MISHAWAKA — Lawmakers in Indiana are trying to prevent steroid use at the high school level. A House committee approved a bill that would require random testing of high school football and baseball players. Many coaches and athletic directors are supportive of the idea.

Many schools already randomly test for illegal drugs. They say steroid use on the high school level is not a big problem, but it does happen. They say these tests could be a deterrent.

Even at the high school level, the pressure for some young athletes to succeed can be overwhelming. Coaches say some of them see steroid use as a way to get ahead of the competition, quickly.

“In a lot of cases, short-term, [it] improves some of the traits of your body, makes you stronger, maybe faster, maybe more powerful, and short term, it may seem like it helps you," said Penn High School football coach Cory Yeoman.

But the long-term effects can be devastating. State lawmakers see random testing as a deterrent.

Mishawaka High School Athletic Director Bob Shriner told WSBT News he likes the idea, but says it could be expensive.

“It does add up," Shriner said. "If the test costs $100 and you did two students a week, it would cost the school over $7,000 to test their kids during a school year."

The bill would only require that 1 percent of all football and baseball players be tested.

Shriner said random testing may not always catch the athlete actually using steroids.

“If there’s a suspicion and the tests are available, then that would be a good thing," he said. "Randomly, I think you’re going to be pulling in a lot of students to take this test, who really have no reason to be taking it in the first place."

In the end, Shriner believes the best way to stop steroid use is to teach student athletes about the dangers.

Penn football coach Cory Yeoman agreed.

“We spend a lot of time with our athletes, educating our kids to the dangers of taking steroids,“ Yeoman said. “Yeah, it may do this short-term, but long term it could take your life and that’s huge.”

If a student tested positive, they could be suspended for 90 days. Both men would also like to see the proposed testing expanded to other sports, so football and baseball aren't singled out. The bill's sponsor says he's willing to make that change and require the state to pay for testing. The bill now moves on to the full House.