Rules and their consequences must be communicated clearly and simply to participants and parents prior to and during each season. Participants and their parents need to know what their adult leaders expect, and what will happen if those expectations aren't met.

No matter what methods are used to communicate rules, it is important for participants and their parents to know the reasons for having rules that prohibit the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. The rationale for a given rule helps young people

know that a rule isn't simply something made up by adults to spoil their fun, but that rules are made with concern for their health and safety. Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages are illegal for adolescents primarily because they pose greater risks to the health and safety of young people than adults. There is also evidence that the younger a person starts to use, the more likely he/she is to experience more severe problems later with use. Other drugs, such as performance-altering drugs (anabolic steroids as an example) may be prohibited in order to prevent participants from getting an unfair advantage over others. If parents perceive that the rule is based on concern for their children, if they believe that the consequences for violating the rule are fair, and if they know that school activity staff members are serious about enforcing the rule, they will be more likely to be supportive.

Taking the time to explain the reasons you think rules are important can be one way you can express your concern for your participants. Your opinion that young people should not use tobacco, alcohol and other drugs is probably more important to young participants and their parents than the rule itself. Yet, rules provide an opportunity for you to show your concern and state your opinion.

There are many ways to communicate rules before and during the season.  Here are a few suggestions.

Written methods

Most schools routinely publish their policies in student handbooks with the expectation that students and parents will read, understand, and agree to the contents. Some school activity programs also publish handbooks and include their codes of conduct. Rules may also be published in a school or community newspaper. The problem with these methods of communicating rules and policies is that often parents and students don't take the time to read and consider these rules on an annual basis. Signed statements are one way of boosting the chance that this will happen. These statements simply acknowledge that the parents and participants have read, and understand and have received the policy.

Written contracts may go further and ask parents and participants to abide by the conditions set forth in the code of conduct. Participants agree that they will not use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs, and that they will abide by the consequences if they choose to violate the code. Signing this contract is required in order to participate. Parents agree to uphold the contract. This differs from voluntary pledges, which generally are not a condition of team or group membership.

Visual reminders

Knowing that people often forget what they have read once, some adult leaders print posters of the code of conduct and post them in a visible place, such as the locker room, gymnasium, or auditorium. This can serve as a constant reminder of the code for both participants and fans. When participants are involved in setting the annual goals for their team or group, some adult leaders print wallet cards which may also include a reminder of the codes of conduct.

Formal meetings

Pre-season meetings are perhaps the best way to communicate rules and their rationale on an ongoing basis to participants and their parents. Pre-season meetings can also be an opportunity to distribute and collect signed contracts. Other team or group meetings, held throughout the year, can be used to discuss these codes of conduct.

Informal Discussions

Informal opportunities that come up throughout the year can be used to communicate and reinforce your rules to your players. When you hear rumors about an upcoming party, this can be a time to talk to participants about your concern for them and your expectation that they not use. When a rule infraction takes place, this can be a time to discuss the rule and to remind participants that their commitment to the team or group includes choosing not to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.

Rules are only one part of prevention

There is no magic rule or code that will fit every situation for all time. Any rule or code should be reviewed periodically. Groups affected by a given policy should have a voice in its creation. School activity rules and codes need to be integrated with other organizational policies and programs. In any case, rules and codes are only one strategy for sending clear and consistent messages and are rarely given as the primary reason for choosing not to use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.



Home

MIAA Home Page