SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOLS : Penalties for Game Violence to Be Studied

Troubled by increasing violence in high school league and playoff games, the San Diego Section is one step closer to formulating a policy that would standardize penalties for violence on the playing field.

In a meeting Monday at the County Office of Education, the Board of Managers voted unanimously to merge the earlier recommendations of the Coordinating Council’s Ethics Committee and the Board of Managers’ Ad Hoc Committee on Violence into one policy.

Commissioner Kendall Webb said instances of violence during the winter soccer season had convinced him that some type of action was necessary.

“There was increased concerned with conduct on the field, with negative behavior, abusive language, violence, fights and rough play,” Webb said. “It came to the point last winter that we said we should be doing something.”

Coincidentally, Webb and Wayne DeBate, a member of both the Coordinating Council and the Board of Managers, met on the morning of the 3-A baseball championship between Mt. Carmel and Helix on June 1, to discuss what kind of action, if any, could be taken. That afternoon, Webb watched as a bench clearing brawl delayed the game 15 minutes and resulted in six ejections.

“As far as punitive action being taken,” Webb said, “preventive action is the first choice.”

The recommendations of the Ethics and Ad Hoc committees will go to a vote of the Coordinating Council on Jan. 10, and if passed, to the Board of Managers on Jan. 23.