Q.: My boys soccer players want to organize 'captains practice' the week before the season practice starts which means August 6. I seem to remember reading someplace that captains practices are not allowed after July 31. Am I correct? If so where do I find this in black and white. FYI these would be true captains practices; no coach and volunteer attendance.
A.: Find text in the Handbook, p. 38, C-2. "In the summer" means when school is not in regular session. Most typically from sometime in June, until fall start up. July 31 - marks the absolute deadline for the "unrestricted contact days" allowed each program/each summer (from end of school in spring - to July 31). Kids getting together in what are sometimes called "captains practices" are in compliance when they take place in the summer, up until school begins each fall.
Q.: We are planning on taking a specific group of volleyball players to a clinic and competition in July. We will count this as part of our contact days but my question is can we just take eight or nine players that we choose or do we have to open it up to everyone in our program. The clinic and competition is designed for varsity players. A.: In a word - yes - you could do this. During the unrestricted summer contact days quite a liberal inter- pretation is provided i.e., schools can do (just about) what ever they want. Would encourage you to think carefully however, about all that's entailed in what you're asking. Does this mean that your varsity team has already been determined for next August? Will there not be try-outs next fall? What's that mean for 'my daughter' - if she's not invited/included in this opportunity, etc.
Q.: There will be a summer basketball league team with a number of girls from our school - and a couple from other schools too (so as not to be our team meeting out-of-season). It is a varsity league and we have very few upperclassmen. Would it be permissible under WIAA rules for the coach of the summer team (NOT one of our HS coaches) to use a school van to transport these girls to their league games? Our coaches are planning to use their contact days in a different manner - so don't want to be forced to use them to drive the girls to summer league.
A.: As described, the answer's NO.
Q.: Are you aware of anything that would prohibit the following. We are wondering if it is possible to add a name to hurdles as part of a donation. It would need to be OK with the WIAA rules, and I'm not sure this is addressed anywhere. It would be on one side of the hurdles, probably an add on/sticker of some sorts. "Donated by Benjamin Franklin" or something like that. It was an idea that came up, thought we'd try and find out.
A.: From a WIAA Membership & Eligibility/Compliance perspective, I see no peril in the idea. Not much different then a soft drink brand on the score clock.
Q.: Our school is contemplating selling ad space on our wrestling mats to help finance their purchase. Four donors would give $2000 each in exchange for an ad up to 4' X 4'. We have concerns that this may not be a legal competition surface. Could you please let me know.
A.: 1. Though this direction may not be recommended, it would not be considered a violation - any more then having a soft drink sponsor on your football or basketball scoreboards. (It is not an amateur status issue unless an athlete(s) appear/endorse/promote the product/business/service.) What you are describing is seen/interpreted as the "business" supporting the school. 2. Where it would be a "concern" would be if promotions were painted too close to the circle and would/could in any way interfere/confuse an official. 3. Rather then place advertising directly on the mat - would it not be acceptable to your local supporters to have thanks/names in a program. On a "special" panel which could be draped/hung or laid out on the floor along the edge of the mat itself, or hung in the gym?
Q.: My son is a freshman and needs to wear sport glasses for improved vision and cannot wear contacts. He has a pair of sport glasses to wear, but they are tinted by the doctor for outside use. The coaches told him that he needs to get clear lenses or a written letter from his doctor. My question is why?
A.: In this instance your son's coaches are not correct. They're getting a couple things confused is all. NFHS Rule 1-5-3n requires that the popular eye shields/visors some players like to attach to their helmets must be rigid, molded and 100% clear. This is so an unconscious player might be more easily and fully examined without needing to remove the head gear. (always a last resort) Tinted sport eye glasses/goggles do not violate that provision. Theoretically at least, they could be removed with less problem, allowing assessment of an unconscious player.
Q.: We have been asked to have some athletes ride in a parade this summer for the school. In the past it has been just the cheerleaders. This year they are adding kids from student counsel and other school groups. They want to add athletes and have a representative from each sport and wear their uniform is this OK? There will be no protective equipment given out. It won't be for anything but riding in the parade. This is a school float.
