New Policy:
Full contact should be limited during games and practices as well as during activity outside of the traditional fall practice. When possible, an athletic trainer should be present at all practices and games. (Note: No limitation is placed on activities defined below as “AIR, BAGS or CONTROL” contact.
A. For purposes of this by-law, the following definitions shall apply: AIR - Players run a drill unopposed without contact; BAGS - Players run a drill against a bag or another soft-contact surface; CONTROL - Players run a drill at assigned speed until the moment of contact and one player is pre-determined the “winner” by the coach. Contact remains above the waist and players stay on their feet; THUD - Players run a drill at competitive speed through the moment of contact with no pre-determined “winner.” Contact remains above the waist, players stay on their feet and a quick whistle ends the drill; LIVE ACTION - Players run a drill in game-like conditions and is the only time that players are taken to the ground; FULL CONTACT - Contact which meets the definition of Live Action or Thud.
B. Pre-Season Practice: 1) Full contact shall be allowed in no more than 2 consecutive practice days per week; 2) Full contact during practice shall be limited to not more than 45 minutes per day; 3) Full contact during practice shall be limited to not more than 135 minutes per week; and 4) During any twice-daily practice, only one session per day shall include full contact.
C. Regular & Post Season Practice: 1) Full contact during practice shall be allowed in no more than three (3) practice days per week; 2) Full contact during practice shall not be allowed on more than two (2) consecutive days; 3) Full contact during practice shall be limited to not more than 30 minutes per day; 4) Full contact during practice shall be limited to not more than 90 minutes per week.
D. Written Practice Plans: A written practice plan in compliance with this by-law shall be prepared in advance by the head coach prior to every practice and maintained by the school for a period of at least twelve (12) months. Such practice plans shall be made available to the GHSA upon request.
E. Violations: The penalty to be imposed upon any member school found to have violated this by-law in any substantial manner shall be as follows: (more) inutes - April 13, 2015 Page -5- 1) First Offense: A fine of not less than $500 nor more than $2500 per violation at the discretion of the Executive Director. 2) Second Offense: The school shall be placed on probation and shall not be eligible to participate in post season play.
The Georgia High School Association State Executive Committee adopted a new policy Monday that aims to reduce the risk of concussions in high-school football athletes.
The new policy, which goes into effect this spring, was adopted during the committee’s meeting in Macon.
According to minutes from the meeting, under the new policy, full contact during preseason practice is allowed for no more than two consecutive practices or for 45 minutes per day or 135 minutes per week. Also, only one session during a two-a-day practice will have full contact.
For regular season and post-season practices, full contact is allowed in no more than three practices in a week, on no more than two consecutive days or for more than 30 minutes a day or 90 minutes a week.
Full contact is defined as players running a drill at competitive speed through the moment of contact with no predetermined “winner” and contact above the waist and players staying on their feet; or running a drill in game-like conditions and the players taken to the ground.
Penalties for violating the policy are a fine of between $500 and $2,500 per violation on the first offense and probation with ineligibility for postseason play on the second offense.