AND A TIME TO REST
Athletes, coaches to take a break next week during OSSAA’s first dead period
CASHION FOOTBALL players are pictured warming up for an upcoming game during last weekend’s Skordle Showdown, a seven-on-seven event held each summer. Such events are not allowed during next week’s dead period as mandated by the OSSAA. [Photo by Jade Jones/Skordle]
CASHION FOOTBALL players are pictured warming up for an upcoming game during last weekend’s Skordle Showdown, a seven-on-seven event held each summer. Such events are not allowed during next week’s dead period as mandated by the OSSAA. [Photo by Jade Jones/Skordle]
Parents, if you’re skeptical about your high school athlete saying they don’t have any kind of morning workouts or summer league next week…don’t be.
They’re not just trying to sleep in; they’re telling you the truth.
The “dead period” mandated by the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association takes effect Saturday, June 29 and runs through Sunday, July 7.
During that time, “secondary-level students enrolled or pre-enrolled at a member school may not use any member school’s athletic facilities during the dead period in connection with any athletic activity governed by the OSSAA. Member school coaches, assistant coaches and sponsors may not have any contact with...students in that member school… for the purpose of coaching, training or instructing.”
In other words, no lifting, no practicing and no playing anything school-related.
The OSSAA board of directors passed the rule mandating the dead period before last summer, but this is the first summer it’s being put to use.
Kingfisher Public Schools Superintendent Jason Sternberger just finished his term as the OSSAA board’s president. He was a member when the ruling was passed.
“If everyone will be consistent with it, it will be good for coaches and kids,” he said. “They need a break from each other.”
If school districts aren’t consistent, there will be penalties for the coaches involved.
Violations will result in the coach or sponsor being suspended for the first half of the regular season in that sport. Even if school personnel not designated as the coach or sponsor violates the rule, the head coach will receive the same punishment.
The rule was designed to give student-athletes - and coaches - a break from activities that have become increasingly demanding of time.
The period will fall the weekend before, the week of and the weekend after July 4 each year. It will be a nine-day period.
It only applies to athletic activities governed by the OSSAA, which includes: baseball, basketball, football, wrestling, cheerleading, soccer, volleyball, softball (fastpitch and slowpitch), swimming, track and field, cross country, tennis and golf.
Even if the school is not involved, the district’s facilities cannot be used by athletes or coaches.
However, not everything is banned.
Field maintenance by coaches is not included and athletes’ participation in a national level tournament (AAU basketball, for example) is not prohibited during the period.
“Once people get used to it and learn to schedule things such as vacations around it, it will be definitely be a good thing,” Sternberger said.
“Overall, it’s just good for kids and coaches both mentally and physically.”
For a complete list of frequently asked questions, visit ossaa.com and click on the “Summertime Dead Period Policy” link near the bottom of the page.