Drug and Alcohol Use on HS LAX teams

[dlk]

A local varsity high school team that was quite likely to get in to the state playoffs had 3 players (including 2 starters) permanently dismissed from the school for smoking MJ on campus. The team was devistated by the loss of the players. They lost all subsequent games....and is out of the playoffs.

The team has had a reputation for alcohol and drug use among the student body (off campus parties at players houses when their parents are out...or sometimes even when the parents are home). From rumors, only about 10 to 15% of the team does not use alcohol or drugs. Is this a problem on your team?

Any suggestions on how one might try to reduce the problem?

Drug screens? Random testing? or just give up?

[nptlaxgoalie121]

a few years ago there was a play off game in a day and a kid got his car searched and the admistration found pot in his car, but since the car was registared to his dad the dad said it was his so the kid could play in the game the next night.

now to answer your question
drug screens would work being that pot does stay in your system for a long time. honestly i dont think that this will ever stop though kid are always going to drink underage and possiably smoke pot. there really isnt much you can do some kids just need to learn to be smart about it and not do it where they can get cought and let there team down.

[Superman]

theres nothing you can do about smoking and drinking. period. its part of high school and college. everyones going to go out and get drunk at least once in high school or college. i dont see what the big deal is. you just have to be smart enough to not get caught doing it. especially smoking dope.

[Pitibear]

... team has had a reputation for alcohol and drug use among the student body (off campus parties at players houses when their parents are out...or sometimes even when the parents are home). From rumors, only about 10 to 15% of the team does not use alcohol or drugs. Is this a problem on your team?

Any suggestions on how one might try to reduce the problem? Drug screens? Random testing? or just give up?

This has to be a problem for a lot of guys/teams (probably girls' teams, too)...

I do NOT have the magic solution, and coming from a guy who was a teenager in the 60's, this might sound strange, but:

Education is the key to the problem. Athletes must have knowlege to make good choices, just like any other young adult.

part of this is simly pure "character" of a person, with integrity and honesty being the main traits that cause a person to adhere to rules, even if "everybody does it." You do what you know to be right, regardless of the demand or impetus to do otherwise.

Our local elementary school latched onto this "character counts" education program from out of Los Angeles...we now have 4th graders who can lecture on integrity choices...my daughter (high school sophomore) lectures me on drinking (I have maybe a 6-pack per year)...

really not holding myself or her as the crown of virtue, what we are is a young adult, and an adult who do not feel the compulsion to go along with the crowd...I bet there are a lot of hs players who would like to feel that way?

Hope you can work with your team and coaches...check out the website, http://www.charactercounts.org/, show it to your coaches, good luck...

[roycegracie47]

This has to be a problem for a lot of guys/teams (probably girls' teams, too)...

I do NOT have the magic solution, and coming from a guy who was a teenager in the 60's, this might sound strange, but:

Education is the key to the problem. Athletes must have knowlege to make good choices, just like any other young adult.

part of this is simly pure "character" of a person, with integrity and honesty being the main traits that cause a person to adhere to rules, even if "everybody does it." You do what you know to be right, regardless of the demand or impetus to do otherwise.

Our local elementary school latched onto this "character counts" education program from out of Los Angeles...we now have 4th graders who can lecture on integrity choices...my daughter (high school sophomore) lectures me on drinking (I have maybe a 6-pack per year)...

really not holding myself or her as the crown of virtue, what we are is a young adult, and an adult who do not feel the compulsion to go along with the crowd...I bet there are a lot of hs players who would like to feel that way?

Hope you can work with your team and coaches...check out the website, http://www.charactercounts.org/, show it to your coaches, good luck...
I like your thinking.

It reminds me of playing in college where once a year, a represenative from the NCAA spoke to us in regards to the policies on banned substances (which many of my teammates ignored since they felt that we as a team wouldn't be tourney bound and therefore wouldn't be scrutinized) as well as gambling and the now very pertinent becuase of Duke, the rules regarding consent.

The second two aside, there is only so much an institution can do about preaching the dangers when they do not go to necessary lengths to enforce the rules against them. Seeing as the NCAA can and will randomly screen, I felt that was a chance that wasn't worth taking as an athelete. Unfortunately as I previously mentioned many teammates felt otherwise, and while I apporached our then asst coach on the matter he lamented at agreeing but that it was falling on deaf ears, I certainly hope things have changed since he became head coach. Despite a team imposed 24 hour rule, I still felt there were limits if I wanted to take being a school athelete seriously (and even then there are those who will argue I didn't by putting school first but that's another story) and didn't like the prospect of drug screening turning us into a team of 4 or 5.

[Coach_Goldberg]

Since the D.A.R.E program has been dismantled, I think that everyone in 4th grade should be made to watch the director's cut of Requiem for a Dream. That would certainly decrease drug use in teenagers. It's todays version of Reefer Madness, just tons more frightening.

[Pitibear]

I applaud your call for self-restraint...since I posted the Character Counts website link, I went back myself and re-read the material on the six pillars of character...keeping in mind that this stuff is fairly corney, being aimed at persons as young as 5 years old, I find that it isn't simplistic, and pretty much covers almost every character dilemma you could encounter.

Self-control in the face of obstacles is what we're talking about.

As a coach, I value the player who, as a person, exhibits the traits of good character because he/she believes it's the right thing to do, not because some outside force is compelling him/her to do so.

There are gross legal problems with testing minors in high school anyway...

A few years back, when we went to our first nationals (inline hockey), I casually mentioned to the players that this was a national event operated by a national governing body, and drug testing might be a part of it (even though I knew it wasn't). I did this to 'encourage' one select player to stop his drug use...unfortuneately, my action had the opposite effect: he deliberately and blantantly violated team rules. He wanted me to kick him off the team, so he didn't have to quit his drug use, and he wouldn't have to come up with an excuse that was acceptable to his parents for outright quitting the team. He could blame me to his parents for kicking him out.

I probably should have honestly confronted him about the drug use, and forthrightly offered my support to try to help him to stop.

Even old guys can learn from mistakes, eh?

[nptlaxgoalie121]

i agree with you coach_goldberg

[Riot]

2 of the 3 captains on my team have had multiple DUI's. :/ It's kind of sad.

Since the D.A.R.E program has been dismantled, I think that everyone in 4th grade should be made to watch the director's cut of Requiem for a Dream. That would certainly decrease drug use in teenagers. It's todays version of Reefer Madness, just tons more frightening. That's the most depressing movie ever.

