Football Jamboree and Practice Release

April 16, 2009

OHSAA Football Schools Permitted Third Preseason Contest and May Include Jamboree Game

Jamboree game permitted from August 14-22

Click here for the complete release and application form.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio High School Athletic Association football schools will be permitted to participate in three preseason contests at the high school level, OHSAA Commissioner Daniel B. Ross has announced. As in the past, there may be a maximum of two scrimmages held, but now a third contest – a Jamboree – is permitted. For 2009, the Jamboree may be held anytime between August 14 and August 22.

A Jamboree is a contest played in accordance with National Federation of State High School Associations playing rules. The Jamboree will provide football teams with a "game-like" tune-up prior to the first official game and will give school athletic departments an additional revenue generating activity. In addition, schools that sponsor a Jamboree will contribute a portion of the income to the OHSAA to help defray costs of providing catastrophe accident insurance coverage. OHSAA catastrophic accident insurance provides coverage for more than 300,000 Ohio interscholastic athletes in the event of a catastrophic injury (medical bills exceeding $25,000). The annual cost of the insurance is $700,000.

"I think the coaches are excited that they will be able to provide their players with another tune-up prior to their first game," Ross said. "By charging admission, it will also give our member schools another revenue source during these tough economic times.

"In addition, the revenues generated will assist in paying the annual insurance premium, which provides catastrophe accident coverage for member school students who are athletes, managers, trainers and cheerleaders within the entire interscholastic program," Ross added. "By approving the Jamboree, our Board of Directors believes this is a 'win-win' for everyone."

Details of the new football measures are listed below. Also included in this release are sample Jamboree Game formats.

• Schools are permitted three preseason contest opportunities but are NOT required to utilize all three opportunities.
• Schools are be permitted to conduct any of the following:
IF HOLDING THREE PRESEASON CONTEST OPPORTUNITIES (choice of one):
    a. One scrimmage, one preview and one Jamboree Game.
    b. Two scrimmages and one Jamboree Game.
IF HOLDING TWO PRESEASON CONTEST OPPORTUNITIES (choice of one):
    a. One scrimmage and one Jamboree Game.
    b. One preview and one Jamboree Game.
    c. Two scrimmages

d. One scrimmage and one preview.
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS
• A school may choose to conduct the Jamboree Game as its second or third preseason contest opportunity (but may NOT conduct the Jamboree Game as its first preseason contest opportunity).
• A school may NOT conduct three scrimmages (or two scrimmages and one preview) without the second or third contest opportunity being a Jamboree Game.
• An application fee of $250 per school must be submitted to the OHSAA when a Jamboree Game is held. Details on the registration/application procedures are attached.
• Beginning in 2010, the Jamboree Game will be permitted ONLY on the Friday or Saturday preceding the first game of the regular season.

While approving the addition of the Jamboree, the OHSAA Board of Directors also has adopted the preseason football schedule for member schools. It should be noted that 7th-8th grade football teams are now permitted to add a second scrimmage, but the first scrimmage may not be held until after 10 days of practice. The second scrimmage will be eliminated in 2010 in place of an eighth regular season game. Currently 7th and 8th grade football teams may play seven games. The schedule is listed below.

2009 OHSAA Preseason Football Practice Schedule

NOTE: 7th-8th grade teams can scrimmage after 10 days of practice and prior to their first game

Week 1

Mon., Aug. 3: Practice may begin (Acclimatization Day 1 - shorts, shoes and helmets, no contact)

Tue., Aug. 4: Practice (Acclimatization Day 2 - shorts, shoes and helmets, no contact)

Wed., Aug. 5: Practice (Acclimatization Day 3 - shorts, shoes, shoulder pads and helmets, no contact)

Thu., Aug. 6: Practice (Acclimatization Day 4 - shorts, shoes, shoulder pads and helmets, no contact)

Fri., Aug. 7: Practice (Acclimatization Day 5 - full equipment, no contact)

Sat., Aug. 8: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted)

Week 2

Sun., Aug. 9: Mandatory day off

Mon., Aug. 10: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted)

Tue., Aug. 11: First day high school scrimmage permitted (provided schools completed the five days of

acclimatization and two days of regular practice)

Wed., Aug. 12: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted)

Thu., Aug. 13: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted)

Fri., Aug. 14: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted)

First day high school Jamboree permitted (through Sat., Aug. 22)

First day 7th-8th grade scrimmage permitted (provided schools completed the five days of

acclimatization and five days of regular practice)

Sat., Aug. 15: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted); Jamboree permitted

Week 3

Sun., Aug. 16: Mandatory day off

Mon., Aug. 17: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted); Jamboree permitted

Tue., Aug. 18: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted); Jamboree permitted

Wed., Aug. 19: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted); Jamboree permitted

Thu., Aug. 20: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted); Jamboree permitted

Fri., Aug. 21: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted); Jamboree permitted

Sat., Aug. 22: Practice (full equipment and full contact permitted)

Last day high school Jamboree or scrimmage permitted

Week 4

Sun., Aug. 23: Mandatory day off

Mon., Aug. 24: First day high school and 7th-8th grade game permitted*

* Most varsity teams will play their first contest on Friday, Aug. 28, or Saturday, Aug. 29

Jamboree Sample Format No. 1 (Varsity Game Only Between Two Schools)

Purpose: Conduct a preseason varsity football contest (Jamboree), which will serve as preparation for the team, generate excitement in the community and create additional income for the school.

Admission: $5 adults, $4 students

4:00-7:00 Chicken Barb-B-Q sponsored by the athletic boosters or student council, etc.

4:00-halftime 50/50 Raffle

5:00 Pregame concert by marching band

6:30 Kickoff

Jamboree Sample Format No. 2 (Varsity Game Only Between Four Schools)

Purpose: Conduct a preseason varsity football contest (Jamboree), which will serve as preparation for the team, generate excitement in the community and create additional income for the school.

Admission: $6 adults, $4 students

4:30-8:30 Tailgate party sponsored by the athletic boosters or student council, etc.

4:30-8:30 50/50 Raffle

5:00 Pregame concert by marching bands

6:30 Two quarters played between host school and visiting school #1

7:30 Half ends, teams exit field and/or join tailgate party

7:30 Pregame warm-ups begin for visiting school #2 and visiting school #3

8:00 Two quarters played between visiting school #2 and visiting school #3

Jamboree Sample Format No. 3 (Freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity Contest Between Two Schools)

Purpose: Conduct preseason contests featuring the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams between two schools (Jamboree), which will serve as preparation for the team, generate excitement in the community and create additional income for the school.

Admission: $8 adults, $4 students

3:00-4:00 High school cheerleaders conduct youth clinic, $10 per youth cheerleader

4:00-4:30 Marching band concert

4:30-7:00 Athletic boosters hold spaghetti dinner

4:30-8:00 50/50 Raffle

4:45 Freshmen teams play two quarters, 9 minutes each

5:30 Freshmen half ends; junior varsity game warm-ups begin

6:00 Junior varsity teams play two quarters, 10 minutes each

7:00 Junior varsity half ends; varsity game warm-ups begin

7:30 Varsity teams play full game, 12 minutes per quarter

Click here for the complete release and application form.

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