Central Oregonian

Zero Week

OSAA rules prohibit coaches having contact with players this week

Lon Austin

Beginning last year, the OSAA declared a moratorium on the contact coaches have with players during the first week of August.

The idea is that both coaches and players need a break following a long summer of games, camps, and drills.

This year’s moratorium happens to coincide with the Crook County Fair.

The timing couldn’t be better for most teams. However, from a reporting standpoint, it makes for a slow week.

The sports world picks up again next week when football begins their conditioning camp, soccer starts the summer sandlot soccer program, and volleyball holds their annual individual camp.

Normally, zero contact means zero contact.

Coaches are not able to e-mail, phone, practice with, or coach any of their athletes — no contact whatsoever. In addition, athletes are not allowed access to practice facilities or weight rooms.

Coaches in some sports may have left their athletes with suggested workouts, but it is up to the athlete whether or not he or she chooses to work out.

This year, however, the OSAA has made an exception to the zero-contact rule for the CCHS softball program.

The softball team has arranged to help with traffic control and other services at the Crook County Fair as a fundraiser.

With no contact, head coach Reggie Holcomb would have been unable to work at the fundraiser with his team.

However, athletic director Scott Polen requested an exemption from the OSAA so that the team could do the fundraiser.

Kudos to the OSAA for granting the exception. With no sports funding, it is critical that all CCHS teams have the opportunity to raise sufficient funds to maintain their programs at current levels. Since softball is not about to start up for the season most of those players will have plenty of time to rest before the start of their season. It’s nice to see that the OSAA can still use common sense when enforcing their rules.