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Post by senatorblutarsky on Jun 11, 2007 8:02:31 GMT -6
I am curious as to what people have in place for their athletes over the summer. At our school, there are no rules governing summer... it's kind of like going to Vegas. What happens in the summer stays there (so, if a player gets a MIP charge in July, according to our school rules, he does not have to be suspended from participation). We can however, make rules within our program that go beyond the school rule. (So, if the football team chooses to suspend players caught drinking over the summer, they may do so).
We have our team rule in place- so if anyone has, for example, an alcohol related issue- they miss two games (one if they self report).
A neighboring school not in our class has the same "summer=going to Vegas" policy, and last year 12 or so players received an MIP right before practice started...no player missed any part of a game. It seems most of the schools in the area have similar rules regarding the summer.
I would like to put something in place for the whole school... but want to see what others do to get some ideas. Thanks.
(obviously, we just had an issue... which is why I am consumed with this.)
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Post by fbdoc on Jun 11, 2007 8:43:30 GMT -6
As a Christian school we're probably a bit outside the public school norm. Our policy (I'm the head FB coach AND the Dean of Students) is that if it's in the paper (arrest, DUI, etc.) then you're gone for the season. If something comes to our attention, such as an email containing a myspace photo of billy drinking/smoking, then we will give it to the parents - with the understanding that IF another one comes our way that the school discipline will then kick in.
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Post by briangilbert on Jun 11, 2007 20:21:03 GMT -6
I think the whole code of conduct thing is blown way out of proportion, if a kid gets caught drinking or is arrested odds are it's because he needs guidance, so how does kicking him off the team help the kid? If anything as a coach or administrator I think when you're in a position of power like that it's your job to reach the kid and try to get the best out of him, especially if he lives in a home environment that's not conducive to success.
To me football is just a game (even though I love it), and I would never want to take away the chance for a young person to play the game that I love because they made a mistake when they were immature teenagers. To me it's unfair, because once they leave the walls of your HS they will never get another chance at it.
I guess my point is this, suspending a kid for a game is one thing... But to kick someone off the team, heck they had better be going to jail for something terrible, not drinking with some friends on a Saturday night.
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Post by goldenbear76 on Jun 12, 2007 1:32:35 GMT -6
We had a kid get popped for MIP during the season last year, even though he didn't have any alcohol on him, the officer smelled it on his breath. The school immediately suspended him for the entire season. I think we as a coaching staff thought it was the wrong thing to do. We wanted to punish him, susupend him 3-4 games, and make him wish he'd never done that again, and teach him a lesson. Once the school got involved, that was it. He no longer played football. We had no say in the thing. That was all that was done. I think that punishment hurt our team WAY more than it hurt the kid. The school administrators kind of drug the appeal process out for a few weeks, then told him, the decision was final. He's eligible to play for us next season, so I hope that the kid did learn a lesson. Not the "Screw up and we'll ditch you " lesson.
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Jun 12, 2007 7:42:46 GMT -6
I understand the policy at fbdoc's school; it IS a Christian school after all. I have a good friend who is the AD at a Christian school. Staff members have to sign a paper saying they will not use alcohol or tobacco. It would make sense to have a policy for the students in this case.
As for the other responses... I'm not looking to nail kids, but to have NO RULES whatsoever governing the summer is not acceptable to me. We have them for football (and we've had a good program over many years). I want to see something for all our sports- so there is some accountability to off-season training. I agree- athletes will make mistakes and should be afforded an opportunity to make amends... but they shouldn't get a free pass since it is June and not April.
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Post by playfast on Jun 12, 2007 8:13:02 GMT -6
Where are the parents? Oh I forgot they are supplying the booze!!!
Why does this all fall on the football coaches head? In my situation I believe that my players are allowed to "party" because their parents allow it. Out of a team of 65 guys more than 3/4's come from a two parent house. We have suspended players before when reported even after mommy and daddy come to the school to complain and say that it was under their or another adults supervision. (Prom/graduate parties are a great example)
Society is allowing this behaivor and I don't think a football coach can be the only one to change it. Heck I have had police officer kids on the team and they are the worse over the years.
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Post by fbdoc on Jun 12, 2007 8:34:14 GMT -6
We implemented our "strict" policy for one main reason - we wanted to give our student athletes a face saving reason to say "no" when presented with an alcohol situation. We don't want them to drink for all of the obvious reasons, but kids don't always make the best choices. We felt if there was a serious consequence, that everyone knew about, it would allow our students to be able to walk away.
Briangilbert, I don't want to sound preachy but I'm guessing you realize there's a big difference between a couple of coaches "drinking with some friends on Saturday night" and a couple of kids doing the same thing. The kids aren't legal and they're drinking to get drunk. And if they are getting drunk, they may end up doing something terrible when they get behnd the wheel of a car. That's why we have a strict policy - not to make sure they don't get kicked off the football team, but to try and prevent a tragedy from a teenager making a mistake because they were too immature to say no. As I said in my earlier post, I'm the Dean and Head FB Coach, but I'm also a dad and I hope my kids have the guts to say and do the right thing when the time comes. If not, then maybe this strict policy will be in the back of their minds to help them.
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Post by coache67 on Jun 12, 2007 9:15:48 GMT -6
Not to get too deep here, but anyone who drinks and drives is potentially going to do something terrible.
Also, coming from a perspective of private and public schools, the policy fbdoc cites isn't all that strict b/c their is no game penalty for a first offense. I have been at places where the myspace deal will get you out for 20% of the season, first offense.
I like your policy b/c it is realistic. A lot of coaches have unrealistic rules and penalties which, depending on the "circumstance" aren't fully enforced if at all.
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