Catawba Campus 2650 India Hook Road Rock Hill, SC 29732 803-366-4119

WESTMINSTER CATAWBA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Catawba Campus • 2650 India Hook Road • Rock Hill, SC 29732 • 803-366-4119 Westminster Campus • 1310 India Hook Road • Rock Hill, SC 29732 • 803-366-1810

_____ www.wccs.org ______

Monday, April 23, 2012

Dear Coaches and Fall Student Athlete Parents,

The health and well - being of our student athletes has always been a top priority for both the athletic department and the school as a whole. In keeping with our core values and mission statement, we always strive to improve policy and stay abreast of the latest athletic news.

Below is the latest policy released by the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association. We will adhere strictly to this policy for all fall sports. We encourage you to print a copy of the policy and it will also be posted on the athletic department section of the school website: www.wccs.org by selecting the athletic tab for this and other information.

NCISAA HEAT ACCLIMATIZATION POLICY FOR ALL FALL SPORTS

The heat acclimatization period is defined as the initial 14 days of preseason practice. The goal of the acclimatization period is to enhance exercise heat tolerance and the ability to exercise safely and effectively in warm to hot conditions. This period should begin on the first day of official team practice for the season. Any practices or conditioning conducted before this time should not be considered ä part of the heat acclimatization period. Regardless of the conditioning program and conditioning status leading up to the first formal practice, all players (including those who arrive at preseason practice after the first day of practice) should follow the 14 day heat acclimatization plan.

1. Days 1 through 5 of the heat acclimatization period consist of the first 5 days of formal practice. During this time athletes may not participate in more than 1 practice per day. 2. A practice is defined as the period of time a participant engages in a coach-supervised, school approved sport or conditioning-related physical activity. Each individual practice should last no more than 3 hours. Warm-up, stretching and cool-down activities are included as part of the 3 hour practice time. For fall sports other than football, a coach may separate the 3 hour practices into smaller time segments not to exceed a total of 3 hours. 3. If practice is interrupted by inclement weather, the practice can recommence once conditions are deemed safe. Total practice time should not exceed 3 hours in any one day. 4. A 1 hour maximum walk-through is permitted during days 1-5 of the heat acclimatization period. However, a 3 hour recovery period should be inserted between the practice and walk-through – or vice versa.

______Community • Dignity • Integrity • Scholarship • Giftedness • Leadership • Stewardship • Service 2 5. A walk-through is defined as a teaching opportunity with the athletes not wearing protective equipment (helmets, shoulder pads, etc.) or using sport related equipment (footballs, blocking sleds, etc.). The walk-through is not part of the 3 hour practice period, can last no more than 1 hour per day and does not include conditioning. 6. During days 1-2 of the heat acclimatization period, a helmet should be the only protective equipment permitted. During days 3-5, only helmets and shoulder pads should be worn. Contact with blocking sleds and tackling dummies may be initiated. Beginning on day 6, all protective equipment may be worn and full contact can begin. 7. Beginning on day 6, double practice days must be followed by a single practice day. On the single practice days, one walk through is permitted, separated from the practice by at least 3 hours. When a double practice day is followed by a rest day, another double practice day is permitted after the rest day. 8. On a double practice day, neither practice should exceed 3 hours in duration, and student athletes should not participate in more than 5 hours of practice. Warm-up, stretching, cool-down, walk-through and conditioning are included as part of the practice time. The 2 practices should be separated by ä least 3 continuous hours. 9. During the preseason heat acclimatization period, if a practice occurs on 6 consecutive days, student athletes should have 1 day of complete rest (no conditioning, walk-through, practices, etc.). 10. Days on which athletes do not practice due to a scheduled rest day, injury, or illness do not count toward the heat acclimatization period. For example, an athlete who sits out the 3rd and 4th days of practice during this time (e.g., Wednesday and Thursday) will resume practice as if on day 3 when returning to play on Friday. 11. Scrimmages during the heat acclimatization period are considered 1 practice.

If, after reading the NCISAA policy, we encourage you to contact the athletic department at 803.328.5468 or [email protected] and we will be happy to discuss the state mandated policy with you.

Thank you, as always for your support of the athletic department.

Dan Devine

Athletic Director and Head Varsity Football Coach Westminster Catawba Christian School 2650 India Hook Road Rock Hill, South Carolina 29732 [email protected] www.wccs.org