High School Practice Hours

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High School Practice Hours

by Sarah Baines
(San Dimas, CA)

What is everyone seeing as normal or approved High School practice hours? My childs school just completed their basketball season and they practiced 3-4 days a week from 7 to 9 pm. When is a child athlete suppose to study with that schedule?

When the parents questioned the coaches about this they said other sports had booked the gym for practice or games. The band even had it to themselves and they don't support any indoor teams, just themselves!

So, if anyone has any thoughts or a spare crying towel we would greatly appreciate it.

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High School Practice Hours

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Mar 13, 2012
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High School Coaches
by: Todd

NJ,

Not sure your name but your story is one that I too suffered through with my boys and one daughter. Yes, my daughter. She had a horrible coach in High School and it was all about their record and keeping their job. This is High School athletics for crying out loud.

My kids are all out now and I still stroll by the practice field and quite frankly its getting worse with the abuse the kids are taking on the field and sometimes off the field.

Todd

Mar 08, 2012
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Its not About You!
by: Anonymous

I was an above average athlete in high school playing football and wrestling. I practiced from 3:30pm - 5:30pm Monday - Friday and sometimes a two hour practice on Saturday morning but never after a game or meet.

Our school was a top school in NJ in sports and academics and the coaches cared about the players. IT WAS NOT ABOUT THEM and we won because the coaches watched out for the athletes.

My kids are beat to death in practice and the coaches seem to only care about their record and not the athletes. My son and others have been mocked for injuries and penalized for having doctors suspend them from practice.

Time for a change!

Aug 25, 2011
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High School Football Practice Hours
by: Anthony Tomey

Hello,

Saw your post and would love to see this topic go National. Everyone should get this link to their friends and family who truly care about fixing this epidemic with the American High School Football practices.

Our local teams are now in their final push to get ready for their season. With all the regular pressures a child is faced with the Practice Hours during school hours and prior to the start of the year (August Two A Days) is way too harsh on these kids.

I would love to see this thread get more input nationally. What does everyone think?

Tony

Aug 22, 2011
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I pity my child
by: Anonymous

With the football practice schedule nowadays, as if we're raising kids that will become a professional football player not kids that has to look for academic scholarships or any scholarships so that they can live a decent life later. Is there any website of Department of Education that states the number of hours a H.S. player is allowed to practice after school? Please post. Thanks!

Mar 17, 2011
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Division 4 High School Practice Hours
by: Cathi Albreight, Nebraska

Dear Anonymous

The fact that you didnt list your name here as so many others did as well says a lot about the problem with High School Sports. I have 2 in Middle Schoola and a Soph in High School. In Nebraska not unlike Texas its all Football followed closely by Football. Our kids are under so much pressure to "Make the Football Team" that we look the other way and the academic athlete topic is a joke. The school administration states this in every speech and then the go back to their office and handicap Friday Nights game with their staff.

The money in Sports is crazy. It drives the schools away from the Academic focus on athletics and towards the State Championship Trophy.

The system is broken. Kids getting up at 4a to eat breakfast and then lose it on the field every morning before class is sad. Only in America.

Cathi

Mar 16, 2011
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Division 4 School trying to get on top.
by: Anonymous

Is it right to REQUIRE morning practice from 4:30-7AM go to school and then right after school the kids are practicing again from 2PM-6:30PM. I could not believe as a mother that my child was being subjected to these crazy hours for swim team, and the lack of sleep is scientifically proven to not be good for her development. To require this from their athletes is to clearly imply, "We don't care about your health, grades or family, do what we have you scheduled to do and you'll stay on the team."
Ridiculous, especially for a CIF Division 4 team, no offense but my daughter swam for a D1 school and their practices were 3:30PM-6PM, they were/are obviously doing something right. Maybe instead of overloading and hoping for success you will focus and realize what actually works.

Nov 08, 2010
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Tired
by: Anonymous

I have practice 3:30 to 7:30 .sometimes at 6 am.everyday im exhausted and i have ap classes. if i don't have a 3.0 i can't be on the team i have to sit out. also we don't get a brake for holidays like christmas. we run 6 to 8 laps a day and were not even a track team were a dance team. i have practice monday to saturday and if we get hurt or sick we have to walk it off. I love to dance but this is just too much.I feel like i can't breath or at least rest for one minute.

Sep 14, 2010
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Wait til you hear this!
by: Anonymous

My sons play high school football. They go to practice right after school at 3:30 and do not return home from practice until 8:30-9:00. My boys are big tough boys but are almost reduced to tears trying to keep up with their homework! They take college classes for dual credit during the school day and are becoming very overwhelmed!

Aug 11, 2010
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High School Coach Out of Control
by: Natalie Sampson

Our football coach has put the fear of God into our kids. Yes kids. This guy thinks he is Division 1 NCAA. Our kids are dropping like flies they are so tired and worn out and in fear of this man and his assitants. Where is the School Management? Where is the State Management over these guys?

No one can take a Summer Vacation. Everyone reports at 0600 and they get home at 10p for two solid weeks. Its not High School. Its as bad is if these young boys were in the Military.

Someone has to stop this.

Natalie
Virginia

Aug 11, 2010
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Too Much
by: Anonymous

My Sophmore son started school today. For the next two weeks he has football practice from 2:30-8:30. He gets a break from 5:00-6:00 for dinner. The rest of the season the practice is from 2:30-6:00.

Sep 13, 2009
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my personal experience
by: Anonymous

I played football and basketball in HS. during football, we practiced from 2:30 in the afternoon till usually 5pm, but occasionally later, until approximately 7 on some days. also, I played basketball, and we practiced from either 2:30 until 5, or from 6:30 unitl 9. None of the STUDENT-ATHLETES on my teams had any trouble maintaining grades throughout the high school.

Nov 19, 2008
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Girls Gym Time
by: Judy

I don't know if I am just overly sensitive to all this but my Sophomore is not getting home until 10p from her Basketball Practices of two hours. Several kids are struggling with Grades on the team and yet they drive them hard 2 hours a night and late.

When do they do their homework? Where is the Academic Athlete clause again?

I hear this phrase all the time but the shear pressure on these children is enormous. Where is the rules committee?

Judy

Aug 12, 2008
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Coach Wants More Football Hours
by: Alicia

Our High School football coach is pressing for more than the 4 hours a day he gets in the summer. Now he wants Film School time. Is there a limit to all this?

When does a kid get to be a kid in the easy lazy days of summer? They need down time. Our school also had a Spring Session which was voluntary but the pressure to be there was very noticable to the children and the parents. Now that would be breaking the rules in our football conference but heck isn't every team doing this?

Gotta stay sharp to compete they tell us. The pressure on the coaches to win at all cost is very obvious and stressing out families in its wake.

I want my child back.

Alicia in Dallas TX

May 27, 2008
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When Do Kids Find Time To Study?
by: Steve

We have three children who are all in sports. Two in college and one in high school. We understand that in the State of CA at least there is a maximum number of hours per day and per week that a student athlete can practice.

I can share with you that we too suffered that 7-9p slot in basketball when our kids were in the 9th grade. We believe it hurt their grades and with the 7am start of school (zero period they call it here in Northern CA) the kids were zombies.

Watch out for the Middle Schools trying to squeeze in early morning practices before class. We have seen that as well.

If the High Schools are serious about Student Athlete then they should show it. Practice should end by 8p in our opinion and that's cutting it a bit close.

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High School Practice Hours

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High School Practice Hours