**UIL, coaches to discuss two critical topics This Week**

[KFDM COOP]

UIL, coaches to discuss two critical topics

By Will Wright

The Herald-Zeitung

Published July 28, 2007

The Texas High School Coaches Association’s annual convention begins this weekend with two critical issues up for discussion with University Interscholastic League officials.

The first is the new anabolic steroid testing bill, which was signed into law at the end of the last legislative session and is scheduled to become operational for the 2007-08 school year. The second is the UIL proposal to realign Class 5A football schools into two separate divisions in the next biennial realignment. The UIL wants to gauge reaction from the THSCA’s 16,000 coaches this week.

Smithson Valley coach Larry Hill, the THSCA’s president, deemed both as being the top want-to-know-more topics for coaches as they head into next week’s convention in Fort Worth. The steroid testing program is the big one — simply because a lot of coaches don’t have a clue what’s going to happen when their kids start reporting for workouts in a few weeks.

UIL officials on Monday and Tuesday will address several concerns, ranging from how the UIL will implement the procedures, which company will administer the testing — all the way down to the roles individual schools and districts will play.

“It’s very vague and up in the air right now,†Hill said. “The UIL really has some tough calls to make because the legislature just dumped it into their lap. It’s a mess, it really is, and no one, me included, has any idea of how it’s going to be done. We’re starting practice in a few weeks and I have no clue.

“Who is going to be doing it? Am I going to do it? How are the names of the kids going to be selected? What about a positive test — do we decide what to do about it or are you? What if their parents dispute (the result)? What if they get a lawyer? Does the kid play while all of this is worked out or do we suspend him? What are we going to do about false-positives? Who makes all of these calls?â€

Hill personally thinks testing should be delayed until these questions are worked out.

“We’re not afraid of testing, but I’d like to see the nuts and bolts laid out before we just show up and have a mess over something that was largely done as a ceremonial (measure),†he said. “Can they get it together that fast? They haven’t yet.â€

New Braunfels is the only area school to have a testing program, which randomly submits students in extra-curricular activities to test for “recreational†drugs and anabolic steroids. New Braunfels coach Chuck Caniford said none of his student-athletes tested positive for steroids under the first year of the Unicorns’ program, which in part is funded by a state grant.

But Caniford has questions, such as how his program will mesh with the state’s.

“I’ve heard that if you already have a steroid testing program, then a kid that’s already been tested by us will work with the state’s testing company to get that documentation,†he said. “But that’s hearsay, and I’m anxious to see how the UIL plans to implement testing in regards to schools that already have a testing program.â€

Caniford isn’t against testing, but has questions about the state’s methods.

“I think it’s a good thing, because we already do it. The issue I have is that they’ve just kind of thrown it together,†he said. “I’m sympathetic to the UIL, which has a pretty daunting task to do it within the time they’ve been given. But (lawmakers) haven’t given them the opportunity to do it right.â€

Canyon coach Les Davis, whose district doesn’t have a testing program, is taking a wait-and-see attitude.

“It seems like they are still evaluating it and I’m anxious to hear what they say,†Davis said. “We need to get some direction on it. We need to hear more on the process and the procedures. But we’ll do whatever they tell us to do.â€

Davis isn’t sure if all can be spelled out by the time his players begin reporting for two-a-days or even by the Cougars’ first game on Aug. 31.

“That still remains to be seen,†he said. “That’s for bigger powers than me to decide.â€

[KFDM COOP]

The part i have Highlighted is the part we've discussed about the new district relignments that the UIL wants to do to help even the enrollments out. Looks like if this passes it will be for 5A only the first 2 years. The smaller classifcations are the ones who really need this to happen.

[Guest Wildcat 08]

That's how stupid the UIL is in regard to splitting up 5A in two classifications, thr problem is not in 5A, where the rule of large numbers helps take care of enrollments. The problem is in classifications like 3A where schools with 400 kids are competing with 900+, do it in all classes if you are going to do it in one.

