Violations of Hoover High's Athletic Training Rules are Troubling

The issue of teenage possession, distribution and use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco is nothing new to the North Canton sports scene. TheAthletic Department has a very explicit and strict policy on this.

Despite the existence of the policy and its communication to Hoover athletes and their parents, the ongoing violations that become public, and other violations occurring but only talked about in private circles, are troubling.

I know of at least three athletes recently found in violation of the policy and now subject to disciplinary action, all confirmed by a Hoover coach. How many more violations are occurring but not detected? Ask your son or daughter — there are many.

The Hoover athletic drug, alcohol and tobacco policy can be found on the high school's website. I have seen many of these policies in my professional career in the workplace. Hoover's athletic policy is concise and has some teeth to it. The policy begins with a voluntary admission statement. My experience is that the voluntary admission usually comes too late.

You'd think if a Hoover athlete's in-season violation resulted in the loss of the rest of that season, or 20 percent of their next sport season if the violation occurs out-of-season, that would be enough to encourage self-discipline and self-control. Peer pressure can be a powerful thing. 

Here are some of my suggestions to enhance the encouragement to abide by the rules:

1. Institute random and reasonable-cause drug and alcohol testing for Hoover athletes

Trust me, this will get the athlete's attention. Participation in Hoover athletics is a privilege, not a right. We are allowed to expect more from our athletes. They represent North Canton all over the county and beyond.

2. Make the policy regarding tobacco as strict as the chemical abuse policy

Tobacco-related products have serious health risks and addictive tendencies just like drugs and alcohol. I cannot tell you the number of adult smokeless tobacco users I know who started as a teenager and wished they never started.

3. Parents should get more involved in their kids' lives

Monitor their activities and circle of friends, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Encourage them to get out of a bad situation by picking up the phone and calling you to come pick them up. Constantly remind them of the dire consequences of bad choices.

4. Don't underestimate the value of role models

Guide your son or daughter toward positive role models outside the home that they respect and admire. A different voice saying, "Do as I say and not as I have done" can be very powerful as well. Being a Hoover athlete is a tremendous sacrifice and very time consuming. Your son or daughter will spend a great deal of time away from home. Make sure they are surrounded by the right people when they are not around you.

5. As a community, we must speak up when we see someone going down the wrong path

This doesn't mean gossip, but action. Enabling those who don't abide by the rules or ignoring obvious signs of potential problems is not doing North Canton adolescents a favor. Once our kids leave town, their false safety net will be gone and hardship likely awaits. We are all in this together.