MONROE - For some football teams there will be less hitting in practices this year due to a new full-contact policy that was approved by the WIAA Board of Control in June.
As high school football teams across southern Wisconsin kicked off practices Tuesday, many football coaches in Green and Lafayette counties were already scaling back full-contact hitting before the mandate this year. There is more of a push to safeguard players from concussions and head injuries.
Under the plan that was adopted with support of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Advisory Committee and doctors, high school football teams will be prohibited from full-contact hitting during the first week of practice. Full contact is being limited to 75 minutes the second week of practice and 60 minutes the third week of practice and beyond.
Monroe football coach Curt Miller said the rule changes won't affect the way the Cheesemakers conduct practice.
"It's important to re-teach the fundamentals to keep kids safe," Miller said. "We spend a lot of time teaching the fundamentals. It makes you a better football player and keeps you and your opponent safe. It's an added effort from our governing body to keep football as safe as possible."
Player-on-player contact was defined into five types using existing definitions: air, bags, wrap, thud, and live/full. The five types of contact were divided into two categories: Drill (air, bags, and wrap) contact and Competition/Full (thud and live/full) contact. Drill contact is unlimited during the practices.
"None of those rules will affect how we do things," Miller said. "We fit into those guidelines. They (safety rules) have to be at the forefront when you have a discussion about football. They are great rules for the safety of kids."
Many teams in Green and Lafayette counties already limit the full contact in practices.
Brodhead-Juda coach B.J. Bockhop said the Cardinals never live tackle in practice due to low numbers and to prevent injuries from hurting the team. Bockhop is a proponent of the new safety mandates.
"I think it protects your younger kids," Bockhop said. "When you need to have some sophomores come up and practice with the varsity they could take a shot and get gun shy. It could make them want to quit football."
Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said the full contact rules don't impact the team much. The Warriors always preach tackling technique by using shields and bags. They often tackle players onto a high jump mat to reduce the risk of injury.
"We have always had to be mindful of injuries at a small school like Black Hawk," Milz said. "We can't afford to lose a player in practice. The main focus the first week of practice is on technique. We are always hitting on shields and bags."
The WIAA also instituted a three-hour practice limit for teams this fall. The maximum amount of practice is three hours before a 30-minute recovery time for water. Milz said the plan was instituted to protect players from exertional heat illness, which is the No. 1 cause in preventable deaths in high school athletics. During the recovery, Black Hawk takes players into the school for a popsicle and to be in the air conditioning. They then have a chalkboard time and a film session before going back outside for practice.
"It has shortened our practice times a little bit," Milz said. "We have to be a little more creative in our teaching."
As high school football teams across southern Wisconsin kicked off practices Tuesday, many football coaches in Green and Lafayette counties were already scaling back full-contact hitting before the mandate this year. There is more of a push to safeguard players from concussions and head injuries.
Under the plan that was adopted with support of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Advisory Committee and doctors, high school football teams will be prohibited from full-contact hitting during the first week of practice. Full contact is being limited to 75 minutes the second week of practice and 60 minutes the third week of practice and beyond.
Monroe football coach Curt Miller said the rule changes won't affect the way the Cheesemakers conduct practice.
"It's important to re-teach the fundamentals to keep kids safe," Miller said. "We spend a lot of time teaching the fundamentals. It makes you a better football player and keeps you and your opponent safe. It's an added effort from our governing body to keep football as safe as possible."
Player-on-player contact was defined into five types using existing definitions: air, bags, wrap, thud, and live/full. The five types of contact were divided into two categories: Drill (air, bags, and wrap) contact and Competition/Full (thud and live/full) contact. Drill contact is unlimited during the practices.
"None of those rules will affect how we do things," Miller said. "We fit into those guidelines. They (safety rules) have to be at the forefront when you have a discussion about football. They are great rules for the safety of kids."
Many teams in Green and Lafayette counties already limit the full contact in practices.
Brodhead-Juda coach B.J. Bockhop said the Cardinals never live tackle in practice due to low numbers and to prevent injuries from hurting the team. Bockhop is a proponent of the new safety mandates.
"I think it protects your younger kids," Bockhop said. "When you need to have some sophomores come up and practice with the varsity they could take a shot and get gun shy. It could make them want to quit football."
Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said the full contact rules don't impact the team much. The Warriors always preach tackling technique by using shields and bags. They often tackle players onto a high jump mat to reduce the risk of injury.
"We have always had to be mindful of injuries at a small school like Black Hawk," Milz said. "We can't afford to lose a player in practice. The main focus the first week of practice is on technique. We are always hitting on shields and bags."
The WIAA also instituted a three-hour practice limit for teams this fall. The maximum amount of practice is three hours before a 30-minute recovery time for water. Milz said the plan was instituted to protect players from exertional heat illness, which is the No. 1 cause in preventable deaths in high school athletics. During the recovery, Black Hawk takes players into the school for a popsicle and to be in the air conditioning. They then have a chalkboard time and a film session before going back outside for practice.
"It has shortened our practice times a little bit," Milz said. "We have to be a little more creative in our teaching."
