I came across an interesting web article at the Star Gazette about a speaker who had been brought in to speak to coaches and athletes at Southside High School (Elmira).

John Underwood, founder and president of the American Athletic Institute stated according to the Gazette,

"Alcohol and drug use among high school athletes is out of control," he told the Elmira City School District's spring coaches. "Kids don't value sports the way they used to and we've got to work hard to get that back. We need to send a strong message with codes of conducts, get parents to help and hope the community will back them up."

one night of alcohol use can offset two weeks of training. He said a study revealed only about 35 percent of high school athletes are serious about their sport. Most of the remaining 65 percent play sports for social reasons, which may contribute to some athletes' willingness to break the rules and use alcohol or drugs.

Over the years, we have seen many sports teams become after school "day care" programs so that parents who need or want to have be away from home after school will have " a safe place" for their children. The sports programs have changed from places where gifted athletes work to become better, to little more than "intramurals" with teams from other districts. This phenomenon, however, should be left for another blog entry.

We know that we have a problem with the use and abuse of alcohol among underage players. As I have stated in a previous blog entry, the problem is not new. Somehow we must meet the problem head on and it seems that programs like Mr. Underwood's is certainly a good step.

Perhaps, however, we should move more swiftly.

Read the article [ No longer available] and see what you think.