Is Illinois Missing Out? Year-Round Coaching in Arkansas

As high school coaches and high school administrators, it is very easy to assume that the way we do things in our State is either the best or the only way of doing things. 

As an Illinois basketball coach, we sometimes played Iowa or Wisconsin schools. When we played the Iowa and Wisconsin schools, it became apparent that different States actually had different rules- such things about whether a players could play in the pre-lim and the varsity game, whether coaches could stand or not, and even whether you had a jump ball to start the game. 

Now in retirement, on my visits this winter to Oklahoma I became aware that they organized their state tourney to allow double-elimination in the early tourneys of the series. And in a smaller State, Oklahoma had at least 6 classes. 

When first confronted to these difference in other States, my knee jerk reaction was, “That’s stupid” or “Our way is better.” But the more I thought about the differences, the more I began to ask, “Is the way that Illinois runs things the best way?”  I began to realize that Illinois could benefit by re-examining historical methods and realize that there maybe better ideas out there. 

Justin Shiltz was one of the most successful coaches in girls basketball in the WB6 Conference during his tenure at UTHS. His matchup zone still causes me to wake up in a cold sweat even in retirement. Justin is now coaching in Arkansas and I have maintained contact with him- picking his brain on a variety of topics for my blog posts. 

Last year was Justin’s first year at Pea Ridge HS in Arkansas. Last year he was a basketball assistant coach, now Justin has moved from coaching basketball to coaching soccer.

Over two decades ago, the IHSA allowed high school coaches to actually coach their teams in summer basketball games and to coach 25 days in the summer. HS coaches didn’t have that opportunity previously. This past Spring, the IHSA with little debate cut the number of contact days back to 20 days. 

In my conversations with Justin, he explained that in Arkansas HS’s, coaches can coach year around- Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Their philosophy is that you are hired to coach the students, so why would we tell you that you cannot coach them at certain times. 

So I have reached out to Coach Shiltz to see how this year around coaching works- as part of the education of looking at other ways to do things. 

Massey- So in Arkansas HS’s coaches can coach year-round. Are there any dead-periods?

Coach Shiltz- There is a dead period for two weeks around the 4th of July. And there is a three day dead period around Christmas from December 23-25. 

Massey- If coaches/teams can practice anytime and have no restrictions, how much do most basketball teams practice in the summer, fall and spring?

Coach Shiltz- Basketball teams generally practice all summer until school starts, except for the two week dead period. There is a dead period for two weeks around the 4th of July.

 As far as fall & spring, most schools in Arkansas have an "athletic" hour which in HS, is 7th period. For example, practice begins the last period of the day (7th period, 50 minute class period) at 2:45 pm & will end around 4:45pm. 

JH teams athletic hour is the 1st period of the day. For example, if 1st period starts at 8am, basketball practice will start at 7am & go to 8:30am, so students can get to class for 2nd period at 8:55pm. 

The athletic hour concept in Arkansas is incredibly popular and I wouldn't want to go back to the Illinois model of practice after school. 

Massey- Do some schools set up restrictions?

Coach Shiltz- Not that I'm aware of. 

Massey- So coaches can use the Athletic Hour the first period and the last period to work with their athletes? How does it work for coaches who are in-season vs coaches who in off-season?

Coach Shiltz- We all have separate facilities, so we all are practicing at same time. For example, VB practices & plays at JH. Basketball has the arena at the HS….  At Pea Ridge, coaches in-season have priority of the athletes. I’m sure there maybe pressure to share but I wasn’t aware of it this past year. Off-season coaches aren’t supposed to pressure kids, according to our AD. 

Massey- How does your schedule as a coach allow you to be able to work with athletes in-season and off-season?

Coach Shiltz- As a basketball coach, you have 1st & 7th hour for JH & HS BB. You still have a prep during the school day. Therefore, you only teach four classes a day. 

The athletic hour is a game changer. Love it, when done right. It’s great. 

Massey- Do in-season athletes ever workout with an off-season coach? Like does a basketball player during volleyball practice volleyball but also workout with basketball coach?

Coach Shiltz- In-season kids sometimes do that- ask to have a coach work with them. Or they ask for what workouts they missed & do it on their own. Or they will come in before school & workout while JH kids are & then go to VB 7th period.  Some kids don’t do anything until VB is over…it just varies. 

Massey- Do coaches pressure in-season athletes to workout with their off-season coaches too?

Coach Shiltz- You and I have been around long enough to know that coaches do pressure kids. I’m sure it happens. It’s NOT the norm at Pea Ridge, that I’m aware of.

Massey- Do some coaches go overboard or is the real restriction that parents/players let coaches know when too much is too much?

Coach Shiltz- Some coaches definitely do too much. I feel like if you can coach all year around from when school starts until school ends (10 months), why go all summer? Makes no sense to me. I am the new boys soccer coach at Pea Ridge HS & we only do a summer camp in July for 7 days, that's it. The summer is now a time of relaxation, family time & rejuvenation for me & my players.  

If I can't coach them up for 10 months & have success during the school year, two extra months in the summer won't do much either. But this approach is definitely in the minority when it comes to HS athletics in NW Arkansas. 

Massey- Does this eliminate that excitement and anticipation of the start of the season?

Coach Shiltz- It certainly did for me. I was burned out by Christmas & was ready for a break. However, if the fall is handled smartly & used for skill development in short windows of work, not full blown practices, then I think I would have felt differently. 

Massey- What would you say to people who say that it will discourage kids from doing multiple sports?

Coach Shiltz- There can be a lot of truth in that question. However, since I've only been here for a year, I can only speak for Pea Ridge HS. We are a school of 650-700 students & still heavily rely on multi-sport athletes & have lots of them. The kids are so used to this type of schedule & right or wrongly, have been conditioned to become immune to not having time off. 

Massey- What do you say to people who analyze college and pro basketball who say that European players are becoming more dominant because in Europe coaches work with players more, whereas in America HS coaches are restricted? So in most of America, HS athletes are driven to seek out AAU and Club coaches who tend to emphasize games over skill development. 

Coach Shiltz- I think there is a lot of truth in that question as well. I am a big believer in the Arkansas HS model, which has curbed the influence of AAU in Arkansas to a certain degree. AAU is big here, don't get me wrong. But HS coaches having full access to their players 12 months a year, has helped with the AAU conflict. 

As you know, I love the European model of youth player development. At the end of the day, as coaches, administrators, parents, who do we want working with our players the most? HS coaches? AAU panhandlers? Skill development experts? The majority of the American model, unlike Arkansas, has decided AAU is the priority. I strongly disagree. If more & more states would move to our model (Arkansas isn't the only state), I would think AAU programs would become less influential.