ARTICLE 7 LIMITATION OF SEASONS Section 1. RATIONALE FOR THE LIMITATION OF SEASONS Since the school by virtue of the regulations of the RIASP and its Committee on Athletics has some control over what students do out of school after school hours, it would seem important that school authorities be aware of the kinds of organized competitive athletics their students participate in on their own. Various leagues are sponsored by a wide variety of community groups. If the same consideration for the health, safety, and education of the young people is not followed by these community sponsors, the health and safety of students might be impaired. The school's interest and concern with this problem should be made known and appropriate guidance given to the community sponsoring groups.
Section 2. DEFINITION OF A GAME Section 3. LIMITATION OF SEASONS
Notes:
These contact levels are defined below: Air: Players should run unopposed without bags or any opposition Bags: activity is executed against a bag, shield or pad to allow for a soft-contact surface, with or without the resistance of a teammate or coach standing behind the bag. Wrap: Drills run at full speed until contact, which is above the waist with the players remaining on their feet. Thud: Same as wrap but tempo is competitive with no pre-determined winner and the players are not tackling to the ground.
Rationale: By definition, “Thud” involves initiation of contact at full speed with no pre-determined winner, but no take-down to the ground. Accordingly, the task force supports that initial contact, particularly with lineman, is just as violent with “Thud” as with “Live Action.” However, the task force also recognized that “Live Action” likely carries a higher risk for other injuries to the body than does “Thud.” The USA Football Levels of Contact “Air,” Bags” and “Control” are considered no- or light-contact and thus no limitations are placed on their use.
Intent: To provide pre-season acclimatization rules prior to the season for student athletes with the purpose of minimizing injury and enhancing the player’s health, performance, and well-being. Core Principals:
Definitions: Practice – the time a player engages in physical activity. It is recommended that any practice session be no greater than three (3) hours in length. Warm-up-stretching, conditioning, weight training and ‘cool-down’ periods are all considered practice. Chalk talk, skull sessions, film review are not considered practice time. Note: Practice sessions may be divided while adhering to the time restrictions as described above in #4. Example: 3 Hour Day: one 3-hour practice or two 1 ½ hour practices 5 Hour Day: one 3-hour practice and one 2-hour practice or one 2 ½ hour practice and one 2 ½ hour practice Walk-through – No protective equipment or strenuous activity permitted. Only balls and field markers (cones) may be used.
Check “Heat Index” before and during practices regularly.
www.riil.org: Visit this web site for further information on heat injury/illness as it pertains to the adjustment of practice times. Heat Index Record Sport Level______
***Using the scale provided, activity should be altered and/or eliminated when the following conditions are present.
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2. CLOSING DATE: Immediately after RIIL games have been concluded except meets or tournaments sanctioned by the RIIL to determine championships.
3. PRACTICE LIMITATIONS
4. The official start time for winter sports (boys’ and girls’ basketball and wrestling) will be 7:00 pm. However, schools may schedule their home contests at a different time, provided they contact the visiting school to confirm the starting time.
Start of the Season for Baseball Only:
Start of the Season for Fast Pitch Only:
Recommend a pre-season conditioning program developed and coordinated by a certified athletic trainer or other medical doctor.
2. Number of League games and Non-League games:
Note 1: For B/G Volleyball a tournament that runs over the course of one day is equivalent to one (1) game against the cap (Game Cap is 4 matches above the amount of scheduled League Matches). Note 2: For Golf: The maximum number of golf matches is twelve (12) i.e. eight (8) league and four (4) non-league. Note 3: Number of League meets for outdoor track is 4 – Meet Cap is 14.
Notations:
Section 4. NON‑LEAGUE GAMES
Section 5. ALL STAR COMPETITION/GAMES
The Committee on Athletics may sanction only one all-star game per sport provided the game is played during the regular season of the sport involved. Section 6. NON-SCHOOL COMPETITION AND LOYALTY TO SCHOOL TEAM
student-athlete. Priority/loyalty must be given at all times to the high school team practices and contests unless a waiver has been granted by the Principal and Athletic Director on a case-by-case basis. 3. Student-athletes may be a member of and compete for “out-of-school” teams if the conditions set forth in #1, 2, and 3 above are met.
Section 7. Coaching Students in the Off Season During the Academic Year (Beginning in Fall 2019)
Purpose:
a. Coaches
b. Students
Section 8. GUIDELINES FOR INTRAMURALS, WEIGHT TRAINING AND OPEN GYM (Athletic Facilities)
Violations:
Note: An “open athletics facilities” program is one in which a variety of recreational type activities are offered, i.e., badminton, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and the like. Coaches at any level may not be present when their specific sport activity is a part of the Open-Gym program. Responsibility for monitoring Open-Gym Programs should be with the Athletic Director and Principal of the school. All specific sport activities have to be recreational in nature; therefore, practice routines, such as, softball/baseball pitching. Catching and batting, football place-kicking, golfing/putting, and similar routines are always interpreted as an attempt to circumvent the out-of-season rule. B. Summer Sport Camps are held in the summer months, whose purpose is to improve the skill level of athletes in a sport.
Member schools are permitted to host summer camps provided the following standards are met:
D. Summer programs involving high school coaches coaching their own students who will participate on fall teams must complete play prior to the submission of the varsity eligibility list to the RIIL Office.
E. Students whose names are removed from school's varsity eligibility list are free to participate in outside programs but may not return to play for the school’s varsity teams. However, they may participate in the junior varsity program(s) of that sport.
F. Students who participate in outside programs as individuals not representing their school nor using school uniforms or equipment do not violate the simultaneous participation rule.
G. Use of School Equipment during the summer – See Article 6, Section 13.
H. Captain’s Practice: The term “Captain’s Practice” usually means the team’s captain(s) organizing and conducting, without adult supervision, out-of-season practice for that sport.
The RIIL does not in any way sanction, encourage, or condone “Captain’s Practice” in any sport. “Captain’s Practice”, depending on the member schools’ involvement, may be a clear violation of the rules defining season limitations.
Even though coaches are not present, allowing captain’s practice to be held on school grounds may constitute that the school has organized, encouraged or condoned the activity.
There is also a serious practical consideration. If it can be demonstrated that a school is allowing “Captain’s Practice”, the liability responsibility for an injured athlete may be quite serious.
We strongly recommend that member schools communicate their stance on captain’s practices to coaches, students and parents so that there is no confusion. In many cases, students and parents perceive that this type of activity is organized and administered by the school and there is an obligation for students to participate.
Section 7. NATIONAL FEDERATION SANCTIONS National Federation Sanction forms are available at the RIIL office and on the RIIL web-site. (http//www.riil.org).
Updated 1/31/23 |