The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) approved a proposal last spring to allow coaches in all sports to have contact with their athletes year-round. With football, coaches can work with their players, but helmets and shoulder pads are prohibited.

Why is the AIA allowing sports to be played year-round?

For one, even though practicing year-round was not allowed by the AIA, schools found ways around it and policing such practices was difficult.

“The big concern was these coaches that were working as an outside entity, were they in violation of district policies,” said David Hines, Executive Director of the AIA.

“It created some legal concerns that there might be a conflict of interest with some of our coaches running some of these camps or clinics. So, it just took the people that were circumventing the rule and just made it, ‘Here's what you can and can't do,’ which has basically opened it up."

With the AIA changing the rule, it now means their might be a more level playing field.

“I think the AIA looking at the rule just saw that the current system that was in place, that process was benefiting programs that were able to run offseason camps and have the resources, and staffing to run offseason camps through the community ed program and some schools didn’t,” Red Mountain High School Athletic Director James Gowdy said. “I think the rule changes were put in place so all schools have the opportunity to work with their kids in the offseason.”

These camps or clinics that are referenced by Gowdy and Hines were run by third parties not directly involved with the school or team, and the AIA had no jurisdiction over them. This rule now gives the AIA more control over what is going on in the offseason.

Rule changes often come with unintended consequences, and it’s fair to question the benefits of playing a single sport year-round. Gowdy, however, said he doesn’t think the rule change will dramatically impact how teams conduct their practices.

“I don't think many schools have changed their practices — I don't know of any schools that are going to year-round football,” Gowdy said. “I just don't think that that's something that philosophically people think is a good thing. We want kids to have time off as well (and) have an opportunity to get involved in other school activities, such as other sports.”

Just because coaches now have the opportunity to work with their athletes year-round, that doesn’t mean they are going to put pressure on the kids to do so, Gowdy and coaches said. Playing more than one sport is still something that is recommended by not only the coaches and Athletic Directors, but the AIA.

“Statistics show that kids are more prone to injury doing the same activity year-round,” Hines said. “So we suggest that they participate in other sports. The intent of the coaches coaching out of season was if a few kids wanted to get a little extra time, the coach would not be in violation if they did do that. What we're cautioning coaches against is that you just have a free-for-all out there and that you're demanding that these kids are working out with a coach every day all year long.”

Even though coaches have been given this opportunity, some still believe that athletes are better off playing other sports.

“Every one of our kids are more than encouraged to go to another sport,” Red Mountain High School head football coach Mike Peterson said.

“I've got to a saying I like to say, ‘a change is as good as a break.’ So, if they're off doing something different for a while and still working on some athleticism. You imagine all of our linemen wrestling (and) learning about leverage? And where to place their hands. I mean, that's going to make us better.” Peterson said.

Multi-sport athletes drive high school athletics. Athletic directors and coaches realize this and will continue to emphasize the importance of not focusing on one sport.

"We really stress the importance of multi-sport athletes, so we don't want football going year-round; we don't want basketball and baseball going year-round. We want our kids to develop,” Gowdy said. “For example, our quarterback is a varsity basketball player. Our coaches work together to share athletes and make sure that kids are not being exhausted by all the requirements from each program.”

The nature of competition forces coaches, players, and parents to find an edge in competition. But, if someone tries to push the limits on this rule the AIA is not afraid to make changes.

“The membership has been tasked with, ‘You guys have requested this rule. You have put it into play.’” Hines said.

“We've educated ADs and coaches, ‘Be smart. Don't take advantage of it.’ Part of the rule is, "This is voluntary for kids. You cannot mandate the kids participate all year long. And as long as the kids want to do that, they're within their right to do that. But if the membership sees it progressing to the point where the kids are being overused, I could see it coming back for a vote to change what we do.”

The AIA has given freedom and responsibility to the schools and in particular the coaches. They have trusted the coaches to do the right thing. But in doing so, the association is not scared to pull the plug.

Said Hines, “If coaches do not go to this cautiously and with good intention and being smart about it, it will come back to the legislative council.”