[breakastick]

my team has been plauged by minors and such other substance violations

we lost our starting goalie for 2 games due to a minor, we lost a starting attack from last year who can't play because he got his second minor, we also lost several poles and the school is now looking for upperclassmen taking lower classmen drinking its insane so we got a lecture from our coach about how its staining our reputation(were a club still)

[tiplax]

we have some kids who skp to go smoke(for 4/20 and birthdays) but no one has been kicked off or been given warnings. If we lose someone to this i'll be PO'ed. we only have 15 kids on the team

[WAHSlax]

Random drug testing was put into place in my school system this year for anyone participating in extracurricular activities. If you don't sign the consent form, you don't play. Last year our football team went to the state championship, this year we almost didn't have one. Some kids are going to drink/smoke, reguardless of the consequesces.

[laxsavage]

theres nothing you can do about smoking and drinking. period. its part of high school and college. everyones going to go out and get drunk at least once in high school or college. i dont see what the big deal is. you just have to be smart enough to not get caught doing it. especially smoking dope.


Superman, that's the dumbest thing I think I've ever heard. Encouraging kids to go out and do this stuff because it's "part of high school" and basically saying that its ok as long as you don't get caught, that's ridiculous. Let's all be honest, lots of high school kids do it, and it is a problem. Nobody has the perfect solution, but the situation is only going to get worse if we tell the kids "just don't get caught." Drugs and alcohol really should have nothing to do with sports, especially high school sports. :thumbsdow

[RockStar]

Fact:
Drugs and booze are no good for you.

Fact:
Notwithstanding fact 1, many HS aged kids screw around with drugs and booze.

Fact:
Many of these same kids go onto college, where they screw around with drugs and booze on occasion. Probably more so than they did in high school.

Fact:
Many of these same kids graduate and have some success in life, with a decent job, healthy happy family etc.

Finding out that a kid has experimented with booze and drugs definitely requires discipline, and probably requires counselling, but it is really not as big a cause of alarm as some people think it is.

Now, what kind of discipline is appropriate? I don't know, that's a case by case thing, but I'm not in favour of tossing them off a sports team.

Many of you've heard the saying "Idle hands do the Devil's work". It's true. If a kid doesn't keep busy and do something, they get bored. In my experience, boredom is the number one cause of drug use......don't ever claim there's nothing to do, you can always do drugs!

Anyone still think it's a good idea to throw someone off a sports team (clean healthy regimented physical activity, insert many other tangible benefits) because they've screwed around with drugs in their off time?

[RockStar]

Random drug testing was put into place in my school system this year for anyone participating in extracurricular activities. ......

I can't believe they bother with this kind of crap at the high school level.

I recommend leaving a stool sample right on the principal's doorknob.

[jimd619]

We cannot mandate morality. We cannot police our players. I have had an adult friend of mine hold a party offering alcohol to the HSers because, he rationalized, better in his house than out on the street. Ignored fact that kids were driving home. I confess I do not discriminate, I am friendly with idiots.

What we can do is institute a zero tolerance policy. Hey, playing lacrosse is not a right, it is a privilege. I am not a paid coach. I am putting in dozens of hours a week to help kids help themselves learn a sport. It is my choice whether I wish to deal with kids that cannot follow a simple rule. Our rule, you caught drinking or with drugs, say goodbye to the team. Not saying we react to rumors. But do not get arrested.

I can't fathom RockStar's point. He have a problem with testing or was that a sarcasm as the situation? Drugs step it up one further level. Have an occasional beer? Don't get caught DUI, probably get away with it. Abuse it, and you WILL get caught. Drugs, hey, those are more serious. No place on my team. Oh I am concerned about the boy. Get him into rehab, but to my mind no second chance. It is a hard world, and there are some things for which there are no second chances. Not playing lacrosse is a small price to pay to learn that one if you are on the path to drugs. And I have no problem with testing. Tests are pretty conclusive these days. So to my mind the only person that can have a problem is someone who doesn't want the hassle the chance to be caught. We roll steroids into the mix too. Want to play? Check that behavior at the door. Use us as an excuse when friends pass the bottle. Answer is no.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

My team/school is notorious for drinking and smoking. The lacrosse team at my school is easily the hardest partiers. And we aren't stupid about it. If there is a huge game the next day, we wont drink or smoke. We take pride in being one of the best teams in the school.

[LAX#16]

there a kid on my team thats 14 years old and came to a game with a hang over

[RockStar]

......I can't fathom RockStar's point........
Points are clear and simple

- discipline is in order if you catch kids doing drugs;
- kicking kids off a team is not the right kind of discipline.

Think about it. By kicking the kid off the team, what you've done is given a casual drug user more free time. Want to know what he might do to occupy the extra free time? How about...............DRUGS! :dummy:

IMO, something like an extra half hour of running/conditioning for the next six practices, or making him the water b!tch for the rest of the year would probably accomplish more.

As far as random drug testing, yes, I am completely against it.

[WAHSlax]

I can't believe they bother with this kind of crap at the high school level.

I recommend leaving a stool sample right on the principal's doorknob.
Actually, someone did leave a sh!t in a cup in the administrative building. I got in big trouble after taking Ibuprofin before a drug test.

[Pitibear]

- discipline is in order if you catch kids doing drugs;
- kicking kids off a team is not the right kind of discipline.



Rockstar has it right. You must find what will motivate behavioral change at a higher level than drugs...which is never easy, and may not be possible in all cases...as an ultimate play, the player must decide if he wants to continue or to quit the team...

I don't have the answer...I failed the one kid I identified as a drug user on a national-tourney bound team...he quit, rather than give up his drug habit.

I am very interested in thiose coaches who have experience turning such kids around.

[laxsavage]

Rockstar has it right. You must find what will motivate behavioral change at a higher level than drugs...which is never easy, and may not be possible in all cases...as an ultimate play, the player must decide if he wants to continue or to quit the team...


I agree, you clearly can't kick some kid off the team, terminating all contact with him, if you really want to help him (which should be the goal of all coaches, to help their players). I could see suspending the player from playing in games, extra conditioning, etc. You also don't want to do anything that oversteps your boundaries as a coach. I mean, hopefully the kid's parents are taking action and the coach only needs to play a supporting role.

[drifter8027]

what's MJ?

[CTLaxer]

Well, I'm kind of Draconian and would just kick said player off my team. How would you handle disciplinary action otherwise in order to motivate them to drop the habit and continue with lacrosse? Bench them? Reduce playing time? Extra Conditioning? I'm just not really seeing anything that sends a strong enough message with enough motivation attached to it.

