Looking for some input

Well, I am not sure what you can/should do? Surely, he is not the only one on the team to get caught, their parents just had the balls to confront and do something about it..to me, it something like no driving, be grounded and maybe some football stuff. I would not let it affect my team

If you have to ask that question, you need to look in the mirror. And I say that with all due respect.

if the parents let him play football, you are in tough spot. So in that regard I agree with brophy.

If the state says it legal you are in a tough spot.

if their are rumors, then you have a bigger problem than him. Just my experience.

what do the parents want done (on football)?
what do the other kids know?
At the very least you and the staff can meet with him to reiterate this isn't about HIM, but his decisions will impact the TEAM. He can make poor decisions and live in the moment if he wants to, but that isn't helping his team any and if he were to get caught (by the cops) doing something like this it would only bring shame on the program. Regardless of the activity, letting the team down by marring the name of the team is to let down the classes of the program from the past as leave a bad name for the classes to come ("remember that dumbass from 2013 that got busted streaking at the grocery store?"). Decisions, decisions...life is all about making good decisions (focus less about the actual activity and more about the impact it has on others).

the way we are going, everything that is your life, our way of life , is going to be gone in 5 years, EVERYTHING.

Get a grip....we're just talking about marijuana

dc, I agree it is a parents problem, but if this is the case why do so many schools have a "365 day policy", or any kind of off season or in season policy?  I am of the opinion that I will raise my kid.  From 7:30 to 2:30 you can keep him/her in line. From 3:00 to 5:00, the football coach (or whatever sport it happens to be) is in charge.  But once MY kid leaves the school grounds, he is mine to raise. 

I understand the "don't embarass the program" thoughts during season (even if I don't always agree with this policy).....but for the life of me I don't see how it is any business or responsibility of a school administration what a kid does in the off season away from school. As far as the OP, if you have a school policy and you know of an indescretion, you better follow policy or it is probably your a$$ that will be in trouble. If there is nothing in your policy about the infraction, it is on the parents.

I would treat it as if I had caught him doing it myself. His parents have trusted you to do the right thing, do it. What would you do if you had caught him yourself?

I agree with dc it (should be) a parent issue but they have made it yours, too.

You can't NOT report it to your AD. It's your responsibility as a coach. If it came out later there was a violation, you knew about it and did not report it, could be grounds for dismissal.

Whether we agree with a year-round policy or not is immaterial. That's up to local BOE and-or administration. If somebody wants it changed there are proper channels to go through.

My sympathies.

Yeah, don't really give a {censored} about the pot. Off-campus, he's an idiot, etc.

...but isn't the actual issue here that he lied to OP, the head coach who explicitly asked him is he was doing it?

Unless I missed it, none of the above posts specifically target this, the dishonesty that is arguably the only real blemish on the player's character as explained by OP.

Ok team, how many of you masturbate on a fairly regular basis? Bunch of liars!

You nailed it. I never saw the OP ever say the parents weren't also dealing with it. They may have previously told him, they would do this, that and the other as consequence. One of which was inform the coach. Apparently they believe the OP stands for something. I say you follow your code of conduct and deliver the message. Don't fear the consequences of your actions if you do.

Is he any good? If not get rid of him. If so, eh... Tough call.


Totally kidding.

Education. Teach him what that stuff does to a brain. Biggest thing with regard to football is the decrease in testosterone in the male body. We need that to play football. Lots of it!!

Good luck!

I was faced with a similar issue last summer. My best player and his parents requested a meeting with me just before summer workouts were to begin. The young man opened up how he wants to start doing things the right way with his academics and behavior. Mind you, that I stay on top of our kids throughout the year and consistently talked to this young man about grades and a change in behavior that I had seen.

During the course of the conversation the young man mentioned he wanted to play college football and that he can't be partying like he has been and that he is sorry for going to a party and getting drunk that previous JANUARY...JANUARY I SAY! This conversation was in JUNE. I thanked him for being honest and doing the admirable thing and that in turn I must also do the admirable and ethical thing. That I need him to trust me that he can come to me but that I can't turn a blind eye to his comment that he was drinking at a party months before. I told him he is going over to the AD's office with me and sharing this information with my AD. I called my AD on our walk over to his office to let him know why we were coming over.

Could I have turned a blind eye to it? Yes! Should I have? NO! And neither should you!

Doing the right thing is hard but necessary. Did I want to lose my best player for the first 4 games of the season? No way! But I can't sleep at night knowing that I ignored a rule that is as clear as can be.

Like BLB said, don't put yourself in a position of this info getting out in the future (and it will!!!) and being in the risk of losing your job because you did not report the violation. Your duty is to serve these young men in a way that is of ethical value. Whether we like it or not; we have a job to do.

I don't agree with it either; but it is the rule these days. The late Joe Paterno said a few years back at Media Day when a reporter asked why so many more kids get in trouble these days. Joe Pa said they don't! The difference is 20 years ago when a kid was drunk or high that the police chief called him to come get the kid; the kid stayed on Joe Pa's couch; and at 5am the kid was awake and running stairs at the football stadium. That is how business was done back in the day. That punishment there was a hell of a lot worse then being suspeneded!