Football Pre-Season Acclimatization Practice Period

1. Football Pre-Season Acclimatization Practice Period Updated 4/25/13

2. Background • SMAC topic for 4-5 years • Committee concerned about the acclimatization of athletes in the fall • Ad-Hoc Committee tried to bring about a number of reforms • Creation of acclimatization period in the summer • Others not supported for variety of reasons

3. Background • Similar to concussions, the medical data supports this change • Heat illness is preventable • 25 states have either adopted or are working on developing similar policies • Goal: to enhance exercise heat tolerance and the ability to exercise safely and effectively in warm to hot conditions.

4. Background • SMAC nearly made these same recommendations at their fall 2012 meeting • Wanted to meet with experts in this field and the IHSA Football Advisory Committee • The new policy reflects the consensus of those groups • Allows for some flexibility while creating a safer, consistent approach for all schools during this time

5. Key Points • Acclimatization Period is the initial 14 consecutive days of preseason practice for all football-playing student-athletes • ALL S-A should follow the 14 day heat acclimatization plan regardless of their conditioning program or status leading up to their first practice

6. Key Points • This policy is designed to help the S-A core temperature return to safe levels • when that doesn’t occur, performance decreases and the physiological strain on the s-a increases • 2 hour break provides the opportunity for a S-A to replenish the appropriate amount of nutrients needed for another practice. • It allows coaches the freedom to split their practice times as they deem necessary.

7. Week 1 (week 6 in IHSA Standardized Calendar)

8. Week 2 (week 7 in IHSA Standardized Calendar)

9. Week 3 (week 8 in IHSA Standardized Calendar)

10. Football Acclimatization Period Q: What constitutes practice activity? A: Warm-up, stretching, cool down, conditioning, weight room activities, and on-field instruction in the skill of the sport Q: What is a walk-through? A: A teaching opportunity with athletes not wearing protective equipment (helmets or shoulder pads). A football may not be used. This may not include conditioning or weight room activities.

11. Football Acclimatization Period Q: What constitutes rest/recovery period? A: The time between the end of a practice or walk-through and the beginning of the next practice or walk-through. During this time, athletes should rest in a cool environment, with no sport- or conditioning-related activity permitted (eg, speed or agility drills, strength training, conditioning, or walk-through). Treatment with the athletic trainer is permissible as is classroom work or video review.

12. Final Thoughts • IHSA Board of Directors recommends schools use this same acclimatization model during the up-coming summer contact period. • Expected by-law proposals next year: • Restrictions on contact during summer • Move football start up 2 days • Require same acclimatization plan in summer

13. Questions • Following today’s webinar, if individuals have additional questions, please contact: • Craig Anderson (canderson@ihsa.org)