I am currently having issues with one of my players. The season is done, but behavior this season has been unacceptable to the point of drinking or smoking pot before practice. While I can't prove any of this is going on, everyone knows what's up. I was a kid once, and I certainly can tell when someone is impaired. Also, other members of the team have commented on it after the fact, and said player also told one of my assistants after the fact. This player has an "I don't care" attitude in the sense that no kind of motivation has worked, positive or negative. The response given when asked any kind of question, or when faced with any kind of reward or punishment has been "I don't care".

Any thoughts on how to handle these situations without kicking someone off the team and being positive, or how to handle this situation specifically in a tactful, non-draconian way?

[jimd619]

I appreciate the sensitivity you are trying to show the player, I really do. And I am generally pretty supportive of players and their mistakes. And I will say that I probably would not kick a player off "forever". Let him clean up his act and try again next year, that is fair. But sometimes tough love is called for. I would also see a reduced penalty for someone who was caught with a beer, as opposed to alcohol abuse. And no question, drugs takes it to a different league.

You see I have a different tack on what is humane. Players fall into 3 broad categories, those that will never abuse themselves with alcohol and drugs, those who could not care less about our opinion, and then there are those curious or swayed by peer pressure. First, I am sure they only consider it because they don't think they will get caught. But here is the Catch 22. The more you want to be supportive and turn him around, the more you open the loophole as the punishment is softened.

My point is it is human nature to really think about those decisions that affect what is important to you. So maybe we can prevent abuse by making it really a tough decision to try that drug or get drunk and jump behind a wheel because you can lose something you care about. Look at driving while intoxicated. The heightened penalties HAVE impacted the numbers of adult drunk drivers. Elminate them, no. I am trying to stop some players from being casual about trying drugs.

Running more? I do not see that changing behavior on practice field infractions. The same people who cut-up in practice and run, keep cutting-up. Gotta be tougher to have teeth. And I hate to say it, but right now lacrosse is under a microscope. We have to be cleaner than the next sport if we want to continue to grow.

Again, I applaud your trying to save each boy after the fact. I am trying to prevent the attempt in the first place.

[AZlax9]

Ya, i think it is really stupid. I am going to be a junior in high school, and i have never drank or done drugs. i think they are really stupid. People talk about peer pressure, but if you really believe in something, you wont change your mind. Like i dont go to parties with my friends because i dont want to be put in that situation. That doesnt make me a loser, because i still hang out with them. they just know not to ask me to go to a party with them, cause i always just say no thanks, and i go home and play lacrosse. You can still have fun in life without this stuff

[wolfie8914]

Players should be able to do whatever the want on the weekends. If they wanna drink a few brewskis thats fine....just not getting hammered both nights. If they actually care about the game then they will either go easy or dont do anything at all. But at school....that is just stupid. Coaches just need to emphasize that players be smart. Smoking during the season (cigs or MJ) is just retarded. And as long as drinking is kept to a minimum during the season...coaches should be happy.

[wcwarriorlax]

i completley disagree dat every highschool student will get drunk at least 1nce in there time at da skool if u just be smart about not drinking its not dat hard lacrosse shood be a fun respected sport not a sport for drunks

[PBlax]

my school just recently started screening players.

Every couple days now at the end of the day they'll pick 6-8 random athletes and call them down to the office to get tested

[Canadian Lax]

my school just recently started screening players.

Every couple days now at the end of the day they'll pick 6-8 random athletes and call them down to the office to get tested



Is that legal in highschool???....so wat if they drink on the weekend or have weed in their system from the weekend, what will happen then??

[jrmelax16]

At my school, if you are an athlete and get caught either drinking or doing drugs, you are automatically suspended from any team for I think 6 weeks, maybe 4. It doesn't matter if it's at a party 2 miles from school or across the country, also it doesn't matter if it's school night or the weekend. We had a 2-3 players suspended from our team because they got caught.

[crazydrew86]

at the high school i am going to next year you have to sign off on a random drug screening test in order to play a sport.

[laxsavage]

Players should be able to do whatever the want on the weekends. If they wanna drink a few brewskis thats fine....just not getting hammered both nights. If they actually care about the game then they will either go easy or dont do anything at all. But at school....that is just stupid. Coaches just need to emphasize that players be smart. Smoking during the season (cigs or MJ) is just retarded. And as long as drinking is kept to a minimum during the season...coaches should be happy.


Again, stupid. If my players are breaking the law and doing things that will only be detrimental to their lives, then I'm going to be concerned. A good coach, especially in high school, will try to help their players become good people as much as good lacrosse players. I really can't see how anyone can tell highschool kids that drinking is ok.

[wolfie8914]

Again, stupid. If my players are breaking the law and doing things that will only be detrimental to their lives, then I'm going to be concerned. A good coach, especially in high school, will try to help their players become good people as much as good lacrosse players. I really can't see how anyone can tell highschool kids that drinking is ok.


Right. I agree with you.

But you didnt hear me. My coach doesnt tell us drinking is okay—he just always gives the be safe, be smart, we have a game tommorrow (or whenever). You are so rediculously naïve to beleive that your players dont drink. Im sure there are those that dont, but i promise you many of them do. "Detrimental to their lives"...if they are drinking responsibly and not being a bunch of wild cretins then its not really "detrimental." Drinking and driving is really the only issue here. But that is an issue everywhere. If your players are stupid enough to get DWI's then they can get kicked off of the team.

[wolfie8914]

Private schools can drug test. A very big private lacrosse school recently announced they will be conducting drug testing for every student at the beginning of the year, then randomly after that. They are doing hair sample testing. So...kids cant smoke anymore...problem solved. But i go to public school so no tests for me.

Drinking...there is still no way to test if kids are drinking unless its like less than 24 hours after they did it.

[RamLacrosse]

Isnt that a little like stereotypical or something to only screen lacrosse players?

[RockStar]

...... I really can't see how anyone can tell highschool kids that drinking is ok.
Sure you can't tell them that, but the fact is that many kids will screw around with alcohol, and very few will suffer lasting consequences from it.

If you catch them, punishment is in order. However, as I've posted already, I figure lengthy suspension from the team is a stupid punishment.

[laxsavage]

Right. I agree with you.

But you didnt hear me. My coach doesnt tell us drinking is okay—he just always gives the be safe, be smart, we have a game tommorrow (or whenever). You are so rediculously naïve to beleive that your players dont drink. Im sure there are those that dont, but i promise you many of them do. "Detrimental to their lives"...if they are drinking responsibly and not being a bunch of wild cretins then its not really "detrimental." Drinking and driving is really the only issue here. But that is an issue everywhere. If your players are stupid enough to get DWI's then they can get kicked off of the team.


