Panel Will Hear Appeal by Welch to Ease Penalty for Off-Season Practice : Prep football: Canyon coach, facing one-year suspension, plans to argue against the severity of his punishment.

The Southern Section announced July 9 as the date it will hear Canyon High’s appeal of a one-year suspension of football Coach Harry Welch for conducting an off-season practice in violation of section rules.

Canyon will be represented at the meeting at the section’s offices in Cerritos by Welch, Principal Bill White and Clyde Smyth, superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District. A three-member appeals panel will consist of chairman Ken Gunn, the Walnut High principal; Father William Brelsford, St. Bernard principal; and Cynthia Grennan, superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District.

All three are members of the section’s executive committee, which recommended suspending Welch last week after hearing a report from Commissioner Stan Thomas.

Thomas investigated Canyon after the Newhall Signal published a photograph May 19 that showed a Canyon football player hitting a blocking dummy in the presence of several teammates and assistant Brian Stiman. The photograph was taken May7.

Southern Section rules forbid football teams from practicing for longer than one class period from the end of the season until May 20, when spring practice begins. The rule also prohibits the use of sleds, blocking dummies and other football equipment.

White, the Hart principal, repeated Friday that the school will not dispute the violation but will challenge the severity of the penalty against Welch.

“We did violate rules. We’re not taking issue with that,” he said. “But the penalty is too harsh. We hope we can find some forgiving people on the panel.”

Welch also admits that Canyon violated rules but denies that he committed the violation. Stiman, who takes the blame for the violation, said he will not coach next fall if Welch is suspended.

If Canyon loses its appeal, it can take its case to the California Interscholastic Federation. If that body also upholds the suspension, Welch can seek redress in the courts. He has retained counsel, and Canyon supporters have raised $9,000 to cover his legal fees.

Welch, 46, is one of Southern California’s most successful coaches. In nine seasons, he has posted a 100-19-1 record and has coached three Southern Section championship teams.

Ironically, Welch announced last September that he would resign at the conclusion of the 1990 season, citing health considerations and dissatisfaction with his academic load. Welch agreed to withdraw his resignation after the season when White reduced his academic load.

The Southern Section has stayed the effective date of the suspension pending the outcome of the appeal and Welch has led Canyon into today’s semifinals of the L. A. Watts Summer Games. White has not considered a replacement for Welch if the suspension sticks, and Welch hopes to be Canyon’s coach in 1992, one way or another.

“I don’t plan on retiring,” he said. “I’m not holding the threat that if I get the penalty, I quit. I’m just counting on the (Southern Section) to give us an impartial hearing.”