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 Wisconsin high school soccer coaches will be allowed unlimited contact with players during the summer, after the WIAA membership voted Wednesday to grant the sport the same rights previously given to coaches in nine other sports.
The amendment to the WIAA the Rules of Eligibility was passed by a 183-117 margin at the organization's annual meeting in Stevens Point – two years ago, the same amendment was defeated by a 130-173 vote.
When considering what the amendment means, it is necessary to consider how WIAA rules define several terms:
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"Summer" starts the day after the final day of the school year for the respective school and runs through July 31
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The activities cannot be sponsored by the school
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They must be voluntary
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They cannot be limited to student-athletes based on school affiliation, experience or team status
The bottom line: Coaches will be allowed to coach club teams that include players from their high school teams, provided those clubs and teams meet the above requirements.
"It's good for the game, absolutely," said Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association president Scott Suprise, the boys coach at Milwaukee Pius.
"I think for the communities where there are not a lot of options for players in the summer, this gives them options. ... The kid who wants to play more is going to get the chance to do that in a good environment."
The decision gives soccer coaches the same opportunities that coaches in baseball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and wrestling already have. Girls soccer was the only WIAA spring sport without unlimited summer contact.
Prep soccer coaches will continue to be allowed up to five days of contact with student-athletes in the summer, called "unrestricted" school contact. In those cases, participation also must be voluntary but can be sponsored by the school.
It's worth noting that the primary club boys soccer season in Wisconsin is in the spring, while the girls club season is in the fall.
Suprise said he believes the new rule will have the greatest impact in smaller communities. For example, he said his program likely won't make any changes, because the majority of Pius players already play soccer in the summer.
"But not every student has access (to teams in the summer)," Suprise said. "This is for a lot of those other kids that have not had the opportunity during the summer to play some more ball. Now they've got the opportunity to play."
So will many coaches take advantage of the new opportunities provided by the unlimited contact amendment?
"I would hope so," Suprise said.
More resources
Amendment (PDF) // More details from the WIAA
Wisconsin State Journal report // Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report
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