Josh,

To answer your question....we can do that in Kansas. The coaches can work with their athletes during the summer. Many coaches do have their team lift together and then workout on the mats together during the summer.

The issue is during the school year they can't work with them on the mats. They can work with them on strength and conditioning during the off season...just no mat time. (Having said that, I personally don't like the rule. I am just stating my understanding of it).

Someone earlier said we need to allow clubs and high schools to work together...a lot of us do. Us club coaches work very close with our high school coaches to ensure we are teaching the technique they want, scheduling training times during the off season, etc. If you mean work together as in practice together then that is a different story.

Jon, I am with you on the practicing with the high school kids as a middle schooler...don't necessarily agree with that rule.

Shawn Budke