Ok, name one positive thing that comes from high school kids drinking alcohol. There's nothing, but there are many negatives on the other hand. I agree that it's better for them not to get totally wasted, but drinking does only carry negative consequences. And if someone doesn't think that it has lasting consequences, then they're naive. Of course I'm aware that it goes on, but that doesn't mean that I have to just accept it and do nothing about it, that would just be ridiculous.

[laxsavage]

If you catch them, punishment is in order. However, as I've posted already, I figure lengthy suspension from the team is a stupid punishment.


If you have read this thread then you will know that I feel the same way.

[SouthJerzylax22]

Id have to say that almost every HS school team has this problem. Some schools more than others but it happens. Even the top players on the top teams in the country have this problem. I doubt anyone has heard the story of what happened in Jersey last year where Mike Burns from Shawnee High school (Selected to play in the Under Armor Classic by the way) decided he was going to go out and try to buy booze with a fake ID. He got caught and was given the chance to walk away but decided to argue with the cops and ended up getting arrested in the proccess. He was suspended from school and had to miss a game which happened to be the state semi final game. Shawnee only lost by one in overtime but needless to say they would of won if Mike Burns would have played.

This goes to show that its not only the kids that are the low lifes on the team but its also the superstars.

[LongIslandLax]

I wouldn't do drug screens or any tests because it will not stop them from doing it. It will only get them in trouble. What you need to do is to talk to them and explain that they can't do that stuff especially during the season. You need to educate them and explain that by not only harming their bodies they are hurting the team. Everyone needs to be able to count on each other. If they get kicked off...screw em..they will only do it again.

[Irishlax22]

No One i think knows how big of a problem underage drinking is. I Cant show up for a game without hearing about drinking or smoking. Its getting out of control. Alot of the coaches ignore it as long as it doesn't affect the team.

[RockStar]

If you have read this thread then you will know that I feel the same way.
Yup, sorry.

It was a while ago, and the thread got so long, I forget who posted what!

[middieman1]

At my school, which is public, they do random drug tests to all people involved with clubs or sports teams. It's legal because they say its a privelage to be on the teams. If you refuse to take it your off the team.

[laxmaster491]

some guys on my team had been smoking pot so they forged signatures on their physicals and got caught later. We had to forfeit every game they had played in.

[B1ackout]

Drugs and alocohol in high school... A very touchy subject. I want to start out by asking how many of the members saying that they would kick a player off the team for doing either of the two can actually honestly admit to not having experimented in high school or college? Not very many im sure. I mean think about it the average coach is 40 years old... The 70's man everyone knows went on during those years.

Now for the memebers who say "who can tell a high schooler its good." and "what good can come from it" i want you to think about it. if its not good for a high schooler why is it good for an adult. its good for neither but both still do it. why? because they can. its control that is needed now. as for the second, nothing good can come of it but nothin good can come from many things. Its fun tho and therefore students will do it.

At my highschool every sport is concidered to have their drug of choice. The football players drink beer, the baseball players chew and dip, and the lacrosse players smoke weed. thats the sterotype. while most of the players in each sport do the drug that is sterotyped to them most of them do the other drugs to. drugs are nothin new. students have been doing drugs for a long time. i dont get how men and women can really preach about not doing drugs when it was their generations that caused such widespread drug use. The 60's and 70's which most of the adults on this site where a part of where filled with drugs and sex. In fact during yalls generation the only type of problem that you had to worry about while having sex was pregnacy, but do to the huge amount of random sex and "free spirit" tons of strands of stds have been spread. how can a generation that caused such things truly not be more leniant to a player who smoked weed saturday and didnt have a game till wendsday. its not like they would be messed up still. for all you coaches who are saying you would jsut throw the kid off the team i want you to think of the situation. Rock Star has it right. read his posts becuase they are all correct in my opinion. also Supermans statement is quite true. atleast 9/10 of the student body will try an illegal substance at one point in their high school career(alcohol included) it truly is the way of highschool. As a high schooler i have seen and know this first hand.

[laxsavage]

I'm a highschool coach, I'm twenty-one and I know what goes on in high school and college (because that's where I am now.) I'm not saying that we can stop everyone from doing it. But, if the "facts" and numbers that you all give are really true (I highly doubt that they are, no sources have been cited) then we should all realize that there's a problem. The "well, everyone does it and there's nothing we can do about it" statement shows a laziness and lack of concern on the part of the authors. I'll give some of you guys a break seeing as you're only in high school and don't realize that not all adults drink alcohol etc. and that it's never a responsible thing to do. And I for one will continue saying that drugs and alcohol have no place in high school sports and try to help those that I can.

[aussielax]

I don's see what the actual problem is with alcahol/substance use is, As long as player is not showing up to games/training under the influence then it should not be a problem at all. However i think if players are showing up under the influnce then they should be punished. For instance we had two players on my team who would show up halfway through our warmup hungover and want to play however the coaches didn't need to take any actions against these two players as the rest of the team said that if they were going to this they we didn't want them to be our teamates anymore(in a much harsher manner) now i'd say every guy on my team is a regular drinker and 3 or 4 occasionaly use other substances but none of our remaining players turn up to games or training under the influence so it is not a problem.

[GAlax3]

some guys on my team had been smoking pot so they forged signatures on their physicals and got caught later. We had to forfeit every game they had played in.
thats retarded..when you get a physical, and if they do piss test(which isnt even for the purpose of a drug test) u, they can only tell ur parents if they specifically ask about it...and they couldnt tell ur coaches in any situation

[laxmaster2000]

This post said drug and alcohol USE, there is a big difference between use and abuse. If it interfers with the student's life, I.E. DUIs and missed practices or poor performance then yes there is a problem and the player should be gone so that they can get their life back on track. On the other hand if a kid smokes a joint on the weekend at a party, should he be tested and kicked off the team? I don't thinks so, sorry but laws are not always 100% correct some people can smoke MJ, or drink responsibly. That's just my take on it.

[Sour]

Having now read this thread twice on separate occasions. I find the most salient points to be as follows:
1. There is a huge difference between USE and ABUSE
2. There is no right answer

Here's my view in bullet points:
1. Kids are kids, and will drink/smoke/try drugs and most of them will be better off for it
2. Some kids will get hooked on either and continue to use
3. Sports players are not immune to this
4. If a kid is stupid enough to use when being tested and gets caught...so be it, they face the consequences
5. I cant believe you guys take this so seriously over the pond...guys over here playing premier league rock up for games with hangovers and worse (allegedly)
6. The moral high horse is the wrong place to view this problem from....we were all kids once and although it may be different now, there were always temptations out there!

