City to Study Earlier Starts for Night Football Games : Scheduling: Although plan would not take effect until 1993, Kennedy, Taft will experiment this season with 7 p.m. kickoffs.

Citing safety concerns, the City Section is considering earlier starting times for night football games in 1993.

City night games for many years have begun at 8 p.m., but because players who are bused to the Los Angeles Basin are getting home after games well past midnight, the start time is being reviewed. Southern Section night games typically begin at 7:30.

The proposal is being studied by the City’s Interscholastic Athletic Committee and a decision will be made before next fall.

City Commissioner Hal Harkness informed schools last month they would be allowed to begin night games as early as 7 p.m. Kennedy will play its three remaining home games at 7, and Taft also has agreed to experiment.

“Kids from South Central aren’t getting home until 12:45 or 1,” Kennedy Coach Bob Francola said. “That’s the emphasis (behind the change). That’s just too late for kids to be getting off a bus.”

Kickoff for Kennedy’s B football games will be moved from 5 to 4 p.m. Harkness said the City is considering moving all 1993 starting times for varsity games to 7 or 7:30.

Taft’s home game Friday against Kennedy will start at 7. The school will evaluate the change and decide whether to move up other games, Taft Athletic Director Brenda Creed said.

Canoga Park Athletic Director Bob Marks said the school decided to retain the 8 p.m. starting time because several problems could not be ironed out.

Marks said it would be difficult to find officials to work B games at 4 p.m. Also, buses used to drive B players to their games are used to shuttle students to the L.A. Basin after the school day. Marks said it would be difficult for bus drivers to return to campus and then deliver the B team on time.

Under the proposal for 1993, B games would be played Thursday afternoons.

“It’s not going to be a bad deal,” Francola said. “I think families will still be able to get home and make it out to the game.”

Staff writer Kennedy Cosgrove contributed to this story.