Home Forums Long Island & Eastern New York Soccer Message Boards BOTN Main Message Board Practice requirements to participate in NYS high school soccer game

Can anyone tell me how the practice requirements to participate in a high school soccer game works. My kid is coming off an injury and we want to ease him back in. How many practices must he participate in to be eligible to play in a game and what constitutes participating in a practice to count as a practice.


Also does someone have a link or can you post a copy of the Rule.

Thank you for your assistance.

There are no practice requirements as part of NFHS (national governing body). If NYS has implemented them, that's over reaching IMO. Check with his doctor, physical therapist, or trainer. They'll tell you what the child should be limited to (jogs, runs, no contact, full contact, etc). Then it's up to the coach on how to utilize the player in practice/games.

Around here, you simply need clearance from the treating physician (doctor, PT, or school trainer). Without that, it doesn't matter what the player thinks, the coach won't put them in a game.

According to NYSPHSAA you need 6 practices.

That's stupid. As OP said, what constitutes being in a "practice"?

It's absolutely stupid. Some fat asses in NYSPHSAA who never touched a ball in thir life (other than their own) think this is a good idea. Couple that with HS teachers who think they know how to coach but can't tell you what a Rondo is, and it's a recipe for disaster.

Is this a rule for all sports or just soccer?

So some kid rolls right from the beach on to a field and thinks he/she is prepared to play? Your comment is ridiculous and tells me you probably know less about sports than the HS coaches that you dislike. There are rules and they are their for a good reason. If your kid misses too many classes and can't graduate are you gonna cry about that? My guess here is your son or daughter can't play the first game or two because they didn't have enough required practices. That's just too bad. They made their choice. You have to make decisions and learn from them. Deal with it and stop being a disgruntled, whiny parent.

Most sports require 6. I know football requires 10.

Yes, the question is what constitutes participating in a practice so it counts as one of the six? Especially if the player is gradually increasing activity and intensity. 1/2 the practice, 3/4 or the entire practice? What if they do everything but Intra squad scrimmage. . What if almost the entire practice is an intrasquad scrimmage?

However, as an aside the poster who said the rule makes sense is correct. You can’t go 0-100 first time back. It’s about protecting the player.
Even Messi didn’t start first game at PSG. He came off the bench in the second half wotj limited minutes. As he was not 100 percent in game shape yet even though he had practiced for several weeks. .

22. PRACTICE SESSIONS:
Athletes must meet all Standards of Eligibility to participate in practice.

a. An organized practice in grades 7-12 is a session for the purpose of providing instruction and
practice in physical conditioning activities, skills, team play, and game strategy designed expressly
for that sport under the supervision of a qualified coach appointed by the Board of Education of the
local school district. Such instruction and practice shall be held only during the season designated
for that sport. Athletes who switch from one sport to another sport are permitted to count
conditioning practices toward their new sport as follows (excluding bowling, golf, and rifle):

1. Sports with six (6) practices for the individual before the first contest/ scrimmage will be
allowed to carryover three (3) days.

2. Sports with ten (10) practices for the individual before the first contest/ scrimmage will
be allowed to carryover four (4) days.

NOTE: Athletes whose seasons are lengthened due to participation in NYSPHSAA Regional
and Championship contests are allowed to count conditioning practices towards their new
sports as follows: 1) Sports with six (6) practices for the individual before the first contest/
scrimmage will be allowed to carryover three (3) days; 2) Sports with ten (10) practices for
the individual before the first contest/ scrimmage will be allowed to carryover four (4)
days.

b. No student or team may be permitted to participate in school organized practice or play on seven
consecutive days during the regular season. Specifically, during the regular season, physical and/or
instructional activities related to the sport on seven consecutive days are prohibited.

NOTE: Any contests leading up to Sectional play is considered “regular season."
Only one practice session a day and only six days of a calendar week may be counted toward the
total practice sessions required. A practice session conducted on the same day as a game cannot be
counted to meet the minimum practice requirement to be eligible for that day’s contest. All
required practice sessions shall be organized and planned for a reasonable length of time and shall
include vigorous activity specific to the sport for the purpose of improving the physical condition of
the players. Warm-ups prior to a game/ contest are not considered “practice.” Each of the required
number of practices for an individual must include vigorous activity.

NOTE: Practice is considered an integral part of the interschool program in that sport. An
individual must be eligible according to age and all other Eligibility Standards to participate
in practices or competitions with the high school squad in that sport

You can kiss my USSF licensed ass in Macy's window. I've forgotten more than you currently know. No league in the world would endorse playing six days a week. Maybe video, tactical, etc, but never full on play. Guess you've never heard of recovery? Maybe your kid should put down the cupcakes and get some exercise outside of hs season. No one wants over use injuries.

That should be between the coach and the player. If the coach doesn't think the kid's ready, they don't have to play them. What if the kid had been running miles on his own or at a sport camp? There is no reason for a state wide 6 (or 10 in the case of FB) minimum practice. Should the state say "players can only be on the field for 20 minutes at a time then need a 5 minute break"?