[WOS92]

The 3A numbers, if I'm correct, are like 415 to 949, right? Aren't the 4A numbers something like 950 to 1984? Seems like a bigger gap to me (about 500 as compared to about 1000). Besides 1A, 3A has the fewest schools competing, I believe.

[KFDM COOP]

The 3A numbers, if I'm correct, are like 415 to 949, right? Aren't the 4A numbers something like 950 to 1984? Seems like a bigger gap to me (about 500 as compared to about 1000). Besides 1A, 3A has the fewest schools competing, I believe.

Yea pretty close on the numbers. If this passes for 5A then the next relignment it would be voted on for the smaller classes as well.

[Guest etbu]

That's how stupid the UIL is in regard to splitting up 5A in two classifications, thr problem is not in 5A, where the rule of large numbers helps take care of enrollments. The problem is in classifications like 3A where schools with 400 kids are competing with 900+, do it in all classes if you are going to do it in one.

Why only three A? What about four-a where we have 923 playing schools with 1800 to 2000?

[KFDM COOP]

If it passes they'll do 5A only for the next 2 years. Then 4A on down the next Relignment. It has been very successful in 6 man. I'm with you ETBU, the numbers they way they are now are not fair especially when a team has to play a team with over twice their numbers.

[besbolbenbedygud]

I know all classes have problems but.......500.......what about West Brook and Memorials 2500 or so vs Humble and Kingwood's 4000+??  how 'bout them apples??

just picking one class as a test is not a bad idea if it works out im sure others would follow.....

[Tiger90]

You can't make everyone happy.  The smaller unsuccessful schools won't be happy until they are basically defaulted a playoff spot.  It takes more than mere numbers alot of times to be successful.  All you have to do is look at Kirbyville.  They are one of the smallest 3A schools yet some have them favored in football over the supposed giants in WOS, Silsbee, and Jasper.  If it is not fair for the likes of these "bigger" schools to play in 3A with almost 400 more kids why would it be fair for these "bigger" schools to have to play the PNGs, Ozens, etc. that have 600-700 more kids in 4A?  There is no real answer to satisfy everyone.  While have more classifications or even subclassifications may work around here, I don't see more classifications being practical in other regions of the state especially in the west.

[KFDM COOP]

This new plan has worked well in 6 man. At first they hated it and now all the coaches say they never want to get rid of it.

[Guest Yard Bird]

The real problem is the lack of direction and any sort of plan with the drug testing.

  Leave it the Legislature to institute a mandate with little on no details on how to implement said mandate. 

[KFDM COOP]

The football-only proposal would reduce the state's 32 athletic districts into 16. Class 5A, for example, would be spit into Divisions I and II.

The mission is to create more parity during the regular season. The measure was initiated by Wylie High School, which moved from Class 4A to 5A in 2006 but was lumped into a district with four schools with 4,000 or more students — Allen and three Plano schools.

"All the big boys would be placed together," Breithaupt said of the proposal. "They won't be feasting on the little guys anymore."

[KFDM COOP]

Sounds like the UIL WILL go ahead and do this new plan for the new relignment years for 5A and try it.

[TradinUp BH]

How about just making a 6A and readjusting the numbers on down

[KFDM COOP]

They said they weren't going to do that for some reason.

[Guest Indian Chief]

Hope it passes next time for 4A!

[Guest Wildcat 08]

I hope it passes for 3A next go around.

[KFDM COOP]

The football-only proposal would reduce the state's 32 athletic districts into 16. Class 5A, for example, would be spit into Divisions I and II.

The mission is to create more parity during the regular season. The measure was initiated by Wylie High School, which moved from Class 4A to 5A in 2006 but was lumped into a district with four schools with 4,000 or more students — Allen and three Plano schools.

"All the big boys would be placed together," Breithaupt said of the proposal. "They won't be feasting on the little guys anymore."