Rules for "spring football" in PA

[2020sports]

I have seen a few social media folks in the Pittsburgh Area say "we should have spring football" in PA.

I'm wondering what the means? What do other states do? Is PA football really "held back" by rules/restrictions for HS football in the spring?

I understand the value of playing other sports, but so many kids are "only playing football" anyways- I'm wondering if our kids are missing out on development, compared to other states, nationally?

 

[bucksftball]

I know WPIAL teams have spring practices, because they invite college teams to come watch them. Are they looking to be fully padded? Full contact? Scrimmages? I've seen some of the posts and I'm not sure either what some of these guys want.

 

[Fletchster1]

Beauty of football at youth and high school level = finite season. We don't need to become like every other year-round travel mess (soccer, baseball, lacrosse, etc) that has kids burned-out Sophomore year.

 

[shfoot]

If you're a senior and being recruited, spring may not benefit you. Any seniors grad early (I assume not many) would hurt greatly. For them, college spring football would be out of the question. Colleges typically gear up their scouts in the fall to visit high schools.
I'm not up to date on rules, but spring practices couldn't have coaches there, but the players can practice on their own.

 

[steelcurtain55.]

If you're a senior and being recruited, spring may not benefit you.

Seniors in PA and seniors down south do not practice in the spring. No hs coach is giving reps to a kid without eligibility in the fall.

I'm not up to date on rules, but spring practices couldn't have coaches there, but the players can practice on their own.

PA doesn't ban HS coaches from attending practices. It never has. In PA you cannot have mandatory practices but you can have voluntary ones.

 

[shfoot]

Seniors in PA and seniors down south do not practice in the spring. No hs coach is giving reps to a kid without eligibility in the fall.

PA doesn't ban HS coaches from attending practices. It never has. In PA you cannot have mandatory practices but you can have voluntary ones.

steel: 15-25 years ago there weren't spring practices but the players got together on their own. I was involved with hs football back then and my son also played. Coaches weren't permitted. Summer 5v5 were scheduled just before the season started and coaches were involved at that point. That was then, and like I said I'm not up to date on the rules now.

 

[D11_Football]

I would argue the spring recruiting period is the most important period for HS sophomores and juniors.

Colleges are only allowed so many coaches eligible to be on the road recruiting. So the fall period is a giant waste, I’m not sure anyone has scouts on the road. One it would be a violation or that would count as a coach in the road and count against countable recruiting days.

It goes back to the PIAA not having a year round calendar. Yes the south has spring ball but are actually much more regulated than we are even though we do not have formal spring practice.

In the south they have 10-14 days and a scrimmage. But it’s regulated, you get so many days etc. they also have mandatory off weeks etc. off season rules.

The only rules we have in Pa is you can’t put shoulder pads on. So is essence a coach in Pa has much more of the ability to grind his kids down than that of a coach in the south with spring football.

 

[2020sports]

I would argue the spring recruiting period is the most important period for HS sophomores and juniors.

Colleges are only allowed so many coaches eligible to be on the road recruiting. So the fall period is a giant waste, I’m not sure anyone has scouts on the road. One it would be a violation or that would count as a coach in the road and count against countable recruiting days.

It goes back to the PIAA not having a year round calendar. Yes the south has spring ball but are actually much more regulated than we are even though we do not have formal spring practice.

In the south they have 10-14 days and a scrimmage. But it’s regulated, you get so many days etc. they also have mandatory off weeks etc. off season rules.

The only rules we have in Pa is you can’t put shoulder pads on. So is essence a coach in Pa has much more of the ability to grind his kids down than that of a coach in the south with spring football.

d11- yes- thanks- this is the info i was looking for. So one difference, is PA cannot have "competition" against other teams- which is what I thought. And sure- not "being in pads" might be better. But- if there were guidelines- maybe things would be better? I think too many programs, are "overpracticing" in football, doing like 4-5 practices per week from March to June. This makes it very difficult to play other sports like track and baseball.