A.: I see no cause for alarm. The uniform use is a non issue in this application. Even before the rule change of this spring, schools were allowed to issue a jersey to a student for senior pictures, to wear in a parade, etc. You just weren't allowed to let them out for nonschool training or competition.
Q.: Is there any problem with our school offering a summer school course teaching basketball?
A.: Please be extremely careful in this school sponsored summer school/sport programming. It could result in numbers of athletes losing a season of eligibility. Please begin by reviewing the Association's BYLAWS (contained in the Senior High Handbook). These are the provisions a member agrees to, upon "joining the club." In particular, carefully read p. 26/Article II, Sections 1 & 2. Then please look at WIAA Rules at a Glance, Article II Sections A, especially, then C and D, may have some application. (Go to our website (www.wiaawi.org), pull down on the "Regulations Tab" and click on "WIAA Rules Overview" for the Rules at a Glance.) When "schools" are sponsoring instruction/practice or competition outside the desig- nated school season, the best friendly advice I can offer is DO NOT allow any student athlete with status in that sport program, who still has remaining eligibility, participate in another season of school-spon- sored sport. A student is allowed only one season of school sport per school year and a total of four in their school career. A school sponsored summer school class (or one night, student council/prom-lockdown vol- leyball) would be one season worth of eligibility (please see Handbook p.34/35, Article V, Section 1A - 3, especially). You could offer wrestling as part of your summer school programming, your wrestling coach could be paid to teach the course and all your school's wrestlers who take the course would lose a year of eligibility (whether your coach taught it or not). Your school may not sponsor wrestling except during the wrestling season (or basketball or volleyball or softball, etc. – any/all WIAA recognized sports).
Q.: I have combed the Handbook to find the regulations re: assembling athletes for information purposes. Here's the situation: I have a number of frosh on the fence as to whether or not they are coming out for HS gymnastics or staying club. For club purposes, they have to decide about Sept. (or so says the coach). I would like the oppor- tunity to inform them about HS gymnastics. I wanted to assemble them on the 17th, just to hand out informa- tion and watch a few team videos. Is this legal? From what I have read it seems to be: it's voluntary, nonpractice and not on school grounds
A.: First, there are no restrictions on a coach setting up an individual meeting with a student. In the past, assembling "teams" had been limited to a single (one), preseason organizational meeting. Effective last year (03-04) the text (found in the Season Regulations) reflected the Board of Control's approved change, i.e., to allow any number of preseason organizational meetings provided there is no instruction or practice included and the meeting(s) are approved in advance by school administration. Your principal certainly could approve this meeting. You are correct in that any such meeting must be voluntary attendance. It cer- tainly may be held on campus. You may find text identical to the gymnastics meeting statement in the Fall Season Regulations. "Preseason" is the first (1) article in each sport regs text.
Q.: We have been asked to have some athletes ride in a parade this summer for the school. In the past it has been just the cheerleaders. This year they are adding kids from student counsel and other school groups. They want to add athletes and have a representative from each sport and wear their uniform is this OK? There will be no protective equipment given out. It won't be for anything but riding in the parade. This is a school float.
A.: I see no cause for alarm. The uniform use is a non issue in this application. Even before the rule change of this spring, schools were allowed to issue a jersey to a student for senior pictures, to wear in a parade, etc. You just weren't allowed to let them out for nonschool training or competition.
Q.: I may have misunderstood something at the Annual Meeting, and I know I may not be alone. The change to allow districts to decide to issue equipment - does that go into effect immediately or does it take affect in 2005? I have not yet approached our Board with this issue, but will need to ASAP if I am in error.
A.: This change goes into effect this summer. Basically, it's officially effective with the next publishing/announcing of the next Bulletin following the vote. It's when a "rule change" would pop-up, rather spontaneously, from the floor at the Annual meeting that the Constitution requires that it "go around the horn," one more time to allow more debate/discussion/consideration...before it would be implemented, "next year." The equipment topic had followed all procedural requirements in advance of the Annual Meeting, was voted on, passed and thus takes effect this summer/04.