The Hawai'i High School Athletic Association's executive board yesterday decided to form a committee to explore the idea of a statewide limit on the number of hours per week an athlete may practice.

The NCAA limits its athletes to 20 hours of practice per week; there is no such limit in high school athletics.

The topic first came up during an HHSAA executive board meeting in August, when O'ahu Interscholastic Association executive director Dwight Toyama shared a letter he received from a Big Island resident concerned about the amount of practice time required for today's high school athletes, using swimming and football as examples.

The letter was addressed to Toyama, Department of Education superintendent Pat Hamamoto, HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya and Big Island Interscholastic Federation executive director Lyle Crozier.

"(The letter) makes some valid points," Toyama said during the August meeting.

Interscholastic League of Honolulu executive director Don Botelho agreed, adding there is a safety concern with over-extending athletes.

"I think this (issue) needs to be addressed," Botelho said yesterday.

The committee — to be formed by the end of the month — will consist of an executive director or athletic director representing each of the state's five leagues, with input from league sport coordinators.

Toyama said if needed, the committee should prepare a proposal to be presented for approval at the June 2010 Hawai'i Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association conference.

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