Ciao

[WKLaxThunder]

I think the coaches responsiblty is to the team first and then the individual player. If a player is boozing it up and smokin' the reefer, his conduct is detrimental to the team's performance. Booze and Dope are both detrimental to mental and physical performance. He should be given the chance to clean it up or or he can clear out. If he loves the booze and dope more than The Game, the team is better off without him. If a coach is aware of the drug and alcohol use and does not condemn it's use then he is encouraging it's use.

[MiddletonLaX]

whats rong with drinking and smoking besides it being illegal what does it do that is so bad that u can get kicked out of school?? althought i dont do it , i cant understand what it is that is so bad. ur only hurting ur own body so what if u do it its ur choice.

[tbs5391]

Itll always be there. Their punishment was correct for the instance. If it occured off-campus it shouldnt have been penalized as strongly, but since it was on campus they deserved what they got. Alot of kids have lost common-sense now-a-days and dont realize the potential they possess.

[laxiceman]

Drugs aren't good for you, end of the story. However, they aren't neccesarily extremely bad for you either if used responsibly. (I'm talking about drinking). Sure they will not be beneficial to you and you'll lose brain cells, but you lose brain cells every day of your life. It has been proven that drinking some red wine can actully be beneficial to you if drank during dinner. However, abusing alcohal is bad for you and I see it as being pointless. Basically my point is that as long as you are responsible to a certain extent and don't affect the team by showing up to games, etc. drunk, I don't really have a problem with it. I'm a player by the way, and I have never gotten drunk in my life. If I was a coach and I had a player who drank but it didn't effect the team, I defanitely wouldn't kick him off the team.

Smoking cigaretes is possibly the stupidest thing you can do in my opinion. The things are gross and are extremely dangerous for you. I have to say honestly, that I have no respect for people who smoke cigs, and I also have to say, that if I was a coach and found out that a player on my team was smoking these, that player would get less playing time. But I still wouldn't send him packing.

Smoking bud is something else that many players do. To be honest again, I have much more of a problem with people who smoke cigs, then those who smoke bud. Smoking marijuana has been proven to not be as dangerous as cigs. It's not good for you, as you are, inhaling smoke, but it doesn't contain those 2000 chemicals found in cigs. Pesonally if given the choice, I would smoke bud over a cig in an instant, any day. However, I still don't think either of them are good things to be doing. I would not punish a player if I learned of his smoking marijuana, because I know, that he will continue to do it even if being repremended.

And finally, hard drugs like ecstasy, crack, heroine, shrooms, etc. are just bad for you and if you are doing stuff like that then something is wrong with you. I don't know what I would do if I had a player doing stuff like this, maybe the only ones I could tolerate to some extent would be shrooms however, the other ones, and even the shrooms as previously mentioned, would really cause me to be concerned, and I would probably try to do something about it.

Basically, while drugs are not good for you, don't kick a kid off a team for doing them, because he is defanitely going to keep on doing them. If you want to help the kid, try talking to him or something along those lines.

[GriffsDad]

Its a tough deal when parents don't care enough to keep the kids from having parties- even when they are home!!!! amazing.

Most schools have strict policies regarding drinking and drug abuse and its best to let the schools police the kids for illegal infractions. As a coach, all you can do is lay out what is expected of them as players and then warn them as to what will happen to them if they violate school rules.

Unfortunately, kids are just that- kids. They don't know the financial consequences of a DUI or drug arrest that parents have to take on when they do these things. For example, if a kid gets a DUI, the parents have to hire a lawyer. That's $1500-4500 right there. Next is the rise in car insurance which can go from $3000 a year to $6000 instantly. Next, is the community service. If its 80 hours, thats 10 days (10 Saturdays actually) where someone has to drive and pick the kid up when there are about a million other things to do on the weekend.

If its a drug arrest, triple the lawyer's fee and up the insurance by 40%.

Now, included in all this is that for the next 20 years you have to write on any job application "YES" to the question have you ever been convicted of any crime. It can literally bar you from getting a job.

So, to answer your question, make sure that the kids are well-informed, set guidelines or rules in the beginning and give the kids the benefit of the doubt that they will make the right decisions- most of them will.

But it has to be set at the first meeting of the year so that there is no confusion. If the captains screw up, take away their captaincy- its a privilege, not a right.

[GriffsDad]

If it was on campus, its a federal offense and the kid is fortunate he's not looking at juvenile detention hall time.

[checklax]

This post said drug and alcohol USE, there is a big difference between use and abuse. If it interfers with the student's life, I.E. DUIs and missed practices or poor performance then yes there is a problem and the player should be gone so that they can get their life back on track. On the other hand if a kid smokes a joint on the weekend at a party, should he be tested and kicked off the team? I don't thinks so, sorry but laws are not always 100% correct some people can smoke MJ, or drink responsibly. That's just my take on it.

Theres no such thing as smoking MJ "responsibly"... Its illegal, deal with it.

[POCK3Ts]

this is all junk everyone knows that hs kids drink and smoke. i mean we have one kid on our team that comes high to every game and practice and it has been noted by coaches and players that he plays better when hes high rather than sober. and yes we have had games where kids come hungover and we lose but u knwo what it pisses the rest of the team off enough to yell at them and that was the last time anyone those kids ever did it. kicking kids off teams is not the solution you have to be reasonable about it and knwo taht if kids are being responisible and no one is getting hurt than you should be happy. when it gets tot he point of DWI or DUI that is when i say you have to take a stand and kick kids off when it comes to that

[st.joslax10]

its a shame

[hulllaxplayer]

what's MJ?

Marijuana...pot...weed. Your the drifter...jk

[Brick Wall]

ha ha superman!!!!!!!!! of course it is gonna happen and u cant prevent it. as my mommy always says "dont do drugs"

[zak]

Next is the rise in car insurance which can go from $3000 a year to $6000 instantly. Next, is the community service. If its 80 hours, thats 10 days (10 Saturdays actually) where someone has to drive and pick the kid up when there are about a million other things to do on the weekend.
Wait... why is the kid paying $6000 a year if he cant drive?

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html

As for facts-
44.8% of seniors have smoked weed.
75.1% of seniors have drank alcohol.

So I guess 75% of parents are doing "a bad job."

