An interesting topic of conversation that generated discussion on social media this week focused on the KHSAA and Diocesan Dead Period. I have never fully read the specific bi-law outlining the reasons for the Dead Period, but here is a summary:

 

"The Dead Period was developed following a nearly year long task force review in the middle-1990s to address a growing issue where year-round athletics was eroding family opportunities for a break from participation, and outside entities were beginning to sponsor a growing amount of school based summer competition. In addition, over the years, many sometimes overzealous coaches required their players to play scores of games throughout the summer, in addition to a year-round workout regimen. While this may seem to be in the best interest of developing sports talent, such is not the purpose of high school athletics. High school sports are to supplement classroom learning and allow for in-season competitive opportunities, not a year round Olympic or professional development period. Families were complaining that they could not plan vacations or family outings because of coach’s requirements and athletes were complaining of burn out. In addition, schools were increasingly concerned with liability issues related to the summer. In a survey conducted by the KHSAA, 80% of superintendents, principals and athletic directors who returned the survey indicated they supported a “dead period” in the summer. Initial responses were overwhelmingly in support of a four (4) week dead period. The primary intent of the regulation is to eliminate, for an approximately two (2) week period, the leverage a coach has over his/her high school athletes."

 

The Diocese has added a third week to the Dead Period for all parochial/private high schools.

 

The point that was addressed through social media banter (and I admit I do agree) is if the pupose of the Dead Period was to prevent burnout, allow young athletes down time for their bodies to rest/rejuvenate energy, plus provide valuable family time over the summer with no school sports commitments, why then do coaches not seem to appreciate or understand the implications and long-term effects of overuse and year-round commitment with no time for recovery!

 

More and more schools seem to have their seniors organize and run "optionals" during the three weeks in which high school athletes are supposed to have time to physically and mentally recover, with the full knowledge and support of coaches. Ironically, the Dead Period is suppossed to be a time in which coaches have no leverage over their athletes, yet most players consider these "optionals" mandatory as it is stated one should attend unless they have prior commitments.

 

Why do coaches (and for that matter Athletic Directors since they are ultimately responsible for their sports programs) continue to ignore the warning of sports-medicine experts who are in support of overuse prevention programs in youth sports. Coaches push these Dead Period "optionals" as a method of injury prevention. However, sports-medicine doctors and physical therapists are pushing a shut down period for athletes as a method of injury prevention!

 

Until all coaches honestly support the Dead Period and openly discourage player run "optionals" during this time, high school athletes will never really benefit from the true intentions of the Dead Period.

 

Come July 15th, summer is over for all fall athletes - so why are coaches insistent on dominating an athlete's time year-round? As the KHSAA bi-law states, athletics is supplemental to the classroom, and academics should take precedent. We as parents want time with our children/athletes as much as you coaches want them on your court/field! Remember coaches, they were our children and part of a family before they were your athletes and part of the team!

Edited June 24, 201511 yr by WhatsBestForTheGirls

The Dead Period is a waste of time. A majority of kids that play sports will still be playing AAU basketball, travel baseball, travel soccer, travel softball, travel track and attending football camps and baseball showcases during the 2-3 week Dead Period. All the Dead Period does is push high school athletics closer and closer to club sports. A large majority of kids aren't resting during Dead Period. They simply aren't allowed to get instruction from their high school coaches or practice with their high school teams.

 

Unless they happen to play on AAU/travel teams that their high school coaches are a part of.....

The dead period should be a month.

It should start the day after the hs baseball championship (I think that is the last KHSAA event held).

The dead period should be a month.

 

I already hated that it was two weeks when I was a player in high school. I loved getting in the gym and playing.

The dead period serves no purpose.

The dead period serves no purpose.

 

So HS kids should have no time away, they shouldn't be able to take vacation, they shouldn't just get some decompression time? I couldn't disagree more. Even though KHSAA rules say that any workouts during the off season can't be mandatory anyone with any sense at all knows that's not the case. If not for the mandated dead period you know as well as I do that there would be coaches having "voluntary" practices all summer. The dead period MAKES the coaches let kids have time off.

So HS kids should have no time away, they shouldn't be able to take vacation, they shouldn't just get some decompression time? I couldn't disagree more. Even though KHSAA rules say that any workouts during the off season can't be mandatory anyone with any sense at all knows that's not the case. If not for the mandated dead period you know as well as I do that there would be coaches having "voluntary" practices all summer. The dead period MAKES the coaches let kids have time off.

 

Sure they can. Who's saying they can't?

 

Those who are committed to the sport will do what's necessary, it takes sacrifices. Those who are playing the sport as an extracurricular will still take vacations.

The dead period is absolutely necessary, IMO. High school athletes shouldn't be expected to participate year-round. If they choose to do so with traveling or club teams, so be it. Kids/families shouldn't be punished because they want to enjoy a vacation together in the summer.

I support a one month dead period, the month of July, for basketball for one simple reason, so kids can play on their summer team and none of the HS coaches would be able to interfere.

So HS kids should have no time away, they shouldn't be able to take vacation, they shouldn't just get some decompression time? I couldn't disagree more. Even though KHSAA rules say that any workouts during the off season can't be mandatory anyone with any sense at all knows that's not the case. If not for the mandated dead period you know as well as I do that there would be coaches having "voluntary" practices all summer. The dead period MAKES the coaches let kids have time off.

 

But those kids aren't taking time off. I know kids who want to use the weightlifting equipment at the school but can't for 2 weeks. Those kids still find somewhere to lift weights at. I know kids who work on conditioning still during dead period but they can't at the school. That's backwards to me.

I support a one month dead period, the month of July, for basketball for one simple reason, so kids can play on their summer team and none of the HS coaches would be able to interfere.

 

That's the LAST thing the kids need.

Sure they can. Who's saying they can't?

 

Those who are committed to the sport will do what's necessary, it takes sacrifices. Those who are playing the sport as an extracurricular will still take vacations.

 

If there was no dead period you know as well as I do that there are coaches in this state that would continue "voluntary" workouts all summer long. They play lip service to saying that no one "has" to be there but you know as well as I do if you want to play you had better be there. It's just like everything else in sports, coaches have to be dragged kicking and screaming into making changes that benefit the players. Look at the draconian heat index rules we play under and the mandated concussion rules. You know as well as I do that if not for those rules there would still be coaches "toughening up" their teams by practicing in the hottest parts of the day or just looking at a kid and saying "she just got her bell rung" get back in there.

The dead period is absolutely necessary, IMO. High school athletes shouldn't be expected to participate year-round. If they choose to do so with traveling or club teams, so be it. Kids/families shouldn't be punished because they want to enjoy a vacation together in the summer.

 

I know of kids who go on vacation during fall break in the middle of football season. Dead Period hasn't stopped them.

If there was no dead period you know as well as I do that there are coaches in this state that would continue "voluntary" workouts all summer long. They play lip service to saying that no one "has" to be there but you know as well as I do if you want to play you had better be there. It's just like everything else in sports, coaches have to be dragged kicking and screaming into making changes that benefit the players. Look at the draconian heat index rules we play under and the mandated concussion rules. You know as well as I do that if not for those rules there would still be coaches "toughening up" their teams by practicing in the hottest parts of the day or just looking at a kid and saying "she just got her bell rung" get back in there.

 

Sure they would. Never said otherwise. I have zero issue with any of that happening.