The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has established new rules for football practices, limiting high school football teams to 90 minutes of collision practice per week.

The new rule reflects the results of a survey that the MHSAA distributed to coaches in the state.

“We surveyed schools and asked, ‘How much are you hitting?’ and all the results came back that 90 minutes seemed to be the spot close to the middle, some hit more, some less,” said John Johnson, MHSAA communications director. “When the football committee discussed it they decided to not place a number of days that you could have contact, but rather limit the total of collision practice to 90 minutes a week.”

Since they were already limiting contact in their practices on their own, coaches from across the state don’t seem concerned with the new rules.

Utica Eisenhower head coach Chris Smith is in favor of the limitations.

“We probably don’t even do that much collision to begin with so I think the rule is a good rule, trying to protect kids and it’s a way to protect our sport since our sport is under attack already,” Smith told The Detroit News. “It’s safer than it’s ever been and I think these rules just helps protect the kids and the sport.”

The previous rule limited hitting to two practices a week.

Canton head coach Tim Baechler doesn’t think the new rule will change how he runs practice.

“We’re kind of set in our ways where we’re still going to come out in our shorts on Mondays and Thursdays, so we’re not going to have full collision on Mondays and Thursdays,”sBaechler said. “But Tuesdays and Wednesdays, my gosh, that gives you 45 minutes a day so I don’t even think we’ll have a problem coming to that.”

The fact that the MHSAA’s decision was driven by the feedback of its high school coaches is a reminder that coaches deserve a voice in these discussions—and that they’re as concerned with striving to protect the well-being of players as anyone.

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