Drinking And High School Sports Don't Mix
I've been hearing an awful lot of excuses for the kids on the South Side boys lacrosse team over the last day or so. Drinking is no big deal. Plenty of teams do it when they go on the road. This isn't a capitol offense. Etc...
Aside from the fact it is illegal for anyone under 21 to take a swig of beer or anything of higher test, there's one fact that the enablers and excuse-makers out there are forgetting. It's one thing for a teenager to drink socially. Right or wrong, it happens every Friday night on Long Island.
But when you represent your school, you are held to a higher standard. Most athletes at most schools sign a code of conduct that bans them from drinking, among other things, during the season. It's a pact between the players, the coaches, the school. Wearing that South Side jersey is a privilege, not a right. And when you wear that jersey, whatever you do on or off the field becomes a reflection of the community.
You can call it cornball, but that's a fact. So I say this latest incident shouldn't be taken lightly. It happened during a school function, a time when teens should be on their best behavior not trying to recreate scenes from "Jackass". Athletes are leaders in school. Which means when they stray, administrators have the right to make an example of them.
I hope the South Side boys lacrosse team still has a few good leaders left when the final verdict is handed down.
Comments
BRAVO!!! Well said! Thank You,as I always say,"It starts with the family at home".We as parents need to stop being afraid of being the bad guy and take a tough stance on underage drinking as a whole! I am so tired of hearing parents say it is better they drink in my home then out on the street! Stand up for your children teach them right and wrong by example.Student athletes need to be accountable for their behavior good and bad!
Posted by: LaxParent | April 19, 2007 9:39 AM
Jason,
This is the coaching staffs fault. If you are going to post a sensational blog like this the least you can do is put the blame where it belongs. The coaching staff and the Athletic Director.
Gregg,
I cannot understand your thought process in regards to your article "Trips? There's no place like home" LI School teams travel all the time without incident. You seem to be harping on the exception instead of the rule. If I may I would recommend you investigate the incident deeper and find out the following;
1) What the coaches game plan to ensure a safe environment for the kids?
2) How many coaches and adults were assigned to chaperone the team?
3) Did the coaching staff have an itinerary to keep the kids occupied from the time they woke up until lights out?
4) Was the trip scrutinized or reviewed by the Athletic Director?
Then you could write a more critical article with what went wrong so the problem could get fixed.
How are we suppose to get a grass roots effort going in regards to getting Section 8 and 11 to change their policy on LI Football playing non-league games when you write an article like this?
I look forward to your comments.
Joe Rayski
Bellport Football Alum 83-85
Posted by: Joe Rayski (Bellport Alum 83-85) | April 23, 2007 8:50 PM