[LoyolaMiddie878]

Theres no such thing as smoking MJ "responsibly"... Its illegal, deal with it.



but it feels sooooooo good. hahaha. jk.

[GriffsDad]

Wait... why is the kid paying $6000 a year if he cant drive?
http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html
So I guess 75% of parents are doing "a bad job."

First, his license is suspended for up to 1 year. Now, if the parents choose to cancel his insurance, then the parents run the risk of him not be able to find insurance unless he pays alot of money. Just because he lost his license, doesn't mean the insurance bills go away. See, that's the biggest problem, yo u THINK you know everything when in reality you know nothing.

Second, yep, parents are doing a bad job. I am a parent and I coach high school kids, and the parents have no clue what there kids do. As coaches, we hear and see a hell of alot more than the parents know about, and in many cases, want to know about.

But you can bet that when a parent gets a lawyers bill, or a mechanics or a mortician's bill, they'll wish they had paid more attention.

[laxsavage]

As for facts-
44.8% of seniors have smoked weed.
75.1% of seniors have drank alcohol.



My bad, thought that the numbers would be lower, but it doesn't say where they surveyed either. As for bad parenting, there isn't a textbook on exactly how its done, especially since every kid is different, but they do deserve a lot more of the blame than they recieve (ie-people blaming the media) but I also blame their peers. Kids need to be very careful in choosing their friends these days, so it's their own fault as well, ultimately, you make your own choices.

[devillax57]

i think drug screenings would help w/ mj, but drinking can not be stopped. i dont think that the requiem for a dream idea would work either(even though it is one of my favorite movies...it's still a movie). But the problem is in every sport, not just lacrosse.

[zak]

See, that's the biggest problem, yo u THINK you know everything when in reality you know nothing.

See, that's the biggest problem, you ASSUME everyone is attacking you when I was confused on how car insurance works. Sorry I dont drive yet. Why do you feel the need to play off teenage stereotypes and attack me? I thought you said you were a parent and a coach? I hope you arent as hostile on the field and at home. Next time, before you post a reply to something you consider offensive, breathe, count to ten, and re read the post. It makes seem like less of a jerk.


Second, yep, parents are doing a bad job. I am a parent and I coach high school kids, and the parents have no clue what there kids do. As coaches, we hear and see a hell of alot more than the parents know about, and in many cases, want to know about.
As bad job is subjective opinion, I'll deffinetly agree that it could be considered that the majority of American parents do a bad job. Theres no point in getting into the subjective part here because this thread is clearly way too troll-prone already.

But you can bet that when a parent gets a lawyers bill, or a mechanics or a mortician's bill, they'll wish they had paid more attention
Im sure the teenager feels the same. After all, they live, or die, with the consequences. A parent can abandon a troubled child, but a child cant abandon his problem.

Again, if you're not going to cite your sources, these numbers are worthless
Yeah, I agree. Thats why I decided to cite my sources.

[RockStar]

Theres no such thing as smoking MJ "responsibly"... Its illegal, deal with it.
It only harms the user, and can be used almost as responsibly as alcohol
(which was once illegal, deal with it. :whyme:)

[wolfie8914]

Smoking some MJ is seriously such a non-issue for lacrosse. If you smoke pot, say, once a day, and not before game/practice, there really arent that many effects from that. It doesnt mess with your breathing. Its does hardly what cigs do to an athlete. The best player on my team this year played better when he was high, which was probably 70% of the time. Go figure, but whatever.

Also, people need to stop using "well...MJ is illegal" as a reason why lacrosse players shouldnt smoke. Im pretty sure that anybody smoking pot knows that its illegal and that knowing so is not going to turn them off of doing it. Furthermore, marijauna really has no legitimate reason to be illegal in the first place. The major reason pot was illegalized was due to racism towards mexicans back in the day.

[LowRida]

Also, people need to stop using "well...MJ is illegal" as a reason why lacrosse players shouldnt smoke.

Why is the fact that is illegal a bad reason not to do it? Any debate on the harmfulness aside the fact of the matter is that if you get caught with any, you are going to be in a lot of trouble since the law puts very harsh sentences on possession charges. I like how you say that this is only a reason "...why lacrosse players shouldn' t smoke," I suppose that you think a lacrosse player has certain privileges above the law as opposed to others.


The major reason pot was illegalized was due to racism towards mexicans back in the day

This was taken from Wikipedia:

In the United States, the significant legislation was the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act, a federal culmination of many separate state laws that had been enacted in the previous years. Some claim that the U.S. laws may have been in response to lobbying by makers of synthetic fibers that competed with hemp. While hemp was not their main competitor, it was a much easier target than cotton or wool, for example. Critics of the American prohibition have also pointed to the possibility that there was a racial underpinning to the criminalisation of marijuana in America, since it was know to be a popular and widely-used recreational drug in the African-American and Latino communities. Indeed, Henry Anslinger has been quoted numerous times on such subjects, implying that "musicians, not good ones, but the jazz type" smoked marijuana, or that marijuana would make white women want to have sex with black men. Nevertheless, the prohibition was strenuously resisted in some quarters, with New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia becoming one of the new law's most prominent and outspoken critics.

So, if you were wrong in your statement of why marijuana was illegalized, how can I take any of your arguement as fact?

[RockStar]

......

So, if you were wrong in your statement of why marijuana was illegalized, how can I take any of your arguement as fact?

He was wrong once, so he's always wrong.....Ain't generalizations fun!

Besides, I don't think he's totally wrong.
:read: "......and Latino communities......"

I think in todays PC universe, the word 'Latino' encompasess Mexicans.

[CTLaxer]

You guys are teetering on the line with your commentary in this thread, please be mindful of what you say....

[nykeep23]

If I can revert back to what the thread is titled...we had a kid on our team this year come to school a little tipsy this year. Seniors didn't have to come until later in the day, so he had a few drinks the night before. At our school there is this thing that ALL athletes must participate in, and it's Random Drug Testing. Unluckily for him, he was selected that day and some of the alcohol registered. He was suspended from the team for 60 days, which hurt our team because he was one of our best returning players. Our coach had the tough decision to either leave him out of the line-up or let him return. He chose the latter and his first game back he dropped 5 goals including the overtime game winner.

