Can coaches watch player workouts before Spring practice begins?
Does anyone know if college football coaches can observe/monitor player workouts at this time of year (e.g. before Spring practice begins)?
I ask this question because an article in the Sunday edition of the Columbus Dispatch indicated that Coach Tressel was "overseeing Ohio State's early-morning workout" but OSU does not begin Spring practice until March 29th.
Did the Dispatch accidentily point out a violation by the OSU coaching staff?
Well, no one seems to really give much of a flying rat's ass about violations by OSU, so even if the article did reveal something it's no big deal. They've already received their crushing punishment of having their stars sit out against those world-beaters from Akron and Toledo.
I don't see why not. There's a big difference between observing players running drills on the football field and watching them on the bench press.
Yeah, but then couldn't coaches technically go run a practice and then just say "Oh, I was only observing."? It seems like one of those rules that would be a big loophole, and impossible to enforce. Or does everyone do this, with our team being the only one receiving any consequences?
The paper used the term "workout", but if you read the linked article in my OP, it states that said workout took place on an indoor football field. This "workout" was not weight-lifting, it appeared to be player drills of some sort.
March 14th, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
As someone pointed out during the RR fiasco. There is a reason that most coach's offeces have large windows overlooking the practice field...even when they "can't" watch, they can.
March 14th, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
I don't think they are allowed to be present, because that is what makes the practice "mandatory". If he is watching from a distance to get an idea of what the players are doing incorrectly, so they can be coached during practice, I don't see where that is wrong.
Possible loophole: When I played college football (Division 3), we were required to take a "gym class" at 7 am in the spring semester taught by the head football coach. It was our spring conditioning program, but all students were allowed to enroll so it was legal. Once the MIAA allowed spring practices, we did those in addition to the class. It's one possible way to get around these NCAA regulations so coaches can watch and interact with players.