Football, Basketball, and Spring Sports Rules and Regulations
IM 4.111
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Football - Middle Schools - Grades 6, 7 and 8
The following regulations apply to football programs in middle schools.
Practices
• Practice may begin no sooner than the first day of school for students.
• The first three (3) days of practice shall be conditioning. Shoulder pads and helmets may be worn.
• Practice shall be limited to one and one-half hours (1-1/2) daily.
• Each school may participate in one inter-school scrimmage before the regular season.
Regular Season
• The first game may be played no sooner than the Thursday preceding the second high school varsity game.
• The league will be divided into an Eastern and Western Division.
• The regular season will be limited to six (6) games within seven (7) playing dates.
• Certified officials must be used with a minimum of two (2) but preferably three (3) per game.
Championship Game
A championship game will be played at the end of the regular six (6) game schedule between the winners of each Division.
• In case of a tie for any division championship, the champion will be decided by the tie breaking procedure used by the TSSAA for varsity football.
• The site of the championship game will be determined by the flip of a coin or rotated each year between divisions.
• The host school shall be responsible for securing officials, security, ticket sales, and all other responsibilities necessary for the game.
• All costs of the game will be the responsibility of the two (2) participating schools. Any profits from the game will be shared equally by the schools involved in the game.
Football – Ninth and Tenth Grade
The following regulations apply to ninth (9th) and tenth (10th) grade football programs:
Practices
• Practice may begin on the date designated by the TSSAA.
• The first three (3) days of practice shall be conditioning.
• Helmets may be worn in accordance with TSSAA regulations.
• Practice shall be limited to once a day and to two (2) hours.
• Each school may participate in one (1) inter-school scrimmage before the regular season.
Regular Season
• The regular season will be limited to six (6) games within seven (7) playing dates.
• The first game may be played no sooner than the Thursday preceding the second high school varsity game.
• Certified officials must be used, with a minimum of two (2) for each game.
Championship Game
• A championship game will be played at the end of the regular season.
• TSSAA tie-breaking procedures will be used in case of a tie.
Football - High School
The following regulations apply to high school football programs:
Practices
• There shall be no football practice in pads from the close of school until the date set for beginning fall practice.
• The date for beginning fall practice shall be the same as the starting date established by the TSSAA.
• The first three (3) days of practice are limited to conditioning. Helmets may be worn.
• To qualify for a bowl game, a team must win five (5) games (same as TSSAA policy).
Spring Practice
Metro high schools can have spring football practice provided they meet the following conditions:
• Practice will not begin before May 1 and can be no longer than ten (10) days. Practice shall be in compliance with TSSAA rules.
• Equipment shall include helmets and full pads.
• Assistant coaches and players of spring sports shall not participate in spring football practice until their spring sport team is eliminated from competition.
• Spring sports take precedence for the use of all facilities.
• Football coaches cannot discourage athletes from playing spring sports
Elementary School
Tackle football is not approved for students below the sixth grade. An intramural program of other activities should be provided for this group.
Basketball - Middle School (Grades 6, 7 and 8)
The following regulations apply to basketball programs in grades 6, 7 and 8:
• Basketball may begin on the starting date established by the TSSAA.
• Practice time shall be limited to one and one-half (1-1/2) hours daily.
• There shall be no Saturday or Sunday practices.
• Seasonal play may begin on the date established by the TSSAA.
• Fourteen (14) regular season games shall be the maximum number played.
• The beginning game of a double-header should be scheduled no later than 5:30 p.m. during the regular season.
• Games in the city tournament shall not be counted in the fourteen (14) games allowed.
Basketball - Ninth Grade
The following regulations apply to basketball programs in ninth grade.
• Basketball practice may begin on the starting date established by the TSSAA.
• Practice time shall be limited to two (2) hours daily.
• Seasonal play may begin on the date established by the TSSAA.
• Sixteen (16) regular season games shall be the maximum number played.
• A team shall be permitted to participate in one winter holiday tournament in addition to the season ending tournament. (A tournament counts in the 16 games allowed.)
