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OPEN GYMS
1. According to MSHSL policies, “Open Gym” refers to the use of school facilities for recreational activities. The characteristics of an open gym are that:
A. The school facilities are available for students to participate in a number of activities.
B. The recreational activities are open to all students.
C. There is no coaching of the skills and techniques of activities provided in the interscholastic program.
D. There is no requirement for students to attend open gym activities as a prerequisite for membership on a high school team.
E. High school coaches may not participate in games, pick-up games, provide instruction in the skills of a sport, or otherwise influence a high school athlete’s participation in open gym.
2. In order to assure compliance with these provisions, all open gyms must be scheduled through the Activities Office.
Q. How are open gym and open basketball or open volleyball different?
A. Open gym implies that a number of activities are available for students to participate in during the time that the gym is open and conducted as stated above. Open volleyball, or open basketball, implies that the facility is open only for those who want to participate in basketball or volleyball and that other activities are excluded. Open basketball, volleyball, wrestling, etc., constitutes a violation of MSHSL bylaws if supervised by a member of the high school coaching staff, B-squad, JV or Varsity.
Q. As a high school coach, may I supervise open gym?
A. High school coaches may supervise open gym, provided that the coach has been designated by the school to do so and that all of the characteristics of open gym are met. High school coaches may not supervise open gym where only their sport is offered for participants, i.e. open volleyball, open basketball, open wrestling, etc. High school coaches may not participate in games or provide instruction, coaching or training to their high school athletes in that sport.
Q. When may I conduct open gym during the year?
A. Because open gym is not a MSHSL sanctioned activity there are no restrictions on when it may be offered.
Q. May we have open gym on Sunday?
A. There are no restrictions as to when the school may allow open gym, however school districts are responsible for identifying the person responsible for open gym supervision.
NON-SCHOOL LEAGUES, CAMPS AND CLINICS:
Q. What involvement can I have as a member of the high school coaching staff in non-school leagues, camps and/or clinics during the school year? During the summer?
A.During the school year prior to and following the high school sport season:
May Do:
Provide camp and clinic and non-school league information to athletes.
Conduct pre/post-season meeting(s) with team in order to provide information regarding the high school season, and/or to provide leadership training programs etc. provided that there is no coaching of the sport, or strategies of the sport, at the meetings.
May conduct an organizational meeting for summer play provided that the coach has secured a summer waiver from the school’s Athletic Director in advance of the meeting.
May Not Do:
During the school year, prior to and following the sports season, a coach may not influence or direct a student who has been a member of your high school team to participate in a league, attend a camp or clinic, require the student to workout or participate in open gyms, etc. as a requirement for team membership; or placing athletes on a roster, developing or organizing a team roster, drafting players for a team, selecting, securing, or otherwise influencing the placement of athletes on a team for leagues, tournaments, camps, or clinics.
Issue school uniforms or equipment for student use in non-school leagues, tournaments, camps, or clinics. Schools may lease equipment to non-school camps, clinics and/or leagues.
A coach may not provide training, instruction, private or group lessons, or coaching in their sport to students who have been a member of the high school team, B-squad, JV, or Varsity.
Provide money from school funds or booster funds to students to attend camps or clinics, or to participate in a league or tournament.
Organize, supervise, direct, or otherwise participate in the organization of captain’s practice.
During the summer:
May Do:
Provide camp and non-school team information to athletes if approved for a summer waiver and authorized by your athletic director to do so.
Provide coaching in non-school leagues, camps or clinics under the provisions of the summer waiver.
Organize summer leagues, camps, clinics or other instructional opportunities for athletes once approved for the summer waiver.
May Not Do:
May not influence or direct a student to participate in non-school activities, including open gym, workouts, captain’s practice or strength and development training programs as a requirement for team membership.
Issue school uniforms or equipment.
Provide money from school funds or booster funds to students to attend camps or clinics or to participate in a league or tournament.
