jsisser posted on September 24, 2010 07:42
District administrators need to take a closer look at the school’s athletic drug policy to stop students from finding loopholes and cheating the system.
If suspended for drug or alcohol abuse (which they sign a contract to not do) athletes can join other teams during their off-season to regain eligibility for their sport of preference.
Not only is this unfair, it’s disrespectful to the sport and other athletes who follow the rules.
Joining other teams to simply “do their time” sends a strong message to those participating that these “new athletes” aren’t there to work hard or enjoy the sport.
Instead, they are there for self-gain and basically saying they’re only participating so they can play their ”real sport”.
However, it is hard to blame students for taking advantage of a flawed system when nothing is done to change it.
No athlete in their right mind is going to sit out their season, risking potential scholarship opportunities, when they can simply serve their ineligibility in a sport they don’t really care about.
If the school board has the power to form the policy, they have the power to change it. A stricter Code of Conduct could eliminate this loophole and stop kids from cheating the system.
All athletes sign a contract saying they will obey all the rules. There needs to be a harsher punishment for those who break this promise and don’t keep their end of the bargain.
The current policy does not hold students accountable for their actions. Instead, it teaches them to cheat their way through the rules.
Changing this policy will bring more integrity to high school sports and make more athletes think twice before using illegal drugs and alcohol.