October 23, 2007

 To all Illinois High School Football Coaches Association members:

 Please be aware that the by-law 3.157 proposal was not submitted to the I.H.S.A. office; therefore it will not be voted on in the town meetings. Rather, we have requested that the board review the language in the policy relative to this and request changes to match the by-law proposal.  This change will, in fact, accomplish the goals of the proposed by-law change below.

 Schools may not use more than helmet, shoulder pads and thigh/pro pads in the summer 25 contact days.  There shall be no live tackling or blocking below the waist techniques taught during the contact days.

Rationale:    This provides better clarification of what schools can do during the summer 25 contact days emphasizing safety for all individuals involved.  This policy change will limit the equipment that can be used and prohibit any live tackling or blocking below the waist during the 25 contact days.  This policy would prohibit teams from having full contact scrimmages.

 By by-law 3.157 states, the only scrimmage that can take place in football is 7 on 7 passing games with only helmets. 

 The board of director’s interpretation of the definition of scrimmage limits any football activity organized between two schools or a combination of schools, in the summer to be only 7 on 7 passing. 

 For football during any summer contact day, the only scrimmage action that can take place involving students from other schools is limited to 7 on 7 passing games.  This means any half line drills, inside game drills, outside game drills, lineman inside blocking schemes where you would go 2 on 2, 3 on 3, 4 on 4 could only be held against students from your own school.

 There has been a concern on what can take place in a camp situation relative to drills.  In the following scenarios, schools would be considered to be scrimmaging: -- one school vs. another school, ½ line situations, full team drill situations, teaching a certain offense or defense and running it against another school’s team, and offensive line contests that puts one school against another school in live game situations, like one on one, pass rush drills, combo block drills.

 The result of a policy change by the board of directors would make all of the above legal.

 It would make full pads, tackling to the ground and below the waist blocking illegal. This would include scrimmages or practice with just your own camp or team.

Again, this change was the result of meetings with approximately 35 members and Dave Gannaway from the I.H.S.A. We believe that this change is in the best interest of the school, athletes and the I.H.S.A.

Best of Luck to all playoff teams,
 

Jim Innis
6A Representative
Illinois High School Football Coaches Association
Argo Community High School
708/728-3200 ext 340