Yes, rules are rules, and folks need to abide by them. That doesn't mean we can't think the rule is stupid.

No. The rule is not stupid. It’s to protect the players and the other poster is right. 6 days a week is too much.

Also, I don’t think most of the high school coaches know what they they are doing and are not looking out for the best interests of the players. A kid I know is starting off the season injured and the Hs coach is “ encouraging “ him to come back earlier than that recommended by the doctor. I have never experienced club doing this.
So the 6 practice rule is a good one. Because there are several games per week, the kid wouldn’t be able to play for at least 2-3 weeks and that is a good thing. He will have more time to heal. The coach only cares about looking good and the kid makes him look good. He can’t coach.

hs soccer is so unimportant.

So sorry are not qualified to get a HS job. Many HS require a coach to have a college degree and all require coaches to pass background checks and have completed courses in concussion , first aid and CPR. With your ignorant comment, I doubt you can make the cut. A "real coach" is a teacher on the field, not only of the beautiful game , but also the more important game of life. For years I have seen horrible comments from disgrunteled "club coaches" blasting HS coaches with a broad brush of negativity. I know many coaches who have played and coached on very high level programs and those schools are always producing players who go on to excel at the next level. I know it's a tough pill to swallow but its time that you get over it.

Oh gee, I guess your the only one with a USSF card. I forgot your "special" and it sure didn't make you any smarter. Who said anything about 6 straight days of training in the original OP? Furthermore, even if they are training 6 days and resting on Sunday, how the hell do you know that the coach isn't running light training and focusing on specific tactics on day 6 so as not to overwhelm the athlete? You're a jackass who knows way less then you think you know. You're a flipping tw*t!!

You couldn't be more wrong. Actually, HS soccer/sports is more important in the college application process than club ball. Keep believing all the crap your trainers are telling you and also the money making academies. I know, your club/team/coach/trainer is going to get you into a college. Maybe if you can play for susa they can brag about you getting into The College of St.Rose. Ever hear of them? Me neither!!

The quality of the schools that susa promotes their players getting into is the real joke, and they get no money. I know susa will claim otherwise, but talk is cheap.

Colleges look for students that have participated in after school clubs and sports and discount any sports outside of the school environment. Perhaps you need to have a chat with your kid's guidance counselor than your kid's soccer trainer!!

Few and far between.

You are a hundred percent right. I was referring to risking further injury before being ready to come back in order to play hs

Kid #4 is graduating HS this year. All 4 played varsity sports. In my experience with the 6 practices rule before you can play in a "contest" is the only people who complained about it were those parents whose kids missed a practice or two and couldn't play in the first game of the season. Everyone knows when tryouts start, so if your kid missed a practice then that is either their fault or the parents. Then they cry to the AD who now is put in a bad spot. I personally don't think its a stupid rule as the kids need to get back into some sort of game shape and learn to play with new teammates that they don't play their club games with all year.

I think what a lot of people are missing about minimum practice attendance is to let the athletes know that once they make a team they have a minimum participation rate. If they cannot participate in the required practices then they should not be trying out for the team and let others that are more serious participate.

It is a privilege to make a team and Coaches want athletes that can give it their all and can be at enough practices so that the team can work on teamwork, set plays, etc and actually learn to play as a team.

I don't think you even know what we're talking about. REQUIRING someone to participate in six practices before being able to play is stupid. Transfer/vacations/camps can all impact that. You want a rule "protecting" the kids... They can't play without a yearly physical AND a medical professional's clearance if injured during the season.

I have yet to see a college coach at a HS game. I've seen plenty at club events. Do they want kids who participate in after school activities? Of course, but "discount any sports played outside of school"? Hahahahahaha.

You really dont know how it works, do you?

First of all, let your child grow up...when he/she goes to college they are adults and need to focus on a career and be a coaches bitch at practice when scool work is intense and a name college is important to graduate from. Of course you could play for susa and maybe get accepted to play soccer at The College of St. Rose and then after graduation, if they graduate, they can become a trainer at susa

Why high school was done so was soccer in my house. was I right in doing that and stopping on daughter from playing in college? I don't know, but I'll ask daughter #1, Dr. Miller, and daughter #2 J.D., and see if it was worth not playing soccer in college?

I have a lot of respect for you LI Ref, but genuinely surprised on your take. Players "giving it their all" has nothing to do with being at 6 practices straight . What player doesn't want to give it their all? So if a player has driver's ed at practice time they're disqualified from week's game?
And you of all people should know that many hs coaches have no idea how to run set pieces, tactical play, etc. It's basically conditioning, passing, shooting, and small sided. Basic things.
And a ref firsthand knows how many miles they run during a game. Do this 6 days straight for two games a day, overuse at some point will happen.
So, why 6 days of practice and not 5, allowing for a day of recovery?

What does any of that have to do with your statement that college coaches "discount any sports outside of school"? Those are YOUR words. It has nothing to do with the intensity of school work.

And why would you stop your child from doing something they have an interest in? If my child says they don't want to play after HS, that's fine. But I won't force them to give up a sport just like I won't force them to play a sport.