SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

Philosophy and Purpose

The use of mood-altering substances is a significant health problem for many young people and has negative effects on learning, behavior, and physical and psychological development. Use of drugs and alcohol is potentially addictive, especially to the immature body and psyche. In addition, participation in interscholastic sports requires the highest level of physical conditioning and training and commitment to team goals.

The primary purpose of these regulations and procedures is to promote the health and safety of each individual athlete and of the team as a whole. It is hoped that by establishing clear expectations and training rules for all sports these regulations will serve to prevent problems from arising. If problems do arise, they provide uniform procedures and a consistent approach for intervention and corrective action.

General

A. Students will receive a copy of the training rules regarding alcohol, drugs, and tobacco at the beginning of each season. Students and their parents are required to sign a statement that they have read and understand the training rules.

B. At the beginning of each season, the head coach will review and discuss the training rules with members of the team.

C. The athletic director and coaches will hold parent meetings at the beginning of each season. Parents are expected to attend one such meeting at the beginning of their son’s or daughter’s first sports season at Ridgewood High School. (Parents of all interscholastic sports participants are expected to attend one meeting this first year).

Training Rule Re: Alcohol and Controlled Substances

Students who participate in interscholastic athletics shall not drink any alcoholic beverage or use any drugs (except as prescribed by a physician) throughout the entire sports season.

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Consequences of Violation

A. First Violation: Upon investigation (including meeting with student) and determination of a first violation, the following actions are required:

1. Immediate suspension from competition, but not practice, for a period of one week. Competition suspension will not exceed two contests.

2. Conference between coach and athlete. Parent(s) may be required or invited to attend.

3. Conference between student assistance counselor and athlete. Parent(s) may be required or invited to attend.

B. Second Violation:* Upon investigation (including meeting with student) and determination of a second violation, the following actions are required:

1. Either immediate suspension from the team for a minimum of one week or suspension from competition, but not practice, for a minimum of two weeks. The coach, the athletic director, and the student assistance counselor will determine which consequence is more appropriate.

2. Conference of coach, student, and parent(s).

3. Conference of student assistance counselor, student, and parent(s).

4. Written plan to respond to problem submitted by student to the student assistance counselor.

5. The student assistance counselor will review the student plan with the Student Assistance Committee.** The Student Assistance Committee will evaluate the plan, make appropriate recommendations, and determine when the student may be reinstated on the team.

C. Subsequent Violations:

1. If there is a subsequent violation, the steps listed under “Second Violation” will be followed. Subsequent violations will, of course, be treated increasingly seriously by the Student Assistance Committee and may result in permanent suspension from athletic participation.

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2. Violations are cumulative over all four years of high school. If the second violation should occur a year or more after the first, the first violation consequence may be imposed if the coach, the athletic director, and the student assistance counselor agree that the lesser consequence is appropriate.

3. The Student Assistance Committee is chaired by the student assistance counselor and is composed of four to six other professional staff members, one of whom will be a coach. When the committee considers cases pertaining to interscholastic sports, the athletic director will also participate.

Note: Confidential records will be maintained by the student assistance counselor and will not be made a part of any other records. The principal will be informed of each case in which a violation has been determined.

Training Rule Re: Use of Tobacco

The use of tobacco, whether smoking or chewing, is a health hazard for people of all ages, but has especially harmful effects on the growing young person. For this reason, and because interscholastic athletics require the highest level of physical conditioning and training, interscholastic participants may not use tobacco throughout the entire sports season.

Consequences of Violation

Upon investigation (including meeting with student) and determination of a violation, the following actions are required:

A. Immediate suspension from competition, but not practice, for a period of one week. Competition suspension will not exceed two contests.

B. Conference between coach and athlete. Parent(s) will be informed and invited to attend.

C. Conference between student assistance counselor and athlete. Parent(s) will be informed and invited to attend.

Approved by the Ridgewood Board of Education, July 21, 1986

SUBSTANCE- ABUSE POLICY FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS

The Board of Education is committed to providing educational programs and a safe, supportive school environment aimed at eliminating substance abuse and promoting healthful living. In addition to the substance-abuse policies and procedures which apply to all students, the physical demands of competitive sports and the tradition of training rules require that student athletes be governed also by regulations and procedures specific to interscholastic sports. Regulations and procedures should be common to all sports and consistently carried out by all coaches. The Board of Education directs the superintendent to develop and implement such regulations and procedures. In so doing, the following guidelines should be adhered to:

A. The emphasis regarding substance abuse should be on prevention and deterrence. The primary concern is the health and safety, immediate and long-term, of the individual and of the team as a whole.

B. Consistent with the primary concern for health and safety, every effort should be made to keep students on athletic teams.

C. At the beginning of each sports season, students and their parents should be informed, in writing and in meetings with coaches, about all team requirements and training rules including those pertaining to substance abuse.

D. Coaches should be encouraged to talk with a student and with parents whenever there is reason for concern. It is understood that cases which may result in disciplinary measures will follow appropriate due-process procedures.*

E. When indicated, the athletic director, the student assistance counselor, and the student assistance committee should be involved to ensure that appropriate corrective action is taken and adequate intervention provided. Due regard for confidentiality shall be observed.

*Due process involving violations of this policy shall include advance knowledge of the policy and administrative regulations, notice as to the resume of the alleged violation and evidence thereof, and opportunity to be heard prior to the imposition of any disciplinary action.

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PLEASE DETACH AND RETURN THIS TEARSHEET TO YOUR COACH IMMEDIATELY!

We have read the Board policy and administrative regulations concerning substance abuse and interscholastic athletics.

Print:________________________________Year of Graduation____________________

(Student Athlete)

Signed:___________________________________

(Student Athlete)

Signed:___________________________________Date:____________________________

(Parent)