[claxbucky]

In high school, 3 or 4 guys got kicked off my team for doing drugs & stuff. 2 of them were suspended for 4 games for smoking on an over-night tourney trip, and what do you know? One of them dropped out of high school, but recently, he's cleaned himself up, and the other got kicked out of college. Another kid and his bro were kicked off because they were caught w/ drugs in school. And that kid had his leg broken the next year in a car accident, and he got recruited by Harvard to play going into his sophomore year in high school, but because of the drugs, and his horrendous grades, he has no chance of going anywhere. We've also had hardcore practices because kids were caught at parties and other stuff. And by hardcore practices I mean sprinting and ground ball drills for 4 hours, with a 10 minute break in the middle so nobody died. Underage drinking is illegal because kids can't drink responsibly. And don't tell me that I'm wrong about that, because for the majority, they go to parties and get wasted, some more than others. I've witnessed many wack and scary events due to people drinking or getting high off of many substances. What's the point of it? It feels good? I’m sure it feels really good when you wake up the next morning with a hangover, or when you hit the low after a high.

But back to the subject of drug & alcohol (isn't that a drug as well?) use on teams. If you're dumb enough to get caught, you should be kicked off because you're a retard and go to games/practices after recently using the substance. It's stupid and you're not carrying your part of the team if you're doing that stuff. And if you're not helping the team, you're hurting it, and if you're hurting it, goodbye. We had accountability partners on my high school team, and we'd check up on each other, and we all would get together and chill and stuff, instead of leaving some kids to go do stupid stuff, especially on the weekends. It brought us a lot closer, and we built some really tight friendships.

And don't give me any crap about "lots of people drink and smoke pot, and live normal lives". I grew up around that stuff, and it's addictive, I've watched people waste away and just disappear because of it. People live these secret lives, where on the drugs control them, and it affects other aspects of their lives, such as friendships, family, finances, etc. I'm not saying that a beer every now and then isn't bad, but kids drink to get drunk, and pot is probably the best (such an oxymoron, but whatever) drug if people are going to use something, but it's still illegal, and until it's legalized, you smoke it and get caught, you're doing something illegal, and should be punished.

Do you want to be just another name in the obituaries some day, another number, another nobody who did nothing to impact your small realm of the world in a positive way? Or do you want to rise above it and become something better? I could go on for hours and hours about this, but I'm going to stop now before I get someone really mad. My Point: You do drugs, and you're caught, you’re off the team, and it could possibly affect you for the rest of your life. Stop crying about getting in trouble for doing stupid stuff, and make some sacrifices for your team. If you can't make the sacrifices, then don't play. It's as simple as that!

And no… I don’t do drugs nor drink alcohol. Never have and never will.

[SawyerLaxGirl44]

Are they allowed to do random drug tests in High School? I thought it wasn't allowed. I know at my school, we hafta sign a 'contract' stating that we won't smoke or drink or go to parties, and that we know if we do, we are automatically kicked off the team, no matter what. Weekend or not, anywhere near the school or not. If we're caught, we're done.

Well...Only about 9 of us out of 23 girls I think followed that.Myself and one of the other captains know what a bad example it is for the rest of our team (we had 9-12 graders) Every single night, the majority of our team would get high or drink or w/e. Well, the weekend before our Regional game, 4 girls got caught, 3 happened to be starters-main starters. Needless to say, our momentum was dragged down and we ended up getting our butts whoooped. Whats the moral of this story? The school doesn't joke around-don't do it. Is it REALLY worth getting kicked off the team and letting down 19 other girls just so you could go out and get smashed??

A solution? Don't have the "just don't get caught" additude. Some coaches at our school, along w/ the school contract, make their own. It doesn't always work, it prolly never works. But if it scares one kid enough, at least you made a little difference. Or just work your kids hard enough that going out is the LAST thing on their minds!

[zak]

Its really easy to say dotn do it. But lets face it, america drinks coffe in the morning, has a smoke break around 1pm, pops a valium when it gets home, and takes a night cap before it goes to sleep. 95% of the world is probably addicted to something. Its such a morally ambiguous issue that I dont think anyone should be allowed to have a definitive answer, because there really isnt one. Waving your finger and saying no is the same as waving your middle finger and doing whatever you want. Both are overly ignorant.

[bpercival]

I think sport steriod use is ridiculous. Its like majorly cheating it kills what atletes train for becuase you jut make up your lazyness with drugs. Its not the real ability anymore all sports is dang he must have bloodoped alot more then me cause he won the race not oh, he trained more. IM ALL FOR DRUG TESTING IN HIGHSCHOOL!!! I KNOW THE FLORIDA SCHOOLS ARE TESTING ALL OF THEIR SPORT TEAMS!

[meestagoaliemon]

I honestly think superman has some issues to work out. while kids will do that kind of stuff, it's just something that needs to be cracked down on. i have heard about a team that was going to win states but eight of their star players were caught drinking. :imparied:

[WoodDuck14]

Wow, I'm surprised that some of you guys that said your teams are big drug users and drinkers are good teams. especially smoking weed absolutly kills your game. I admit, I kill a few brain cells from time to time, and it totally kills your lungs. you get winded so fast. this the reason for me quitting this year since I made varsity and want to be the best I can be. You can have fun without doing that stuff all the time. If you cant have fun without being razzed 24/7 you need to think about your life and where its going. Now i'm not grilling the people that do it occasionally, but any more than once a month and you gotta think about what your doing to yourself and your life.

[mdlaxman]

kids will drink and smoke no matter what

the end


if you know they smoke weed and you dont have a problem with it tell them to use a vaporizer so they arent inhaling all that smoke and hurting their lungs haha

why does it matter as long as they are hurting anyone else or disrupting team events

[aussielax]

Underage drinking is illegal because kids can't drink responsibly. And don't tell me that I'm wrong about that, because for the majority, they go to parties and get wasted, some more than others. I've witnessed many wack and scary events due to people drinking or getting high off of many substances. What's the point of it? It feels good? I’m sure it feels really good when you wake up the next morning with a hangover, or when you hit the low after a high.

But back to the subject of drug & alcohol (isn't that a drug as well?) use on teams. If you're dumb enough to get caught, you should be kicked off because you're a retard and go to games/practices after recently using the substance. It's stupid and you're not carrying your part of the team if you're doing that stuff. And if you're not helping the team, you're hurting it, and if you're hurting it, goodbye. We had accountability partners on my high school team, and we'd check up on each other, and we all would get together and chill and stuff, instead of leaving some kids to go do stupid stuff, especially on the weekends. It brought us a lot closer, and we built some really tight friendships.

Well i don't know what the kids that drink around you are like but i would like to say i am a regular party goer and a regular drinker and on very few occasions have i seen bad things happen as a result of this i have seen a few fights and one case of alcahol poisoning but apart from this i have seen hundreds possibly thousands of teeneagers drinking in a responsable manner.

