Milan football to forfeit practice time in 2020 after breaking practice rules this summer

Michael Odom
Jackson Sun

Milan has self-reported a football practice violation to the TSSAA, and the high school athletics association has accepted the self-imposed sanctions.

Milan reported that the football team practiced in helmets and shoulder pads on July 15 and 16, which violates the dates that helmets and shoulder pads can be worn. Additionally, the team did not have two days in helmets prior to wearing shoulder pads, which is a new rule this year. 

The first day teams may practice in full pads is July 29. But they may do so only after two days in helmets and three days in shoulder pads. 

"It was a mistake," Milan coach Teddy Pettigrew said. "I made my calendar back in April when we were out for spring break. Unknowingly, the TSSAA hadn't updated the new dates on the website until late April or early May, and I didn't go back and check."

Milan will forfeit one week of summer practice in June 2020 and two of 10 days of 7-on-7 in June 2020.

"Coach Pettigrew called me on Tuesday to let me know that he had inadvertently written down the wrong dates of when pads were allowed," Milan principal and TSSAA Board of Control member Greg Scott said. "We called the TSSAA office the following day and self-reported."

The letter from TSSAA states, "We want to thank the Milan High School administration on the manner in which this situation was handled and for taking appropriate action. We are sure you will take the necessary steps to ensure this type situation does not happen again."

Milan football went back to practicing in only helmets for the rest of the week after figuring out the violation on Tuesday.

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Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.