Video Shows No Violation, Welch Claims : Prep football: Canyon coach says that a tape the Southern Section plans to use as evidence of wrongdoing actually exonerates his program.

Canyon High Coach Harry Welch embraced the Southern Section’s evidence against his football program Thursday, saying a videotape of an alleged illegal Canyon practice not only shows no violation, it vindicates his program.

“I welcome this evidence,” Welch said. “I see this as evidence not against our program, but for our program.”

Welch viewed the videotape for the first time Wednesday night after he and his attorney received a copy from the Southern Section. The videotape is one of two pieces of evidence the Southern Section will submit in Lancaster Superior Court next Friday, when section officials will attempt to remove an injunction that has prevented them from investigating the program until a suit filed by Welch comes to trial.

The section also claims Welch deliberately used an injured player during a game last season, a charge Welch denies.

The two-hour videotape was submitted to the Southern Section by an unidentified Palmdale High official who videotaped Palmdale’s 1991 track and field meets. The six-minute segment that chronicles the Palmdale-Canyon meet April 4, 1991, was shot at the Canyon track and includes footage that captures Canyon football players in the background working out near the team’s weight room.

During the track meet, players are seen lifting weights and running sprints. In addition, the tape, which was viewed by a Times reporter Thursday, shows an unidentified Canyon assistant coach directing players during a drill in which they run backward, much like defenders dropping into pass coverage.

The Southern Section claims the workouts violate section rules that forbid coaches from conducting practice sessions after school hours in the off-season. However, the rules allow for coaches to conduct after-school conditioning sessions in the off-season.

The rules acknowledge that the difference between conditioning sessions and organized practices is a fine one and urge coaches to “conform to the spirit as well as the letter” of the rule. The key, the rules state, is that coaches must not impart instructions specific to that sport during conditioning sessions.

The videotape shows no use of blocking sleds, pads, helmets, footballs, or any equipment that would indicate a practice session. In addition, the tape does not show the players running plays or assuming traditional football stances.

“We’ve done this every year I’ve been at Canyon,” said Welch, who is entering his 11th season. “I’ve always believed that what I’m doing is 100% aboveboard. The rule says you can condition athletes and I’d be remiss if I didn’t condition muscles that our athletes will strain and stress during the season. By conditioning these kids, we’re doing them a service.”

Welch also disputed the Southern Section’s characterization of the charge as new. Court records show that the section was aware of the videotape in October. Welch’s attorney received it only after numerous requests, Welch said.

Southern Section Commissioner Stan Thomas could not be reached for comment.

Previously, Welch had denied section charges that he deliberately used an injured player. The section brought the charge after receiving a letter from Dr. Harris Silver of Valencia, who claimed that injured linebacker Mark White returned to action without medical clearance. Silver was one of a number of doctors to treat White.

White sustained a broken left arm midway through last season and he returned to the lineup for the playoffs. Chuck White, the player’s father, disputed Silver’s claim, saying that his son received medical clearance. “We did it all in writing and so did the doctors,” he said last month. “We released all liability to everyone.”

Welch, who has a 106-25-1 record in 10 seasons, was accused of rules violations in May, 1991, after an area newspaper published a photograph that apparently showed Canyon running an illegal after-school practice. Welch admitted that a violation occurred but denied he committed an infraction.

The Southern Section tried to suspend Welch, but in August, 1991, he won an injunction that stayed the suspension until the case went to trial. Two months later, the court modified the injunction to prevent the Southern Section from conducting a probe into the program during the term of the injunction.