No more than 4 HS team mates can play together correct ? Or am I thinking of an Ohio rule ?

 

Yea, that's Ohio.

Only restriction in Kentucky that I'm aware of is dead period June 25-July 9 every summer. Coach can't coach, watch or talk to their own players except limited circumstances. Stupid rule that penalizes the girls. Spring sports should have their own dead period in winter.

Only restriction in Kentucky that I'm aware of is dead period June 25-July 9 every summer. Coach can't coach, watch or talk to their own players except limited circumstances. Stupid rule that penalizes the girls. Spring sports should have their own dead period in winter.

 

While I get why the rule is in place, softball is hurt more than any other sport.

The rule itself is fine, but applying a rule initially meant for football to other sports at the same time as it applies to football is stupid. It's supposed to give kids a break before their sport begins so coaches don't extend their seasons. Summer is prime baseball and softball recruiting time. Keeping kids away from coaches for 2 weeks of an already short summer recruiting season hurts the kids. And the dead period falls 6 months before the season starts for them.

The rule itself is fine, but applying a rule initially meant for football to other sports at the same time as it applies to football is stupid. It's supposed to give kids a break before their sport begins so coaches don't extend their seasons. Summer is prime baseball and softball recruiting time. Keeping kids away from coaches for 2 weeks of an already short summer recruiting season hurts the kids. And the dead period falls 6 months before the season starts for them.

 

I actually don't mind it at all. We workout about 10 months a year. We start tomorrow! We take June and July off for them to play summer ball (if that's what they want to do) or they have two months of dead period if they choose. And it gives me my family time. Then we start now and won't stop until June.

 

As for recruiting, unless a high school coach is running a summer team, there isn't much the coach is doing anyway. And if they are, it's only two weeks. Basketball recruiting happens in the summer too. So if the dead period effects sball recruiting, it effects basketball in the same way. High school coaches have very little to do with recruiting, other than hopefully training their kids to help their skills so they do get looks with their summer teams.

 

I like the dead period in the summer while the family is on summer break. If it were in the middle of winter, there wouldn't be much benefit to me. I'd have to be preparing for the season that was coming up (which is a ton of work) and that wouldn't feel like a break! And there really isn't a lot to do (away from softball) in the middle of the winter.

I'm not talking about a high school coach coaching his entire team, or high school coaches who aren't involved in high level travel ball and very involved in recruiting. I'm talking about coaches who coach a team of high level players, a couple of which happen to play on his/her high school team. These are kids who are going to play all summer because they want to play and want to be recruited, not because the high school coach is playing their high school team all summer and they feel pressure to play.

 

The reality is, Kentucky players have about 6 weeks to play summer ball. To play at the top level tournaments, you must qualify. That gives us, at best, 3-4 weeks to qualify. 2-3 of those weeks are disrupted when a coach is forced to sit out, or certain players can't play because of who the coach is. It's a terrible system and hampers Kentucky players from getting seen at the biggest tournaments of the summer - ASA, ASA Gold and PGF. There's no reason to force rest on players who do not want rest, or to hurt their teams by forcing coaches to sit out qualifier and showcase tournaments. Rest comes between Thanksgiving and December. The rule doesn't fit a lot of actual travel team situations or the recruiting calendar, and does nothing but hurt the top talent in the state.

The rule wasn't made for travel teams or coaches. It was made for high school players. It was set-up because some coaches would play non-stop. I believe the more you play the better you get. I also believe these girls need a break outside of the school year. There are plenty of high level tournaments and showcases to play outside of the dead period.

The rule wasn't made for travel teams or coaches. It was made for high school players. It was set-up because some coaches would play non-stop. I believe the more you play the better you get. I also believe these girls need a break outside of the school year. There are plenty of high level tournaments and showcases to play outside of the dead period.

 

I've heard of coaches that specifically play outside of Kentucky during the dead period

in order to coach their teams.

The main competitive season is June/July. Showcases are simply that, college coaches want to see players competing not playing 75 minute drop dead games with free substitutions. You can only get to the best competitive national tournaments by qualifying. Dead period ruins that. And I still contend that the typical high school player isn't affected by this rule. It only hurts the top tier players who don't want a rest during the summer. They rest in December (or should).

The main competitive season is June/July. Showcases are simply that, college coaches want to see players competing not playing 75 minute drop dead games with free substitutions. You can only get to the best competitive national tournaments by qualifying. Dead period ruins that. And I still contend that the typical high school player isn't affected by this rule. It only hurts the top tier players who don't want a rest during the summer. They rest in December (or should).

