A practice advantage or not?

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With fires in the Santa Clarita Valley making football practice unlikely, Valencia Coach Larry Muir made quick arrangements last Sunday, securing Chaminade High in West Hills as a site for his team to practice on Monday, when classes had been canceled. The players gathered at Chaminade and did a walk-through for two hours, according to Chaminade Athletic Director Joe Shapiro.

The only problem was that Hart district officials had banned practices and after-school activities for all its schools, including Valencia. Hart Coach Mike Herrington said he was told of the practice ban Sunday night, so his team didn’t meet or practice on Monday.

Valencia Athletic Director Brian Stiman said he found out Monday morning about the district edict, then called Muir on his cellphone to terminate the practice. ‘Trust me, Valencia wasn’t gaining an advantage at all,’ Stiman said.

But two hours of walk throughs is ‘a big advantage,’ Herrington said.

The question is whether district officials will take away a practice from Valencia since Hart can’t practice or meet with players until Wednesday at the earliest. The teams are scheduled to play Friday night at College of the Canyons. School is set to reopen Wednesday.

- Eric Sondheimer

-- image from i.pbase.com