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 doesn't stop that. It doesn't stop any of that. There are so many high school coaches in AAU/traveling sports that they still see their athletes and work with them during the Dead Period anyways.

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 couldn't disagree more strongly. If not for the dead period then suddenly coaches would have kids "wanting" to have "voluntary" workouts all summer long. If a kid really wants to work out so be it, but the coaches shouldn't be able to mandate it.

I think they should rename it the dumb period.

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

 

Zero issues with what happening? I want to be clear on that before I respond.

The Dead Period doesn't stop that. It doesn't stop any of that. There are so many high school coaches in AAU/traveling sports that they still see their athletes and work with them during the Dead Period anyways.

 

Then they are in violation of the rules because according to the KHSAA coaches are to have no contact either in person or by electronic means during the dead period.

I think they should rename it the dumb period.

 

Why?

Zero issues with what happening? I want to be clear on that before I respond.

 

If coaches hold these "voluntary" workouts.

Then they are in violation of the rules because according to the KHSAA coaches are to have no contact either in person or by electronic means during the dead period.

 

IMO, if you believe that doesn't happen on a routine regular basis, you're incredibly naïve.

Why?

 

I think it's stupid. For the reasons that others have outlined in this thread.

If coaches hold these "voluntary" workouts.

 

We'll agree to disagree then. I think the kids need time away from their coaches and vice versa.

 

I was worried that you were OK with coaches holding practices in the hottest part of the day or lettine concussed kids play.

IMO, if you believe that doesn't happen on a routine regular basis, you're incredibly naïve.

 

Then there are routine and regular violations of rules. Copied directly from the KHSAA handbook Bylaw 24. As has been said ad nauseum in the myriad public vs. private threads if you have knowlege of violation of KHSAA rules contact the KHSAA. If you don't want to turn them in let me know who they are and I will. Are you OK with coaches willfully violating KHSAA guidelines are just the ones you don't agree with?

 

Case BL-24-7– What specifi c restrictions are in place

for coaches (paid or unpaid, at any level grade 9-12)

including the sport-activities for the KHSAA Dead

Period (Bylaw 24, Section 3) if the activity involves a

student enrolled at the member school where a coach

is employed?

The following restrictions are in place for all coaches, paid or

unpaid, head or assistant:

(1) No coach may coach a student-athlete in any setting if that

student-athlete has previously represented the high school

(varsity, jv or freshmen) and if sports specifi c skills are being

taught, refi ned, developed or evaluated;

(2) No coach in a sport at a school may coach other individuals

who are enrolled in grades 9-12 but may not have yet played

for the school;

(3) A coach may not pay the entry fee for a team into a league,

camp or tournament;

(4) Other necessary fees including offi ciating fees and game or

facility management fees may not be paid by the coach;

(5) A coach may not provide transportation or funding for

transportation for team members to go to games, camps,

tournaments or any other type of play;

(6) No member of the coaching staff may assist in making

game-like preparations for the school facility including

but not limited to, baseline marking, outfi eld line marking,

batter’s box marking, maintenance of the mound and base

cut-outs; or the use of school facilities or equipment for such

setup. This does not preclude the coaching staff or others

participating in nonsports specifi c off-season turf or other

facility maintenance;

(7) No fund raising activity may be held during the period which

would require the student-athlete and the coach to be present.

These activities are inherently or specifi cally mandatory for

the student-athletes and may not be held during the dead

period. Simply stating that something is not mandatory does

not in and of itself make the activity legal. Even if an activity

is totally optional, it is not permitted for the coach(es) and

student-athletes to be together during this period;

(8) There can be no coaching of athletes in a particular sport by

coaches from the same school who coach in another sport.

Coaching, for the purposes of the Dead Period, is defi ned as

any time the athletes are participating in that coach’s sport

in a setting in which skills are taught, refi ned, practiced or

evaluated. Attendance at a scrimmage or contest is included

in the defi nition of coaching. This coaching restriction

includes all members of the athletic coaching staff, paid or

unpaid. This restriction prohibits the delegation or assignment

of activities by any member of the coaching staff to other

individuals, including student-athletes who may or may not

be participating. All coaching restrictions are in place whether

the activity is conducted within, or outside of the school. The

coaching prohibition is on the institution, not the individual;

(9) There can be no observation of student-athletes who are

enrolled at the coach’s high school, even if such observation

is in conjunction with outside employment such as camps,

leagues or clinics. The only exception is detailed in the

allowable activities concerning the observation (including

transportation) of the coach’s children (blood or by marriage)

who are on the playing roster and actively participating on the

regular high school team at a member school; and

(10) There may be no formal or informal communication

between a coach and any member of the team during this

period, including telephone, email, other electronic means

or in person contact if the communication relates in any way

to participation. This restriction includes upcoming meetings,

plans, motivational contact or any other contact during this

period.

Then they are in violation of the rules because according to the KHSAA coaches are to have no contact either in person or by electronic means during the dead period.

 

The AAU/traveling sports loophole allows it. If a head coach of a high school team is also a head coach of an AAU team he can have players from his high school team on his AAU team and the AAU team will practice and play in tournaments during the Dead Period.

There should be a dead period...period. If a kid CHOOSES to play AAU, summer ball, that's on him/her and the family.

 

 

There is no doubt that some coaches, without the dead period would require their athletes to be practicing/conditioning/working out constantly. That in turn would make other coaches feel the need to do the same so their athletes don't get "left behind", even if they WANT their athletes to rest. It becomes a vicious cycle. That's why in that questionnaire 80% of the coaches actually agreed with a dead period.

 

And remember, I say this as a basketball coach that expects his kids to dedicate themselves and work hard. But I also know a never ending cycle of go-go-go can wear and burn a kid out too.

There should be a dead period...period. If a kid CHOOSES to play AAU, summer ball, that's on him/her and the family.

 

 

There is no doubt that some coaches, without the dead period would require their athletes to be practicing/conditioning/working out constantly. That in turn would make other coaches feel the need to do the same so their athletes don't get "left behind", even if they WANT their athletes to rest. It becomes a vicious cycle. That's why in that questionnaire 80% of the coaches actually agreed with a dead period.

 

And remember, I say this as a basketball coach that expects his kids to dedicate themselves and work hard. But I also know a never ending cycle of go-go-go can wear and burn a kid out too.

 

So how is playing AAU/travel ball helping out the situation you mention? Kids don't want to be left behind either so they still play, work out, condition, etc in the Dead Period. The Deap Period doesn't do anything you mention except keep high school coaches away from their athletes for 2 weeks. Instead they get alone time with their AAU coaches/handlers/advisors/etc. I'd much rather have kids with their high school coaches and teammates than their AAU outfit.

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.

 

My kid just missed the entire last week of June basketball with his high school team because of a family vacation scheduled in June. He won't be punished for it either.