MORGANTOWN W.Va. — The potential for abuse outweighs the possible benefits of a proposal to allow for year-round coaching in middle schools and high schools across the state for Morgantown High football coach John Bowes and University High football coach John Kelly.
The state Board of Education voted to put the proposal out for a 30-day comment period. Currently, there is only a three week period in the summer for out-of-season practices or related activities. The proposed modification would allow coaching all year, except for Saturdays, Sundays, the week of July 4 and one week before the start of the season.
“I’m a big fan of 15 days in the summer, use them as you wish, non-consecutive days,” said Bowers. “I’m a big fan of kids having a summer.”
Bowers said on WAJR-AM he would like to see the proposal tweaked and some of the restrictions on coaches loosened but he does not want a policy approved that opens up the entire year.
“I think the worst thing we could do is open it clear up because without any parameters it will be abused,” stated Bowers.
University High coach John Kelly agrees that some coaches will take advantage of the rule change and regardless of what proponents think, there will be pressure on athletes to pick one sport over another.
“I don’t care who you are or what you say, there’s going to be pressure on the kid out of season,” Kelly said.
Kelly also took exception to the assertion the expanded practices could create more opportunities to be noticed by college coaches, especially football players.
“Division I players in West Virginia are very small, Coach Nehlen pointed that out when he first game here. Number two, they don’t miss them very often. There’s not like a 100 of them out there we’re overlooking. You can practice every day for 24 hours and there’s not going to be any more of them,” Kelly insisted.
The state board of education is likely to take action on the proposal at its July meeting.