Northwood High School-Irvine Unified School District:

STAAR

Our student athletes today must make decisions about chemicals that no previous generation has had to face. This means, parents and coaches too must learn to cope with the reality of a world in which chemicals are readily available to their athletes.

The issue of alcohol, tobacco, steroids and other drugs in the lives of our young athletes and in our own lives is an area of concern that must be addressed and opened up for serious consideration within the coaching profession. In this society, it is a subject that is everywhere. In school, on television, in the newspapers, on our computers, in the movies and on the athletic field. For many of us drug use represents a mysterious subject with consequences that are unclear and an attraction to the young that is hard to understand. For many of our student athletes, it is also frightening, because drugs are all around them, and they too, are unsure.

Sports seem to define the American spirit of teamwork, fair play, dedication, competition, excellence, and the powerful will to win (sometimes at any cost). For most young people, sports is almost a universal language. More than one-half of all high school students participate in sports and even more are involved outside of school. Some of today’s most inspiring heroes are the stars of the Olympics, professional sports and even high school teams.

The coach molds a teenager into a disciplined and competitive athlete. He/She can give them a postive self image that turns the athlete into a leader. It is the coach who has a strong influence over the life, attitude and beliefs of the student athlete. Here, in this special relationship, there is a foundation for a program which can help reduce one of this nation’s most significant youth problems in our history - the epidemic of alcohol and other drug use.

The student athlete has a powerful influence over attitudes of their fellow students. Beyond that, many are also student leaders and have a major effect on the attitudes and perceptions of their schools, but the true source of that leadership starts with the coach.

Coaches cannot singlehandedly make changes in their school/community’s attitudes about alcohol and other drug use. As public figures, coaches are subject to the community norms, particularly if a “no talk” or a “don’t tell” rule exists about athletes. Coaches can, however, make a significant impact on teams in schools when a policy exists that advocates students seek out and get help for their chemical health problems. Coaches can be even more effective in communities that support, plan and offer chemical-free events.

Society’s attitudes in general and the attitudes of people associated with sports in particular can and must be changed. Education is the key to this change. Many athletic directors and coaches have developed a new approach; they continue to stress adherence to league and team rules, but utilize a variety of intervention and prevention measures in enforcing discipline and meting out consequences. All of us associated with sports can take a consistent and uncompromising stand against drug use coupled with judicious use of school and community resources.

We must encourage our student athletes to pursue healthy behaviors. The social, emotional and spiritual development associated with athletic excellence can be a powerful, positive influence in the prevention of alcohol and other drug use problems.

We must be competent. We must be caring and we must be committed to making the necessary changes. We have the power, we just need the courage.