correctly or not. Second question: I have been asked to coach a softball team in the area wide softball league that plays all summer. This is not school related. I have declined in the past because some of my current team members play in this league and one or more could be assigned to the team I would be asked to coach. I have declined the request to assist because I felt that would violate the WIAA rule. I have met with two high school softball coaches from other schools who told me: 1. That he coaches summer league and "most" of his high school girls participate on his summer league team and 2. Another coach who told me that he has a "traveling" softball team that participates statewide and multi statewide and that many of his players are also on his current high school softball team. Would it be a violation for me to be coaching in a summer league if one or more of my high school players were also in that league 1. assigned to my team; 2. assigned to any team?
A.: 1) In these questions - you are not grasping the distinction between what could be school spon- sored/unrestricted contact days. (You are allowed five, between the end of school and July 31) and all the rest of the days in the summer – from end of school to start of school in the fall – where baseball and soft- ball coaches (and swim, dive, track, gymnastics and golf and tennis coaches - and more recently, wrestling coaches) have ALWAYS been allowed unlimited contact/in the summer/in non-school sponsored pro- grams. E.g. The golf or tennis coach were also the 'country club – pro and could work with kids from all over the county – including kids from the school's team. The school baseball coach also coached Legion, the school softball coach may play on a city league team. In these non-school sponsored settings, you could have contact with some of your own players – all summer. Remember – an acceptable non-school program is one not limited to student based on school or team status. For the scrimmages, I am not sure if this is in the context of just being your school's team – or a city rec team. If it is just the school's team, you could designate your five unrestricted contact days and play games for 24 hours/five days straight until your legs fell off if your school administration wished to approve/sign off. 2) What you describe could be done with- out peril.
Q.: I have a question regarding athlete eligibility. I currently coach a U-13 girl's soccer team that is part of the area Youth Soccer Association. These girls will all be in 8th grade this upcoming school year (2007-08). This team begins practice indoors in January and the season is typically done by the middle of July. I also have coached several 3 vs. 3, 4 vs. 4 and 6 vs. 6 tournaments where the players need not be a member of the youth soccer assn.; in other words, an open player invitation based only on age. These tournaments include Badger State Games that are held during the school year in winter and outside the school year in June. Our middle school has a combined team whereas a boys team, a girls team and a coed team are selected during the second week of combined practice. This begins in August with games beginning just after school starts. Will I risk the eligibili- ty of my U-13 girls by volunteering to coach for our middle school? I understand the WIAA's stance that a coach is a coach is a coach; regardless of being paid or officially designated as a coach by the school district. Could I coach the boys or the coed teams if none of my U-13 girls are on either team? I have read the WIAA Handbook of Junior High/Middle School Level Grades 6-8 and if I interpret this correctly – I should not coach any middle school soccer teams lest I risk student's eligibility. My co-coaches; however, believe anything is legal as long is it does not happen during the school soccer season, but I believe they are wrong and this rule only applies to ath- letes – not coaches.
A.: The coaching contact provisions are the same at member middle schools as at the high school level. That fundamental rule provides that a coach may not have coaching contact with athletes outside of the school season that you would be coaching in the next school season. Since the WIAA does not sponsor co- ed soccer and your school appears to sponsor it as a club activity, there may be some possibility there. Along with Article I of the attached, you may want to see more on coach contact on our website, under the Regulations icon, click on eligibility Q/A.
Q.: Is it OK for our freshmen girl's volleyball coach to also coach our 8th grade middle school team? The mid- dle school season takes place in the spring.
A.: Technically, WIAA rules would not prevent this. Coaching restrictions apply outside of the school sea- son. In this scenario the contact would be occurring within school seasons and WIAA rules do not prevent a coach from being employed at both the junior and senior highs.
5-25-07
Q.: Can a frosh level coach work with varsity level athletes in the summer? They will not have any contact with them during the season (at practice or games, etc.).
A.: Potentially, this could happen without peril. ZERO interface with JV/varsity kids and programs dur- ing the next school season is key.
Q.: I have a couple quick questions about school/club and coaching involvement in the off-season. 1) I was told by a parent that a high school coach may not hold a position on our K-12 wrestling club board (president, vice president, etc.). I thought this was incorrect, but couldn't find anything explicit in the rules and regulations that speaks to such a restriction. 2) I'd like to organize participation with as much of my team as possible in the Granby camp this June in Whitewater, but the camp is a bit expensive. What options do I have to offset the cost? I understand that the school itself cannot pay anything for out-of-season training or competition. Can travel expenses be covered by fundraising or sponsored by our local wrestling club? I assume that neither the club nor the school may pay for tuition. Is that correct?
