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High school league approves fewer two-a-day practices

By DAVID LA VAQUE, Star Tribune, 03/13/15, 1:30PM CDT

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The measure was part of a bylaw change intended to enhance player safety.

The tradition of welcoming high school athletes to football season with a week of grueling yet rewarding two-a-day practices has ended.

With an eye on player safety amid growing concussion and heat acclimatization concerns, the Minnesota State High School League Representative Assembly on Friday approved new bylaw language governing the first 18 days of the football season.

Perhaps no change is more significant than mandating any double practice days be followed by a single practice day.

Other changes, which will be implemented for the 2015 season, include mandates for length of practices, length of rest periods and amounts of contact. The changes re-write an existing bylaw.

The changes are based on the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Preseason Heat-Acclimatization Guidelines and recommendations from the National Federation of High School Associations Concussion Summit.

“I’m glad it was passed,” said Kevin Merkle, league associate director who oversees football. “We may have to make adjustments as needed but it’s important to move in this direction.”

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