 

It only disrupts it if you play for someone that happens to coach high school in Ky and has kids from his school playing on the travel team he coaches. Other than that, it has zero effect on the showcases. It's your choice to play in that situation. There are plenty of other places to go. You are actually the exception here. And if they do play for a guy that coaches high school, then you let someone else take the team for those two weeks. Depending on the age group, it's not like they are really coaching the players. The players just need to get to the showcases. Who is coaching them at that point really doesn't matter. The scouts aren't there to see the coaches coach. They are there to see the the players play. Do your kids play different if their coach isn't there...when scouts are watching? I just don't get why it's such a disadvantage. And even if you feel it's a disadvantage, it's one you can control.

 

The rule was made for high school. They NEVER take select sports into consideration when coming up with a rule like this. Basketball is in the exact same spot and they are a winter sport in high school. My guess it's the same for several sports because a lot of recruiting for almost any sport goes on in the summer when the colleges aren't playing or in session.

I've heard of coaches that specifically play outside of Kentucky during the dead period

in order to coach their teams.

 

Not sure what you mean here.

Meaning they run a far less chance of being seen coaching during dead period if they are playing out of state than if they were coaching around Kentucky, I assume.

 

Here's the problem with what you're saying - the rule no longer serves the purpose it was designed for. If you read the purpose statement for the rule, it talks about football and basketball being forced to start seasons early and losing summer break, and then talks about an issue starting in the MID-90s where high school coaches were forcing kids to play year round in other sports. It's no longer the 90s and this is no longer a new thing. EVERYONE plays year round now, and it's not because high school coaches are forcing them to.

 

You say this is the exception - if it's the exception, then the rule isn't needed.

 

You say you can play elsewhere - funny, this board has been discussing how few travel organizations there are in KY, and here you are pushing kids to go play for teams in Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, etc. Gee, I wonder why we can't build Kentucky-based travel organizations?

 

You say this isn't a big deal because the team can play without the coach for 2 weeks. This here proves the rule no longer makes sense. If the purpose is to give kids rest from coaches pushing them to play and not being able to go on vacation, and these teams play without their coaches during dead period anyway, then please explain to me what problem this rule is solving? NONE. These kids aren't being forced to play, they want to play and do so whether or not the coach can coach them. So what's the purpose of this rule?

 

I've read on here similar comments about not really needing coaches. The fact is, if you're playing on a team where your coach doesn't matter, you need to find a better coach. Many of these kids are playing high level travel ball against teams from across the country. They're not just playing to play, they're competing for the opportunity to play in the top tournaments in the country. Yes, they need their coaches.

Meaning they run a far less chance of being seen coaching during dead period if they are playing out of state than if they were coaching around Kentucky, I assume.

 

Here's the problem with what you're saying - the rule no longer serves the purpose it was designed for. If you read the purpose statement for the rule, it talks about football and basketball being forced to start seasons early and losing summer break, and then talks about an issue starting in the MID-90s where high school coaches were forcing kids to play year round in other sports. It's no longer the 90s and this is no longer a new thing. EVERYONE plays year round now, and it's not because high school coaches are forcing them to.

 

You say this is the exception - if it's the exception, then the rule isn't needed.

 

You say you can play elsewhere - funny, this board has been discussing how few travel organizations there are in KY, and here you are pushing kids to go play for teams in Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, etc. Gee, I wonder why we can't build Kentucky-based travel organizations?

 

You say this isn't a big deal because the team can play without the coach for 2 weeks. This here proves the rule no longer makes sense. If the purpose is to give kids rest from coaches pushing them to play and not being able to go on vacation, and these teams play without their coaches during dead period anyway, then please explain to me what problem this rule is solving? NONE. These kids aren't being forced to play, they want to play and do so whether or not the coach can coach them. So what's the purpose of this rule?

 

I've read on here similar comments about not really needing coaches. The fact is, if you're playing on a team where your coach doesn't matter, you need to find a better coach. Many of these kids are playing high level travel ball against teams from across the country. They're not just playing to play, they're competing for the opportunity to play in the top tournaments in the country. Yes, they need their coaches.

 

It does serve a purpose. I coach high school. I have players that don't play summer. If there was no rule, I would be tempted to continue to work out during those two weeks. We already workout 10 months a year, so it's definitely serving our program. And It forces dedicated coaches to take a break. A break that I need and the players need. This rule is not about travel ball!

 

Why is it needed???...It is needed for the exact reason I state above.

 

As far as traveling out of town...it really makes no difference. The rule states that you are to have NO CONTACT with any player or parent. If they are just traveling out of town to play so they aren't seen, they are still taking a huge risk. One email or discussion can take you down. With social media and kids that talk to each other, it really wouldn't be that hard to discover a coach bending rules. One disgruntled parent would turn them in in a heartbeat.

