Coaches say bah, humbug to nine-day holiday break

Unlike spring or fall high school sports, each of the winter sports has to deal with a mandatory nine-day holiday break in the middle of the season.

The Colorado High School Activities Association, which created and enforces the time off, states that teams may not conduct practice or participate in a game from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1. The rule also prohibits coaches from having contact with athletes.

Doherty wrestling coach Andy Haman said it is frustrating to work hard for a month and a half and then miss nine days of practice.

"On one hand it is great to celebrate the holidays with your family but on the other hand it is hard for the kids not to practice for so long," Haman said. "It's easy for (the athletes) not to work out because they're not in a practice situation with a coach watching over them."

Haman said that while all five winter sports - boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, girls swimming and wrestling - must endure an extended break, it affects wrestlers the most.

"It is going to hinder any sport, whether it be swimming, basketball or wrestling, but it especially hurts wrestling," Haman said. "We have a handful of kids who work hard to keep their weight down and it is going to be hard for them to continue to work out over the break and watch their weight."

One of the reasons Haman believes wrestling is the most affected by the holiday break is because, unlike basketball players and swimmers, wrestlers can not go to a local gymnasium and work on their game.

Because of the break, Manitou Springs boys basketball coach Ken Vecchio plans to have more practice time during the next few weeks than he did at the beginning of the season.

Still, Vecchio is not happy about not being allowed to practice for nine days in the middle of the season.

"I'm all for the idea to have a break and let the kids recharge their batteries and get their legs back underneath them," Vecchio said. "But I think if it was a shorter break, it would help the kids more because it's almost like we have to start from scratch."

However, Vecchio said his team is a lot better off than many in the area because Manitou Springs does not play again until Jan. 12. Some teams, like coach Kirk Miller's Rampart hockey team, will play their first two games after the break without the benefit of practice.

"This year is particularly tough for everyone because of the shortage of ice time," Miller said. "It is something we just have to work around but (the long break) is still an inconvenience."

- Kurt Eilmes may be reached at 636-0250 or keilmes@gazette.com

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