Are High School Associations Overreaching?

There seems to be an overreach of state high school associations in several states that don’t always have logic in their rules…

In Illinois, players were removed from the field because the state high school association said they couldn’t participate in “travel all-star games”. After much controversy, this was later clarified and amended. Another state says a coach can only practice with four kids at a time out of season and only at certain times they allow. Another example in one state an ambidextrous pitchers’ pitch counts are tallied for the player and not each arm. Finally, in many states after high school tryouts you are not supposed to be at your travel facility(especially with players from your high school team), play in travel tournaments, etc. Doing so can get you suspended from High School Baseball. 

These are just a few examples of the overreach of some of the state high school associations. Their heart is probably in the right place, however, some of these organizations do not understand the ever changing landscape of youth sports. There is also a pressure to win for HIGH SCHOOL coaches that drives all of this.  I think looking inward, instead of focusing so much on policing travel sports would be advantageous to the student athlete. 

The problem to me isn’t in really travel baseball coaches either…for the most part. Most baseball coaches I have  encountered seem to be understanding of multi-sport athletes and STUDENT athletes. The baseball season is pretty short overall April-June in HS and June-August in Travel baseball.  Do some travel organizations and coaches go overboard, of course they do; however, the discussion for the moment is about High School Athletics.

I very much understand the overuse argument too. High school associations should focus more on these things rather than be so hyper-focused on travel sports:

1. No HIGH SCHOOL practices(or very Limited) when the school is closed or on break for any high school sports(coaches always want more and are going to try to keep up with the joneses). Snow Days especially. If school is closed because of inclement weather, there shouldn't be practice. Dead periods for these times would be recommended. Also,  dead periods for out of season HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS in the SUMMER.
2. Instead of making athletes work in small groups, just tell HIGH SCHOOL coaches when the season can start and limit  practices/contact for out-of-season sports. From there an athlete can train on their own. 
3. Quit allowing HIGH SCHOOL off-season sports to encroach on in-season sports. (See number 2) Not sure the answer, but there has to be a way. Some sports are now going 9-10 months out of the year and working through loopholes of the State Associations. (Hint: its not Baseball)

In many states, football and basketball start a week after school is out in the Summer during the height of baseball season. While these workouts aren’t mandatory, they are expected. Athletes have enough pressure on them and feeling like they have to choose between three sports at a time is not logical. Many are juggling these 2-3 sports and are exhausted without time for recovery and/or free time with friends.  Many athletes are being pulled in all directions. As a result, this is pushing MORE kids in to choosing(specializing).

From a parents' perspective, we need to just teach our kids to say no. Sometimes they want to do everything all at once and it is just not sustainable. If a coach cannot deal with it, so be it. Finally, there needs to be more representation from travel sports in these associations. Travel sports have a lot of bright minds that could provide valuable input to these organizations.

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