The winter break is here, and that means no competition until January

Steve Oathout

AURORA — The annual winter break which takes place each year is upon us.

Here’s what that means for the 2018-19 season:

• No games, meets or matches will be held from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2. (Nor on Dec. 23, as it is a Sunday.)
• No practices can be held from Dec. 24-27, or on Jan. 1. This period is also a no-contact period between coaches and players.
• Practices are allowed on Dec. 28, 29 and 31 — not Dec. 30, as it is a Sunday — but any that take place over that time must be on a voluntary basis. No coach may compel a player to participate in practice over this period.
• The winter break will end on Jan. 2, and regular competition and practices can resume on that day, which is a Wednesday.

Here’s the calendar in bullet form:

Winter break info

• Dec. 23: Sunday. No games, no practices.
• Dec. 24: Winter break begins. No games, no practices.
• Dec. 25: No games, no practices.
• Dec. 26: No games, no practices.
• Dec. 27: No games, no practices.
• Dec. 28: No games. Voluntary practice permitted.
• Dec. 29: No games. Voluntary practice permitted.
• Dec. 30: No games. No practice, as it is a Sunday.
• Dec. 31: No games. Voluntary practice permitted.
• Jan. 1: No games, no practices.
• Jan. 2: Winter break ends, normal calendar resumes.