WESSON – District Seven football coaches hope the MississippiHigh School Activities Association will consider changing thestarting date of preseason practice. At a district-wide meetingMonday night, District Seven president Mike Davis of LawrenceCounty brought the proposed practice change to a vote before theassembly of coaches and administrators.

“We don’t want practice to start in July,” said Davis, referring tothe current July 26 date. “That’s much too early.”

The proposal, approved by coaches last night at the Thames Centerlocated on the Copiah-Lincoln Community College campus, would giveschools the option of playing either a football jamboree or classicgame on the date now used for classic games. The current classicgame date is Aug. 20. The jamboree date is Aug. 13, which causedthe start of practice to be changed to July 26 this year.

The change would have to be voted on and approved twice by membersof the MHSAA Executive Committee. If changed, it would be statewideand eliminate the week of practice in July.

Chuck Freeman of North Pike and Dr. Marietta James of Columbiarepresent District Seven on the Executive Committee.

MHSAA Executive Director Dr. Ennis Proctor welcomed the DistrictSeven gathering and introduced Co-Lin women’s coach Gwyn Young whogave a brief welcome. Proctor noted that Young has been selected tothe National Junior College Athletic Association’s Hall ofFame.

This is Proctor’s last year with the MHSAA as he approachesretirement. Replacing him is Don Hinton, a longtime football coachand a native of Bay Springs.

“Every district has a personality and this one is good,” saidProctor. “I have enjoyed working with you coaches andadministrators.”

Proctor said he was pleased with the progress made in women’sathletic activities for high school and junior high programs.”Twenty years ago we began working on women’s athletics. It hasreally grown. You coaches and administrators have made it asuccess.”

Proctor recognized longtime district secretary Mike Goff, a retiredFranklin County coach who replaced the late W.L. Roach ofBrookhaven as secretary several years ago. “I’ve known Mike for along time. I remember when he was a romping, stomping fullback forPort Gibson. That was back when fullbacks ran the ball.”

Proctor reminded the group that each school must submit a securityplan before the first event of the school year.

He said the MHSAA waived school membership dues this year, savingschools $60,000.

Proctor said that sports medicine had instructed the stateactivities associations across the nation not to inject playerswith intravenous liquids at halftime. “High schools shouldn’t doit. Leave it to the colleges and professional teams.”

Proctor spent several minutes discussing the dangers of concussionsto athletes. He said in a study by sports medicine, an average of100,000 athletes found 47 football players suffering concussions.Girls soccer had 36 incidents, boys soccer 22 and girls basketball21.

“Second-injury concussions are extremely dangerous,” said Proctor.”If an athlete suffers a concussion in practice or in a game, theyshould be removed. A certified trainer or physician must examinethem and release them before they can play again.”

Most athletes who sustain a concussion miss from seven to 14 daysbefore returning to action.

“Second-impact syndrome is dangerous,” said Proctor. “We had oneincident in Mississippi. Children are more susceptible thanadults.”

He said people who sustain concussions often suffer from dementiaor depression in their later years.

Proctor said a mandatory, 20-minute course on concussions would beadministered on-line this year by the MHSAA. Administrators andathletic directors must have each of their coaches take theinstruction.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Proctor thanked the group fortheir hard work and support during his 20 years at the helm. Hereceived a standing ovation from the crowd.