GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION - DeKalb County Schools

38 GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
2.66 Weekday Contests: Only one day and/or night preceding a school day per week may be used for a contest
or activity with a starting time of 6:00 pm or later.
(a) Regional, Sectional, and/or State playoffs are exempt from this rule.
(b) The GHSA Executive Director has the authority to set aside this rule upon request when there are
extenuating circumstances.
(c) Teams playing any regular season contest when there are classes the next day shall be limited to a travel
distance of no more than 100 miles one way as determined using the maps program at www.Yahoo.com.
2.67 Practice Policy for Heat and Humidity:
(a) Each member school shall have a written policy for conducting practices in all sports during times of
extremely high heat and/or humidity that will be signed by each head coach and distributed to all players.
The policy shall include, but is not limited to:
(1) the time of day the practices are to be scheduled at various heat/humidity levels
(2) the ratio of workout time to time allotted for rest and hydration at various heat/humidity levels
(3) the heat/humidity levels that will result in outdoor practices being terminated
(b) A scientifically-approved instrument that measures the heat index must be utilized at each practice to
ensure that the written policy is being followed properly.
(c) Schools may determine the heat/humidity levels using either wet bulb globe temperature readings or
heat index readings.
2.68 All athletic events hosted by GHSA-member schools (except Cross Country, Golf, Riflery, Swimming, Tennis
and Track) shall be officiated at all levels of competition by officials who are members of associations that
are approved by the GHSA. (Exception: situation noted in By-Law 2.95)
(a) In Soccer, Volleyball and Wrestling, when competing schools cannot agree on officials for regularseason
games, the principals should send in a written request for the GHSA office to assign the officials.
(1) This shall be done for both years of the scheduling period.
(2) The visiting team shall pay the mileage fees for the assigned officials, and the home team will pay
the game fees.
(b) Officials’ associations and their assigned schools shall include the method of payment in their contract.
(c) It is recommended that the same number of officials be used in regular-season competitions as the number
used in playoff competitions in that sport.
2.69 Legal practice dates are established for each activity (see the calendar at the beginning of this publication),
and schools shall not conduct or allow an illegal practice.
(a) The beginning of each school year is designated as the first date of practice for the earliest GHSA sport.
(b) Illegal practices are defined as practices involving three or more students participating in any
extracurricular activity in the presence of, or under the direct or indirect supervision of any coach of the
school (including a community coach). At any given point in time, only one (1) coach in a sport may work
with up to two (2) athletes in skill-building drills.
(1) Any practice occurring after the beginning of the school year and before the opening of the
designated season is an illegal practice.
(2) Any practice occurring after the end of the season for that team and the end of the school year for
students in that school is an illegal practice.
(3) During the summer (i.e., between the ending of one school year and the beginning of the next) the
only restrictions on practices and competition are that all activities must be strictly voluntary, and the
“Dead Week” must be observed, as follows: Schools are prohibited from participating in voluntary
workouts, camps and/or clinics, weight training or competitions during the week (Sunday through
Saturday) in which the Fourth of July falls each year.
(4) It is illegal for a team to go to a competitive or instructional camp or clinic during the school year other
than in-season events designed for that team alone.
(a) If the event is held out of season, it would constitute an illegal practice.
(b) If the event is held in-season, it would involve illegal coaching.
(c) Boys and girls teams in the same sport are considered the same activity.
(d) This prohibition does not apply to the summer months.
(5) Neither coaches, former coaches (including community coaches), nor any other school personnel
shall suggest, require, or otherwise attempt to influence students to participate in or practice for
a sport outside the GHSA-designated season.
(6) The following activities are examples of illegal practices:
(a) interscholastic scrimmages or practice competitions not in compliance with By-Law 2.62e
(b) practices involving alumni or students who presently are not eligible at the member school at
any time in the school year