Executive Director’s Notebook
Dr. Jim Tenopir, NSAA Executive Director
Summer is Coming! Not admitting that I’m getting old, but I remember a time that coaches were
hired to coach only during the sport season. With the ever-increasing perceived need to “keep up
with the Joneses,” the increased presence of club activities and the strong expectations placed on
coaches by parents, community and some administrators, it is a rarity that coaches only coach
during the season. The reality is that, regrettably in many situations, coaching is now a yearround
proposition. At one point in time, although not easy, it was possible to cover coaching
assignments with teachers and administrators who were under contract with the school district.
Now, because of the often extended time commitments, schools must rely on lay persons to fill
the extra duty assignments. I know some of us yearn for the days when athletic coaching was not
as “high-stakes” as it has become in all-too-many situations. Realizing that “the horses have left
the starting gate,” lamenting about how times have changed will not be productive for any of us.
With that, I think it is important to call attention to existing NSAA bylaws as they relate to
summertime athletic activities and workouts. There are few requirements during the summer
months for coaches who wish to have workout contact with their high school athletes, providing
the school does not sponsor an individual or team, provide uniforms or otherwise be responsible
for a student in summer competition. The summer activities can begin in earnest on the Tuesday
following Memorial Day and extend through July 31. We regularly hear from disgruntled parents
that a coach has placed expectations, penalties and rewards (for others) on summertime
participation.
I know that coaches would prefer that all students take advantage of conditioning, weight
training and other summer activities; however, NSAA bylaws specifically state that no coach or
school representative may directly or indirectly require a student to be involved in summer
activities. Penalties for students who do not meet summer participation standards cannot include
threats of not making the team, level of team participation or extra workouts when the sport
season actually begins. A school-sponsored clinic can be conducted in each sport during that
summertime period. Such clinic can include contact with athletes for ten days during a 21-
consecutive-day period. NSAA Bylaw 3.2.7.2 limits the equipment that can be used for school
sponsored football camps. Weight training and conditioning sessions are limited to a maximum
of 60- minutes per day. Sport-specific drills are not permitted. Students may participate in
summer camps and leagues, but the student and/or parents must pay the fees and expenses for
such participation. The school, booster club, individuals or organizations cannot pay those fees.
Team fundraisers could be used for those summertime activities; however, any athlete receiving
money for those summertime entry/participation fees must have participated in the fundraiser.
With Board approval, school vehicles may be used to transport students to summer activities.
The school shall not provide uniforms for summertime participation. Finally, I think it is
important to note that the NSAA catastrophic insurance DOES NOT cover students and coaches
in summer activities. I trust that each athletic administrator will cover these requirements with
their respective coaches prior to the start of the summer period.