A.: 1) Might be a local provision - or maybe, just good sense; but the WIAA does not have a rule about anything other then those things specifically relating to member schools and their student-athletes. 2) You have up to five unrestricted contact days in the summer – from the end of school to July 31. If this event is held during those timelines and within the five allowed days, 'school funds' could be used to cover – any and all costs for every kid interested in attending. If not counted within unrestricted contact provisions, 100 percent of costs for camps/clinics, special training must be covered by student and family. Some places organize various fund raisers to help kids earn cash. Be sure to check our website, under the Regulations icon – Eligibility Q/A – if you consider something like that. At the end of the day, each kid goes home with his day's earnings; if he wants to put them aside for camp, he can. Some may want to buy an Ipod.
5-4-07
Q.: Can a coach for the four contact days in football conduct a camp for two days in early June and then two days at the end of July?
A.: 'No'. The four days approved by and for football must be consecutive contact days. If you used two in June, you would in effect forfeit the other two days. Coaches Assoc. is surveying the members to see if there is interest and support in changing the present, approved format.
Q.: It was talked about at our all-region football meeting by several coaches that the WIAA was going to approve non-consecutive contact days in the summer months for football coaches. The policy that I was last familiar with said those days needed to be consecutive, and prior to July 31. Am I now understanding that these days can be any four days (consecutive or non-consecutive) so long as they are completed by July 31?
A.: There has been no change at present. Will be no change for the upcoming summer. four days – must be consecutive – remains the status quo.
Q.: The high school in the next town has scheduled their summer league basketball to begin on Tuesday, June 5. This league allows high school aged boys (current grades 8-11) to participate with their school mates in two levels of basketball competition throughout the summer. Boys compete on either a varsity or JV skill level based on where they will probably compete next winter. My concern is that our athletes are scheduled to be in school until June 8. It was my understanding that leagues such as this could not be held during the school year. Please advise so I can be correct in my communication with coaches and players. Can "summer leagues" sponsored by school booster clubs for example be run at any time and our school basketball team, as they will probably look next winter, participate without restrictions or violating any WIAA rules?
A.: Caution: Our Member's Rules of Eligibility (Senior High Handbook- p.37-38) Art. VI, Section 2 – See A,C, especially c2 – provide: that there are no restrictions preventing students from voluntarily assem- bling – in the summer time...without school and/or coach involvement. If it is not yet summer (when school is not in session) - until it is 'summer' a "school's team" would be vulnerable. We must recommend diver- sity in team composition. While the membership has relaxed summer time provisions – considerably, in recent years, there have been no changes with respect to text governing – during the school year. Since most 'summer leagues' would extend beyond the five unrestricted contact days we will presume it is a non- school sponsored activity – if so – then, the WIAA does not regulate when a nonschool provider schedules - e.g., a local YMCA, city rec, the country club – as nonschool providers of sport activity – they will sched- ule their activities as/when they determine their needs and those of their members are best met. Your con- cerns are valid and appropriate from the perspective that you recognize WIAA provisions and summer unrestricted contact (five days) - can not take place/begin except between the end of school and July 31. You may wish to confirm with the other school's administration or the event sponsor for more specifics.
Q.: Is there any violation for my boy's varsity cross country coach to volunteer as a 7th and 8th grade track coach at one of the middle schools in the same district?
A.: Coach Contact as described would not be a problem – see Article I of the Rules At A Glance.
Q.: Can our freshmen coach (he coached the freshmen this past year and he will coach the freshmen again next year) have unlimited contact with our entire program (9-11) until the beginning of next season, including those players that he just coached this season? If not, then what exactly are the restrictions? Is there just a limitation until the end of the school year? I'm trying to figure out if he can be a summer league coach for us, and if so, can he lead practices between now and the end of the school year for the players that will not be playing for him next year? What about coaching a team in a fall league?
A.: For quite some time now the rules have allowed JV and varsity coaches to have contact with students until they actually begin 9th grade. Frosh coaches had never been allowed to work with the in-coming 9th graders. (Keep in mind the "root" of this rule is that the person coaching students in the "next school sea- son" may not also coach them outside the season.) This fundamental has changed - just a little bit, as a result of the liberalization of summertime contact rules these last two years. Now, a frosh coach could have up to five days of coaching contact in the summer with incoming 9th graders. The five contact days are "program days" and they must be the same/exact/identical five contact days as for every other basketball coach in your program (each coach does not get five different days). The head coach ought to identify the summer contact days, submit a calendar to your AD (found on our website) and if your frosh coach is working with prospective frosh players on those same five designated days - only, that is acceptable. Any coaching contact in excess of, or outside of those five days would not be in compliance.
Q.: My girls' basketball coach is thinking of attending a team camp with the girls. I assume this is permissible and would count as his five days of contact for the summer.
A.: In a word, yes (so long as the camp falls within the window – from end of school to July 31). Be sure that any/all travel to and from such a camp are contained within the five days. Additional days for travel are NOT permitted. Have attached a couple documents to also assist your coach. In the Rules At A Glance - see Article I. I'd also recommend Art. II-D, Art. III-F and G.