Open Fields/Gyms ?

[knockemofftheball]

Are these legal this time of year? Have noticed a few schools in our area holding Saturday practices (open fields) lead by coaches. I looked at Missouri regulations and it said that all out of season workouts needed to be conditioning and strength exercises using no sport specific equipment (no football, cages, dummies, basketball, etc.) Is this something that the state turns a blind eye too? I fear to many kids and coaches in different sports are neglecting the importance of recovery, and building strength in the off season, and the focus is to get more basketball, football, soccer ..... in to make their kids better. Overuse injuries can become a problem. (I'm not talking about AAU either, this is out of most coaches control, I'm talking about Coach lead workouts) Is this something that other people are noticing?

 

[MIZ...ZOU]

crickets to this one.

 

[7-step-drop]

crickets to this one.

There is a stillness in the air...........

 

[knockemofftheball]

No kidding. I think Football coaches do the best job of emphasizing weight training during the off season. See a lot of basketball player working on their jump shot all day, with no weight training, and they are 9 months from the beginning of their season.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

No kidding. I think Football coaches do the best job of emphasizing weight training during the off season. See a lot of basketball player working on their jump shot all day, with no weight training, and they are 9 months from the beginning of their season.

A lot more skill specific training involved in the other sports.

 

[knockemofftheball]

But is it legal for a coach to lead these skill specific training exercises during the off season? Per MSHSAA it is written as illegal, is it a rule that is not enforced?

 

[Eagles_Ball]

But is it legal for a coach to lead these skill specific training exercises during the off season? Per MSHSAA it is written as illegal, is it a rule that is not enforced?

No clue. Was just commenting on why a bball'er might be "working on his jump shot" while a fball'er is lifting weights.

 

[Wildcat98]

My 2 cents a basket baller needs to shoot year round. They don't need to be in pick-up games, etc during another season, but shooting is a good thing.

 

[bullitpdq68]

I read everyday that college coaches still prefer to recruit multiple sport athletes. But there are still parents out there that for whatever reason encourage their kids to play/concentrate on just one sport.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I read everyday that college coaches still prefer to recruit multiple sport athletes. But there are still parents out there that for whatever reason encourage their kids to play/concentrate on just one sport.

Totally agreed. Personally, as someone who has coached basketball the majority of my coaching life, I'd love to have all three sport kids. Football/basketball/baseball preferred, but can draw much help from any of them. Once coached an elite soccer player. His ball skills were horrid, but I've never coached a kid with better defensive footwork. Never coached a kid that traveled (too many steps with the ball, not actual traveling from place to place) as much either, but man he could defend. They all have their pluses. That said, if a kid isn't playing a sport, would love to see him working on his shot, ball skills, and lifting. Beats sitting around eating potato chips and playing video games.

 

[hangmanbobbyjaggers]

But is it legal for a coach to lead these skill specific training exercises during the off season? Per MSHSAA it is written as illegal, is it a rule that is not enforced?

I think you said you see open field practices going on, not open gyms. If a team is out going over alignments then sprinting to cut off others, that is conditioning without any sport specific equipment being used. You say you worry about kids recovery, but you want them playing every sport too? They do not get any down time at all. They go from 1 sport to the other, usually 6 days a week, right into summer workouts to where coaches get them 25 days in each sport.

 

[knockemofftheball]

I've seen teams on Facebook posting pictures of open field with dummies and footballs, being coached. A head basketball coach leading basketball drills in the morning before school. All are illegal, is this not enforced? If so, remove the rule and we will have spring drills

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I've seen teams on Facebook posting pictures of open field with dummies and footballs, being coached. A head basketball coach leading basketball drills in the morning before school. All are illegal, is this not enforced? If so, remove the rule and we will have spring drills

So when you asked the question...you knew the answer? I'd say forward the material to your AD or MSHSAA. But be prepared to have to put your name to whatever you send in. Pretty sure they won't take an anonymous screen name.