Personaly i feel what you do in your own free time is your decision and others should not interfear with your buisness, If you want to go out to a party and get drunk that is upto you. What i do have a problem with is when people show upto games/training still under the influence this is when an apropriate punishment needs to be handed out to the player/s. But if a player wants to go out and drink on a non gamenight that is their decision and other people should not tell them what they can or can't do in their own time.

[wolfie8914]

This was taken from Wikipedia:



So, if you were wrong in your statement of why marijuana was illegalized, how can I take any of your arguement as fact?


First of all....wikipedia...nuff said.

Second, hahah, that article proved my point. It largely was illegalized due to racism. And jeez, sorry, Latino/Mexican, lets get real here.

[insane-laxer]

well guys i think that that this huge amount of illegal alcohol use from kids comes from the long time they have to wait to try drinking alcohol! dont get me wrong, thats no offense against usa laws or anything, but here in germany and europe kinds can drink the "light" alcohol (like beer) when then get 16. they learn very early to use is responsible.
this maybe come from education and the parents but we do not have the big problems with drunk kids in training or kids with an alcohol hangover at games or trainings!

for the MJ:
i do not get the plus you get from getting high. in my opinion it is wasted money. only good feelings for a couple of hours?! if you play and ride hard and win a game it is a much better feeling!!!! thats what i think! and a win doesnt cost money. it gives other big chances if you train hard! but that was said very often above!

so back to the alcohol:
in my opinion parents have to "educate" their children really early in the correct use of alcohol! my dad said that he has no problem if i want to drink a beer together with him at home (that was as i were 14). so i did not had the need to try it out at parties! i learned how to "use" the alcohol at home! and thats the right way i think! in that way parents can "control" the usage of alcohol better and can try to give the kid a good way for the future. but in the end the kids have to give their acting the right way on their own! they have to take the responsibilities for their acting alone!

hope u understand what i mean :lol: cause i am not sooo good in writing long texts in english :rofl:

the insane :crazy:

[WoodDuck14]

its not quite that simple, american culture isnt the same as german culture.

[insane-laxer]

you are right! but i think that this is not a cultural problem! its a general problem of society...

[manup5183]

i live in the Sanfransisco bay area. i have friends that play i SF and its a true fact they say that almost everyteam smokes weed.my friends go to games high and ive played with them and they are not bad at all. they are all good athletes and know how to play. i dont know why pot is illegal i know succesfull guys that are lawyers or A+ sudents and do it all the time. i have slightly different views on drinking, if your at a party and your drinking thats fine with me, but if you do it to a piont where you are going to be endangering someone (including yourself), start puking, or not being able to remeber last night, and most importantly even touching car keys, i would suspend you from the team. but if i heard you were drinking and smoking moderatley. i would be completely fine with it (so long as it doesnt affect your game). just my 2 cents.

[CTLaxer]

but if i heard you were drinking and smoking moderatley. i would be completely fine with it (so long as it doesnt affect your game). just my 2 cents.

The problem that coaches have with it is that it DOES affect your game, even if you're just doing both "moderately". It's just one of the many of issues that coaches and parents have with this situation.

but if you do it to a piont where you are going to be endangering someone (including yourself), start puking, or not being able to remeber last night, and most importantly even touching car keys, i would suspend you from the team

This is the larger issue at hand. Young people, especially here in the U.S. generally get to that point without even realizing it. They're not responsible enough or experienced enough to handle the responsibility. And generally, if it gets to this point, suspending them from the team might not do anyone any good if they've already gotten behind the wheel and killed someone, or been the one that was killed. This is why the drinking age is 21 in our country. Should it be lowered? Probably, but to 18. In which case it would still be ILLEGAL to drink if you're in high school. Should marijauna be legalized? Maybe, but until then it's a controlled substance and illegal to use or have. The argument that it doesn't harm anyone doesn't fly with the DEA and the cops, and it won't fly for your coach.

[goaliesdadfan]

I agree with CTLaxer. The bottom line is that drug and alcohol use by high schoolers is illegal in most cases (at least in the US). Every school and school district I am aware of has policies in place for dealing with students who ARE CAUGHT breaking the law (or even threatenening to break the law, like sending them to an alternative education campus). As athletics are generally considered extracurricular activities, I believe they are well within their rights to impose testing policies and penalties as they see fit, and coaches are within their rights to impose their own policies as long as they are consistent with those of their school. How many press releases do you see about NCAA athletes being suspended or even being kicked off teams for "violating team policies"?

Not being a lawyer, I would guess that a positive drug or alcohol test virtually requires a coach/team/school to take some disciplinary action (e.g., just like DUI, what if a kid is seriously hurt or seriously hurts another kid if there is evidence that they may be under the influence of an controlled substance?).

All that being said, it is up to individuals and parents to make the choices that best benefit them. If it violates team policies and their athletic careers, then that is a choice they made. No one forced them to play or play for a specific coach and under his/her policies (e.g., if you don't like Bobby Knight's rules or antics, don't play for Bobby Knight).

[lax16]

arite Im a junior in HS now and in prob the hardest partying grade in my school. Ever since frosh and soph year we've been partying... its part of high school guys. Is it the right thing to do be doing? no, but adults and people in general need to accept the fact that its part of growing up especially in high school. I think every1 should experience what its like to go out and experiment and party it up, if high school is supposed to be the best years of your life then llive like that. I'm not saying that every1 should be smokin and drinking and doing w/e else all day everyday but hey if you wanna go hit up some parties on the wknds and drink and smoke go for it. My lax team happens to be made up of the "popular" kids or however u wanna put it. I was a soph on varisty hanging with every senior and junior at every single party. drinking and smoking was going down at every single party whether it was to celebrate a win (those were the best) or just to party together. sharing a few brews with the guys is a bonding thing and the parties are just fun as hell... its not a big deal as long as it doesnt affect the practices or games... we always knew wat nite it would b appropriate or not to have fun. our coach knew exactly wat was going on - he told us many times to b safe and smart on our wknds and not to do anything stupid. i think drinking and smoking is all part of the high school experience... as long as you're not taking it too far (drinking and smokin in school all the time or dependent on a substance) and u're just doing these things on weekends w/ ur friends/team than its no big deal and parents taht try and control this thing r just outta they're league and r just gonna piss they're kids off more. its unrealistic to think that kids arent gonna drink and smoke - as long its not affecting play and players arent getting into serious trouble w/ it - ya gotta let it slide