FUNDING ISSUES:
Q. Can the booster clubs pay for students to attend a camp or clinic?
A. No, the camp fee must be paid by the student or the student’s parents.
Options: Booster clubs may sponsor a free camp to all interested students. The camp must be open to all students in the area and may not be limited to just the high school athletes. Booster clubs may set aside money for jobs performed by students for which a reasonable hourly wage is paid to the student. This money may be used to attend a camp or clinic. The booster club will be responsible to provide a full accounting to the athletic director listing the students who worked, the job(s) performed, the hours worked and the wages paid.
Q. Can students raise money through fundraisers for camps or clinics?
A. Students may not set up fundraisers for camp or clinic fees.
Q. Can coaches use booster club money to pay for camps or clinics or establish camp scholarships?
A. No, coaches may not use booster club money to establish camp scholarships or pay camp fees.
Q. May high school students work at a camp as a coach and receive pay or work off the camp fee?
A.Yes, athletes may work at a camp as a coach, counselor, or official and receive pay. They may work only if: the camp sponsor has a job description for their responsibilities, identify the dates and times they will be working, identify all players who will be instructing, and an accounting of the hours worked and the pay are provided to the high school athletic director.
EQUIPMENT ISSUES:
Q. May schools issue their uniforms or equipment for use by non-school programs, leagues, camps or clinics?
A.No, schools may not issue their uniforms or personal equipment outside of the high school season. Schools may, however, lease their equipment other than uniforms to non-school camps, clinics, and/or teams.
Q. What equipment can the school issue out of season to high school athletes without charging a lease or rental fee?
A.Schools may only issue balls and goalie equipment.
ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES:
Q. May I run my summer camp through the school?
A. No, you may not run your summer camp through the school in the same manner in which your school administers its high school athletic program, or as an extension of the athletic department. Schools are prohibited from sponsoring a sport outside of the prescribed MSHSL season. Programs conducted by coaches under the summer waiver are non-school programs. You are an independent contractor conducting a non-school camp, clinic, league or instructional program for members of your high school team. You may, however, conduct your summer camp through your school’s community education programming, or you may lease your school facility at the same rate charged for rental from anyone who wishes to rent that space. Reminder, only coaches who have been approved for a summer waiver may have contact with their high school athletes.
Q. Does MSHSL catastrophic insurance cover summer coaching?
A. No, MSHSL catastrophic insurance does not cover summer coaching, camps, clinics and/or leagues these programs are not school sponsored programs. Summer programs conducted under the school’s community education program may be covered under the school’s insurance coverage. Coaches should discuss this issue with the school’s administration for clarification.
Q. Does MSHSL insurance cover summer camps, clinics or leagues?
A. No. MSHSL insurance covers only school-sponsored activities conducted under the sponsorship of the MSHSL and during the prescribed MSHSL season. In as much as schools may not sponsor non-school programming, you would be responsible for your own insurance.
Q. I am planning to run a camp for the elementary and jr high school students during the school year just before our high school season begins. May I use some of our high school players as coaches and demonstrators to assist me in this camp? Can they be paid for working?
A. Yes, you may use some of your high school players to work your camp provided that: they are not attending your camp as campers/players to receive instruction. They may serve as instructors/demonstrators only if: you have a job description for their responsibilities, identify the dates and times they will be instructing, identify all players who will be instructing, and finally a statement that you know and understand that you may not provide coaching and training to the high school athletes and that you will follow the rule.
a) Summer Camp/Clinic Waiver
Member schools shall have the authority to approve a coaching waiver for camps and/or clinics following the fourth Friday in May through July 31 or two weeks (14 calendar days) prior to the start of the earliest fall sport season, whichever is earlier.
b) Procedure for granting summer coaching waiver
The designated school representative of the member high school shall document, in writing, and keep in file in the school:
(1) A letter from each student, signed by the parent(s), requesting the waiver;
(2) A letter of verification from the coach indicating an approval to coach the students;
(3) The letters required for summer coaching should be documented on an official MSHSL summer coaching form, which is available from the league office.
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