PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE IN NSAA REGULATIONS Proposal Generated by Rick Hook, Millard West, School Access Code, District 2 This proposal was submitted on: Sep 13, 2011 This proposal is submitted by: Name: Rick Hook School: Millard West NSAA District: 2 The proposal deals with: Activities Manual: Football  Page: 4 The section/paragraph/sentence indicates what is to be added/deleted/changed to the current Bylaw/Approved Ruling: ADDITIONS are in all capital letters. (Changes/Deletions are in parentheses.) 3.11.4.6 At the beginning of football practice each year, every member school shall be required to have two days of no-contact RULES(drill). A school shall not permit an individual athlete to participate in a drill involving contact unless the athlete has had at least two days of practice without contact. The no-contact rule shall include contact with a mechanical or training device as well as with another player WITHOUT HAND HELD DUMMIES. (may be used for spacing purposes). The section/paragraph/sentence that needs to be added/deleted/changed would read as follows: 3.11.4.6 At the beginning of football practice each year, every member school shall be required to have two days of no-contact rules. A school shall not permit an individual athlete to participate in a drill involving contact unless the athlete has had at least two days of practice with the no-contact rules. The no-contact rule shall include contact with a mechanical or training device, blocking sleds, as well as with another player without hand held dummies. Cost Analysis of Proposal: Cost would be zero to the NSAA and to each high school. Rationale for the proposed change: The safety changes and recommendations that have been placed on the game of football in the past several years have increased greatly. We now follow acclimatization recommendations for heat, use the first two days of practice to get acclimated to practicing, and follow newly adopted guidelines for concussions. All of these changes are for the safety of the participants which are needed and completely agreed with. We need to go one step further – at these school sponsored camps, the participants should be able to use hand held dummies as an additional safety precaution. All the recommendations are aimed at eliminating the potential for injury and limiting the amount of time practices can be held. Why not allow participants to be taught safely and correctly against a hand held bag/dummy instead of another body – let’s eliminate the potential for injury by placing a pad between bodies. Football is an 11 man sport – while camps and clinics are held where quarterbacks/running backs/receivers and linebackers/defensive backs can use a ball to work on their technique, how are offensive and defensive linemen supposed to work on theirs? By allowing hand held dummies to be used during school sponsored camps and clinics, you are allowing all participants to work on and improve techniques which gives them a greater chance for success and safety. Recommendation Member schools may conduct school sponsored camps and clinics and while the no-contact rule between bodies is in effect – member schools are allowed to use hand held dummies only to protect participants from potential injury. The use of hand held dummies for tackling is prohibited. The use of blocking sleds and other mechanical devices are prohibited.