 

When I said play elsewhere...I didn't say a thing about playing out of state. But if you look back at my posts about that, you'll find that I did take my kid out of state to play. Taking your kid out of state doesn't hurt KY talent. They still live in KY and are playing at a very high level. It just may not allow for more great orgs to develop in KY...which I could care less as long as there are some kind of options for kids. If a kid comes into my program and plays travel ball with an Ohio team, I don't look at them differently...other than I feel like they are passionate about the game and sought out the best place to play for their family. Again, the KHSAA could care less where kids play summer ball. Not one of their rules are based on select leagues or competition or where a kid plays or how many options they have outside of high school. I'll say it again. You can choose to play wherever you want. You seemed to have chosen to play with a team that has a high school coach. Then you deal with the rules. It's simple. I don't like driving 55mph!

 

To your "it's not a big deal". You're looking at this through your own microscope. If a kid chooses to play and continue playing through the dead period, that is their choice! The KHSAA can't control individual choices. But they can control what they own. As I said, if that rule wasn't there, I would be tempted to keep practicing throughout the summer. And I have kids that don't play summer ball and could care less about a softball scholarship. Those kids do get a break in my program and it's about the only break they get. Again, you are looking at your situation, not an entire program's situation. If you choose to continue playing through the dead period, then that's your choice not to give your kid a break. But the KHSAA feel kids do need a break from high school training. I'm with you, my kid played right through the dead period all her life. She has a great scholarship and wouldn't have changed it for the world. But that's not every kid.

 

You say kids are being forced to play and want to play and play regardless if their coach is there or not. Well then tell me why it matters so much if the high school coach is in attendance during those two weeks?? What does it matter???? Someone else can't make up a line up? No one else on the travel staff knows how to coach bases? I mean what does the coach really do once the game actually starts???...That someone with some knowledge couldn't do for two weeks? My daughter never played on a team where I was worried if the head coach wasn't going to be there a weekend or two. And yes, she played at a very high level.

 

Again, this is really a silly conversation. I coach high school softball and I look forward to the dead period every year. And I know some of my players do as well! LOL! But if you choose to have your daughter play through it, that's fine. I did too! But the rule for high school is never going to change because dedicated athletes want to work harder outside of school ball. The rule is in place to protect high school athletes and coaches. It doesn't care that some high school coaches want to coach a select team. If they do, they follow the rules like every other sports. As I said, just about all recruiting seasons for any sport is in the summer. So it's pretty much the same for every sport. It's not just softball.

The high school softball season doesn't begin until February. The break thee kids should be taking is in the pre-season - just like football and basketball does.

 

I'm glad you need a break. Take it. If the girls are going to continue playing during the summer regardless of whether the coach is allowed, then the rule serves no purpose. Remember, this is to keep coaches from forcing girls to play. No one is being forced to play anymore! This rule isn't "protecting" anyone!

 

The rule may be about high school, but it only impacts travel ball and the development and recruiting of players. It hurts the players to have their coach be forced to sit out a third of the summer season. That's not debatable.

Meaning they run a far less chance of being seen coaching during dead period if they are playing out of state than if they were coaching around Kentucky, I assume.

 

Here's the problem with what you're saying - the rule no longer serves the purpose it was designed for. If you read the purpose statement for the rule, it talks about football and basketball being forced to start seasons early and losing summer break, and then talks about an issue starting in the MID-90s where high school coaches were forcing kids to play year round in other sports. It's no longer the 90s and this is no longer a new thing. EVERYONE plays year round now, and it's not because high school coaches are forcing them to.

 

You say this is the exception - if it's the exception, then the rule isn't needed.

 

You say you can play elsewhere - funny, this board has been discussing how few travel organizations there are in KY, and here you are pushing kids to go play for teams in Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, etc. Gee, I wonder why we can't build Kentucky-based travel organizations?

 

You say this isn't a big deal because the team can play without the coach for 2 weeks. This here proves the rule no longer makes sense. If the purpose is to give kids rest from coaches pushing them to play and not being able to go on vacation, and these teams play without their coaches during dead period anyway, then please explain to me what problem this rule is solving? NONE. These kids aren't being forced to play, they want to play and do so whether or not the coach can coach them. So what's the purpose of this rule?

 

I've read on here similar comments about not really needing coaches. The fact is, if you're playing on a team where your coach doesn't matter, you need to find a better coach. Many of these kids are playing high level travel ball against teams from across the country. They're not just playing to play, they're competing for the opportunity to play in the top tournaments in the country. Yes, they need their coaches.

 

The purpose of this rule is to allow FAMILIES a break from the pressure, real or perceived, to put their kids on the field, court, etc...or risk being penalized if they don't.

 

The same mindset you are employing about summer ball, not high school ball, is part of the reason kids need a break.

 

The rule wasn't put in place to penalize any particular sport, it was put in place because ADULTS demonstrated their inability to understand that FAMILY is more important SPORTS.

 

If the KHSAA doesn't implement a mandatory dead period, then the pressure to play is real and doesn't allow the families to get a break from the year round grind of sports.

 

Dead period is a necessary evil imposed because of lack of judgement by adults at some point...