LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE IN NSAA RULES AND REGULATIONS
Title:

NSAA December Moratorium Proposal

Author:Nate Larsen
School:ONeill
NSAA District:3
 
Proposal for:Constitution & Bylaws
 
Classes Affected:All
Activities Affected:Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Boys Bowling
Girls Bowling
Debate
Speech
Swimming & Diving
Boys Wrestling
Girls Wrestling
This proposal:WILL NOT increase costs to the school
WILL NOT increase costs to the NSAA
WILL NOT increase travel for participating schools
WILL NOT decrease a student's or coach's instruction time
Implementation date:2027-08-01
Sections affected in Constitution & Bylaws:Page
48-49
Article
3.1.2
Section
December Moratorium
Summary:The first day of the December moratorium would be December 23rd & the last day would be January 1st. Athletics & Activities could have practices & scheduled contests through & including December 22nd, & starting again on January 2nd.

3.1.2 - December Moratorium. For TEN consecutive days in December, there shall be no practice and no interschool competition by individuals or teams in any athletic activity sponsored by the NSAA. The specific dates for each TEN-day period will be set by the Board of Directors three years in advance.

[Modifications of set dates requires NSAA Board of Directors approval December 23 through January 1. The moratorium is to include December 24 and 25 and the TEN days must be consecutive for each activity.]

APPROVED RULINGS AND INTERPRETATIONS FOR 3.1.2

The intent of the December Moratorium is to provide coaches, athletes, and other school personnel a TEN-day break from the activity season. This rule is to be interpreted as a TEN-day dead period without organized practices, structured conditioning sessions, or meetings of any type. It is the member school’s responsibility to monitor and enforce this rule. School-owned facilities shall be closed to all grades 9-12 workout activities during the moratorium (team or athletic meetings, practice, competition, weight-training, conditioning, open gym, or other physical activities). The term “no practice and no interschool competition by individuals or teams” shall be interpreted to mean that a grades 9-12 student who is a participant in an NSAA activity shall not be permitted: A) To practice or compete in that activity in-season during the moratorium in a schoolowned facility that is used by the school for such activity, whether or not a coach, sponsor, or other adult associated with the program is present. B) To participate in practice, team meeting, or activity for the sport in season, directly or indirectly organized by the coach; the school coach, sponsor, or other adult associated with the school activity program may not supervise, direct, plan, or encourage any workout, practice, or competition during the moratorium by students participating in activities; and C) To participate in a student-organized practice, team meeting, or activity for the sport in season. Students may: 1) Continue to work out/condition on their own in facilities not owned by the school, including workouts or activities with family members; 2) Receive individualized instruction from an individual who is not the school coach, sponsor, or other adult associated with the school activity program; and 3) Receive physical therapy or rehabilitation services at facilities not owned by the school. D) Waivers of the December Moratorium may be considered by the NSAA Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis; however, if competition or travel infringes on the designated December Moratorium dates, the Moratorium for such teams shall be readjusted to include TEN consecutive days to include December 24 and 25. Schools must submit a timely waiver request to the executive director, and the waiver request will be placed on a subsequent NSAA Board meeting agenda.
Rationale:This proposal will make the December moratorium 10 days in length rather than the current 5 days. This will allow kids, families & coaches to have a longer break during a time period where many are traveling for the holidays.
Pros:More time for families & a longer break during the longest season of the year.
Cons:Fewer days to fit in the allowable number of contests. Possibly limits out of state travel for teams that choose to do so.