• Games once scheduled shall be played.
Basketball - High School
The following regulations apply to basketball programs in high school:
• Basketball practice may begin on the starting date established by the TSSAA.
• Seasonal play may begin on the date established by the TSSAA.
• Twenty four (24) regular season games may be played.
• Only one (1) game per week may be played on a night preceding a school day unless permission is given by the Director of Athletics.
• A night game is defined as one in which the first game starts after 5:30 p.m.
• No practice or games may be conducted on December 24th or 25th.
• Any games sponsored by an organization other than the participating schools must be approved by the Director of Athletics and the Assistant Superintendent for High Schools.
• There shall be no basketball practice from the conclusion of the State tournament until the close of the school year.
• It is mandatory to have three (3) officials at all varsity basketball games.
Definition of Football and Basketball Practice
Practice is defined as a coach or representative of a coach and one or more players together with instruction, teaching, and coaching in the particular sport.
Practice may begin in each sport when allowed by the TSSAA. Once a team completes its season, there will be no practice allowed until the afternoon of the last day of school and only then in accordance with TSSAA policy. The only exception is the sport of football which can have spring practice with the following regulations:
· Practice will not begin before May 1 and can be no longer than ten (10) days. Practice shall be in compliance with TSSAA rules.
· Equipment shall include helmets and full pads.
· Assistant coaches and players of spring sports shall not participate in spring football practice until their spring sport team is eliminated from competition.
· Spring sports take precedence for the use of all facilities.
· Football coaches cannot discourage athletes from playing spring sports.
Open facilities are allowed in accordance with TSSAA policy. Schools may use school facilities for students in their building prior to or at the conclusion of the school day. Coaches may serve in a supervisory capacity only. There is no instruction, no teaching, no coaching, etc. Coaches may not participate or play in any manner. It is a free play type atmosphere.
Radio/Television
There shall be no radio broadcast or televised telecast, delayed or otherwise, of any athletic contest, unless prior approval is granted by the Athletic Director and Principals of the schools involved. No advertisement of products whose use is illegal or prohibited on the premises of Metro Nashville Public Schools shall be used by the sponsoring stations.
Site/Time of Athletic Contests
All Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools’ basketball and football home games must be played at a site maintained and operated by the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, schools holding membership in the TSSAA, or schools that are members of other State High School Athletic Associations. The principal of the host schools must have complete control of the administration of the contest. This policy recognizes that sites can/will be determined or approved by the
TSSAA for play-offs or tournaments. If a site other than those listed above is utilized, approval must be obtained for the Director of Athletics.
When two principals cannot mutually agree on playing a contest, or time, or home site, or date, etc., the home team does not decide on the details. The decision will be made by the Athletic Director.
MNPS teams playing each other will start football games at 7:00 p.m. and basketball games at 6:00 p.m. unless stipulated otherwise in a contract.
Safety Responsibilities
Safety always must be the number one concern. The “Heat Stress Guidelines” and “Lightning Guidelines” must be followed.
Each coach must have an emergency plan ready in case of injuries. No athlete is allowed to practice unless a current physical, parent permission and proof of insurance form is on file. Emergency cards are to be taken to all practices, scrimmages and games.
Football coaches must follow the “Football Headgear Guidelines” including proper tackling techniques and the purchase and reconditioning of headgear.
In track, discus and shot, practices and contests cannot take place without a proper backstop.
Coaches should regularly check all playing fields for hazards.
All 7-12 schools should have their administrators present at all football, basketball and home soccer contests. All other athletic contests must be supervised by either the administrator or the administrator’s designee. Also, all schools should have their administrators present at the football and basketball jamborees where their schools participate.
Admissions to Athletic Contests
The Educational Agreement states “all teachers shall be admitted without charge to regular season athletic contests involving their schools, both at home and away” (Page 24). However, this refers to only those teachers at the home school and the competing school, not teachers system-wide.
References/Authority
IM 4.108 Eligibility Requirements for Athletics
IM 4.107 Athletic Program General Rules and Regulations
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