LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE IN NSAA RULES AND REGULATIONS
Title:

Dual Sport Participation

Author:Cathy Blauhorn
School:Palmer
NSAA District:4
 
Proposal for:Constitution & Bylaws
 
Classes Affected:Class D
Activities Affected:Baseball
Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Boys Bowling
Girls Bowling
Boys Cross-Country
Girls Cross-Country
Football
Boys Golf
Girls Golf
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Swimming & Diving
Boys Tennis
Girls Tennis
Boys Track
Girls Track
Volleyball
Boys Wrestling
Girls Wrestling
This proposal:WILL NOT increase costs to the school
WILL NOT increase costs to the NSAA
WILL NOT increase travel for participating schools
WILL decrease a student's or coach's instruction time
Implementation date:2025-08-01
Sections affected in Constitution & Bylaws:Page
50
Article
3
Section
1.2
Summary:Submitted by: Cathy Blauhorn, Head Cross Country, Head Track and Field - Palmer Public School

NSAA Proposal: (Class D only) Dual Sport Participation within each season.

What: Allow Nebraska High School Students to participate in more than one sport per season.

How: Students would pick a primary sport and a secondary sport. The student's coaches would come up with an athlete share plan with the student practicing primarily in their primary area. In order to comply with practice regulations, that student would have a modified make-up practice in the secondary sport. Practices on the day of events would be waived. In the event of a day with two sporting competitions, the dual sport athlete would automatically attend the activity of their primary sport OR in the event of a conference, district, or state activity would attend the most important event. A school could use their own discretion and opt out of allowing dual sport participation if desired.
Rationale:Why: There is often a shortage of participants in small school organizations. There are also students who want to participate in more than one activity per season, who also have the ability to develop more skills by being allowed to participate in more than one sport simultaneously. Many students are already participating in more than one activity per season. Some within schools and some out. (For example, several students already play volleyball and participate in cheer or dance. Some do their in-season sport as well as a traveling team. Others are also participating in rodeo or trapshooting in addition to their NSAA sanctioned sport without any adverse issues in their studies).

All of our bordering states including South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri actively support dual sport participation.

*Since this proposal pertains only to Class D, it would be advantageous if only Class D AD’s voted on this issue.
Pros:Schools, especially small ones, could have the benefit of filling out teams. Class D schools often struggle to have a full basketball team alongside a full wrestling team. Schools could get more active athletes and create depth in their roster without additional expense since the coaches and uniforms are already purchased and transportation has already been arranged. In the world of education where teachers are being asked to diversify their teaching within classrooms to allow greater learning potential for high ability learners, this is an opportunity to give students a wider gamut of possibilities. In visiting with coaches from other states, they view this as a huge opportunity and benefit for students and schools alike.
Cons:Coaches would have to make practice accommodations for students to be able to practice both sports. Most coaches do this already for various reasons. And an occasional student might have some issues keeping up with school work but again, in visiting with coaches from other states, the highly motivated student athlete seldom has any out of the ordinary issues because of dual participation. There could potentially be a student participating in a combined team with another school that is not Class D. That student should be allowed to dual sport if their primary school is Class D.