SoutheasternOhioPreps.com

What are the rules on preseason conditioning? Can the boys use basketballs or run drills or are they only allowed to run and such?

Coaches ARE allowed to utilize conditioning drills that require the use of a basketball

wrong, unless they recently changed the rules conditioning is legal but without a basketball. balls can only be used in legal open gym situations.

I've been coaching high school boys basketball for the past 10 years, and have never been told that it was illegal to "condition" with a basketball. Actually, at the most recent District 16 coaches clinic, it was clarified and encouraged. Based off of what I could find, the OHSAA By-Laws and Basketball Rules and Regulation indicate no definition of conditioning that limits the use of a basketball. Unless it is specified somewhere that I can not find (which I guess is always possible) , it is not illegal

To have your players participate in drills that teach your offensive and defensive strategies and attempt to disguise it as simply "conditioning", to gain an advantage in the preseason....that would be illegal

other than open gym no basketball. no ind instruction.

r1master wrote:I've been coaching high school boys basketball for the past 10 years, and have never been told that it was illegal to "condition" with a basketball. Actually, at the most recent District 16 coaches clinic, it was clarified and encouraged. Based off of what I could find, the OHSAA By-Laws and Basketball Rules and Regulation indicate no definition of conditioning that limits the use of a basketball. Unless it is specified somewhere that I can not find (which I guess is always possible) , it is not illegal

Then you have been doing it illegal for the past ten years.

"and that my friends, is the UGLYTRUTH!"

I do stand corrected, a rule was found on page 68 of the OHSAA rules and regulations, but not mentioned in any of the yearly coaching handbooks and guidelines, and very vague to say the least. However, i know what we have done, with or without a ball, would not be viewed as unethical, like a good percentage of other programs that i know of do as well.

Or maybe that explains why southeastern teams typically get dominated when they cross paths with southwestern ohio teams...we get misinformed at our district meetings, resulting in a "conditioning advantage" lol

MY BAD though SPARKY, you were right, there is a rule that states not to use balls or disguise any preseason conditioning as a way to instruct

there are many coaches who flat out cheat, there are others who bend the rules with vague interpretations of the rules. i know of a well known very successful coach who tried to tell me that each coach in the system and volunteers each had 10 days. and he has about 5 or 6 coaches on his bench, that would be 60 days of instruction.
i would bet that every coach has bent the rules somewhat, some more than others. some just blatantly don't care about following the rules. THEY CALL IT COMPETITIVE EDGE OR KEEPING UP WITH THEIR COMPETITION. some coaches go by the theory if they cheat, cheat em back. keep up with the times. JUST WIN BABY. I am sure there are many admin. that know what is going on and turn a blind eye. of course many of these admin. are former coaches and probably did the same thing.
IT IS ONLY CHEATING IF YOU GET CAUGHT. THAT IS TRUE OF A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT JUST COACHES.

I hear ya Sparky, and agree that you are probably right on the money with all of your points...now that I have looked at both the OHSAA rules and regulations and the yearly coaching handbook that is mailed out more closely, there is clearly a disconnect between the 2 documents, which creates a genuine uncertainty, and needs to be defined even more specifically in regards to acceptable conditioning drills.

I personally just attended a coaching clinic where the whole PURPOSE of the guest speaker was to demonstrate various conditioning drills that require a basketball, and would get kids in shape while not being considered direct instruction. His whole theme was "Don't run just to run, condition with a purpose" ....And the clinic was put on by the OHSBCA!!! See the confusion??

But your right, regardless of any rule or clarification, some would choose to ignore it.

there are so many ways to get around the rules if a coach wanted to that the rules should be changed to guidelines lol if they are going to try to gain an advantage they may be dedicated to the thought and continue to molest the rules anyway. I call people like that weak.

During my playing days a basketball was nowhere to be found during conditioning. Making it through and getting to that first practice in November with a basketball in hand was considered a prize for the hard work you had put in.