UIL rule limiting contact in football practices not a problem, Burnet coach says

JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF

BURNET — Burnet High School head football coach Kurt Jones says the Bulldogs won’t have a problem limiting their players to no more than 90 minutes of full contact practice per week.

In fact, he said, the Bulldogs spend closer to 60 minutes per week.

“I don’t know that we spend 90 minutes full contact,” he said. “That might depend on what the definition of full contact is. There’s rarely a situation in practice you can replace what’s going on in a game.”

The legislative council of the University Interscholastic League on June 11 passed an amendment restricting contact drills.

But most coaches across the state don’t spend that much time in contact drills anyway, Jones said.

“I don’t know that affects us a whole lot,” he said. “We’re pretty conscious of trying to keep our kids healthy and trying not to wear them out thoughout the week.”

He said in other classifications it might be easier because they should have enough players to have one-way starters.

“Our depth just isn’t what the Class 5A schools have,” he said. “We’re trying to keep kids healthy, tough and balanced.”

The amendment will go into effect Aug. 1 if commissioner of education Michael L. Williams approves it.

jfierro@thepicayune.com