Section Expected to Pass Full-Contact Proposal

The San Diego Section Board of Managers, at its regular meeting April 28, is expected to pass a proposal allowing football teams to engage in full contact during the first week of regular season practice.

Under a proposal passed by the Section Coordinating Council April 1, players may wear helmets and shoulder pads during the first three days of practice and engage in contact with sleds and dummies. After the third day, full contact in full gear may begin.

The current rule allows for no contact the first three days of practice. After the third day, helmets and shoulder pads are permitted, but contact is limited to sleds and dummies. Full contact in full gear cannot begin until the second week of practice.

The proposal could reduce injuries by allowing players to adjust to wearing the heavy pads earlier in the season, Vista Coach Dick Haines said.

“I think it will make for better football players and it will reduce injuries because it will make the players more aware of their equipment,” Haines said. “With the pads on and a helmet to sweat in, the kids will be able to determine if they need a better fit.

“Besides, I think most coaches run off-season conditioning programs, so most teams are in shape by the time you get to (the first week of) practice.”

The new rule would make it easier for coaches to judge prospective players, Haines said, “because some people do well in shorts then don’t do well once they get the pads on.”

Terri Mann, Point Loma’s three-time All-American forward, will have her number (52) retired at the Pointer’s annual girls’ basketball awards banquet tonight. It will be the first time a Point Loma athlete’s jersey number has been retired at the school, said Lee Trepanier, girls’ basketball coach.

Mann’s jersey will be framed and will be among the first mementos added to a wall in the school’s main gymnasium that will pay tribute to the Pointers’ top players over the years.

“I was shocked when I heard about it,” Mann said. “I think it’s pretty nice, though.”

Photos of past and present All-San Diego Section players from Point Loma will be posted along the wall and a poster-size photo of the 1987 state championship team will be included, Trepanier said.

The project is expected to be completed by the beginning of next basketball season, Trepanier said.

The Valhalla High boys’ teams and the San Pasqual High girls’ teams are leading the county competition for the Clarkson and Anders trophies awarded annually by the Hall of Champions for all-around athletic excellence.

The competition is based on a point system determined by team standings in their respective leagues. Bonus points are awarded for Section playoffs.

Valhalla, leads the boys’ competition with 460 points. Poway (305) is second and 1986 Clarkson trophy winner Vista (295) is third.

San Pasqual, the 1986 girls’ winner of the Anders trophy, leads with 440 points. La Jolla (345) is second and Vista (320) third.

The San Diego Section track preliminaries and finals are having difficulty finding a site.

The preliminaries were originally scheduled at San Diego State and the finals at San Diego High’s Balboa Stadium. But because installation of an all-weather track at Balboa Stadium and repairs to SDSU’s all-weather track won’t be completed in time, the preliminaries have been switched to Mt. Carmel High May 23 and the finals to SDSU Thursday, May 28.

Prep Note Grossmont pitcher Lance Dickson has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Arizona State next season.