OSAA Summer Months and Fall Practice Model

Each school shall record the heat index within one hour prior to each practice for each team in your program.

1. Use the OSAA Heat Index Calculator (see below) to determine the heat index.
2. Record the calculated heat index number on the Heat Index Record Sheet or Heat Index Record Spreadsheet . Keep a separate sheet for each Fall sport.
3. Maintain a copy at the school for inspection at the request of the OSAA.

 

Heat Index Calculator

Follow the directions below to calculate the heat index for your area. The practice regimen that all student-athletes are required to adhere to during the Summer months and the Fall sports season will appear below the calculated heat index.

Enter your zip code

 

Sport Specific Practice Restrictions

During the summer months and the fall sports season each year, all student-athletes are required to adhere to the following practice regimen.

• Football (Association Year) –
• Practice Requirements
• Schools may conduct multiple on-field practice sessions but student-athletes shall not engage in more than five hours of on-field practice activities each day.
• Within one hour of the start of practice, schools must determine the heat index for their area.
• When the heat index is 95 or above, each practice session will be a maximum of three hours in length and there must be at least three continuous hours of recovery time between the end of the first practice and the start of the next practice that day. During this recovery time, student-athletes may not engage in other physical activities (e.g., weight training, conditioning, 7-on-7). Total on-field practice time combined may not exceed five hours.
• During the first three days of practice, helmets and shoulder pads shall be the only pieces of protective equipment student-athletes may wear.
• Beginning on day four, student-athletes may participate in full pads.
• An individual shall become eligible to participate in a jamboree or interscholastic contest after completing a minimum of nine days of actual on-field practice.
• All practices shall allow for water breaks and general acclimatization to hot and / or humid weather.
• Football (Summer Months) –
• Member schools are only allowed to utilize protective football equipment for eight days within one 10 consecutive day period beginning after the last day of the Association Year and concluding prior to the start of Moratorium Week, with the following requirements:
• No protective equipment shall be utilized from the start of Moratorium Week until the first day of the Association Year.
• All levels of a program (Varsity, JV, etc.) shall use the same 10 consecutive day period.
• At the beginning of the 10 consecutive day period, every participant shall be required to have three days of helmet/shoulder pad practice with limited person-to-person contact. During this period, the only optional pieces of protective equipment that may be worn by individuals are shoes, shoulder pads and helmets. NO OTHER PADS-such as knee, thigh, him and rib-are to be worn. During helmet/shoulder pad practice, no full contact drills or other activity may occur which would result in a player completing a tackle, or being blocked or tackled to the ground. This policy does not preclude light contact with blocking sleds and tackling dummies during helmet/shoulder pad practice. However, it is strongly recommended that any such contact be carefully controlled.
• Following the three days of helmet/shoulder pad practice, an individual may use the remainder of the football gear as described in the NFHS Football Rules Book for maximum of five days. Activity during this five day period is not restricted with regard to contact. A school shall not permit an individual to use the remainder of the football gear as described in the NFHS Football Rules Book unless that individual has had at least three days of helmet/shoulder pad practice.
• It is imperative that local school administrators set guidelines for participation in the 10 consecutive day period. Safety of the participants is of the utmost importance; therefore proper fundamental and physical preparation is necessary prior to the participants engaging in any type of person-to-person contact.
• Individual school districts and other member schools of the association have the option of determining whether or not they will allow a school within their district to participate in one 10 consecutive day period that involves the use of protective equipment. This decision should take into consideration the inherent liability when a team represents the school district, is supervised by school personnel, uses school district transportation, uses school facilities, and participants using protective equipment owned by the school.
• Individual school districts and other member schools of the association have the option of determining whether or not they will allow an individual student within their district to use protective equipment owned by the school when attending camps/clinics not organized by any member school personnel. This decision should take into consideration the inherent liability when participants use protective equipment owned by the school.
• Prior to participation in one 10 consecutive day period, each participant should be required to show proof of insurance and provide documentation of a valid physical examination within the last two years as prescribed by Oregon law. Coaches and other supervisors should have liability insurance. (Effective January 2012)
• Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball –
• Practice Requirements
• Schools may conduct multiple on-field / court practice sessions but student-athletes shall not engage in more than five hours of on-field / court practice activities each day.
• Within one hour of the start of practice, schools must determine the heat index for their area.
• When the heat index is 95 or above, each practice session will be a maximum of three hours in length and there must be at least three continuous hours of recovery time between the end of the first practice and the start of the next practice that day. During this recovery time, student-athletes may not engage in other physical activities (e.g., weight training, conditioning). Total practice time combined may not exceed five hours.
• All practices shall allow for water breaks and general acclimatization to hot and / or humid weather.

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