Canyon Coach Welch Suspended for Holding Off-Season Practice

Harry Welch, football coach at Canyon Country Canyon High, was suspended from coaching for a year Friday after the Southern Section’s executive committee ruled that he was guilty of conducting an off-season practice last month.

Canyon High has 10 days to appeal the decision and Welch can continue to coach during that time. Welch said that he will coach the team in today’s opening round of the L.A. Watts Games passing-league tournament at North Torrance High.

The 15-member executive committee made its ruling after Commissioner Stan Thomas had recommended the one-year suspension. Neither Welch nor a Canyon representative was at the meeting.

A photograph in the May 19 issue of the Newhall Signal showed a Canyon football player in shorts hitting a blocking dummy with several teammates and assistant coach Brian Stiman watching. The photograph was taken May 7.

Southern Section rules say that a football team cannot practice longer than one class period a day from the end of the season until May 20 and that sleds, blocking dummies and other football equipment are prohibited.