This spring, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) voted on a new rule regarding athletes and substance use. DHS, an active member of the MIAA, is instituting this new policy to help reduce the number of athletes who use alcohol, drugs, or tobacco during the off-season.

The old rule at DHS was that if athletes were caught with one of those substances, they were removed from the team they were currently on for the entire season, but the rule never pertained to behavior in the off-season.

The new rule gives the school the ability to punish athletes who are caught using substances between seasons or during a season they don't participate in.

For example, if students don't play a sport in the winter and are caught drinking, they may not participate in 25% of the games in the spring season. The new rule has affected all athletes, and of course, opinions differ.

Health teacher and boys basketball coach Steve Gaspar feels it is a good rule. "Underage drinking is a big problem across the country, and this rule will hold people accountable for their actions," Mr. Gaspar said. He had one athlete removed from his team last year, and he said, "That was one athlete too many."

His major concern is that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt, and he hopes this new rule will help to keep a few more kids safe from the dangers of using substances.

Unlike Mr. Gaspar, some people didn't care for the new rule. "They shouldn't be able to control us when we're not playing sports," one student athlete said. The student also said how most people don't drink when they are in season because they are serious about the sport, but during the off-season, they don't care as much. "The new rule won't change anyone's mind until something happens," said the athlete.

Another student felt that the rule was unfair because if someone was caught during a spring sport, they would be punished almost five months later during the fall season.

DHS athletic director and boys baseball coach Tom McDermott said the rule change was voted on by a committee of people from the MIAA and that it was originally proposed by parents who felt that there were too many three-season athletes who used substances between seasons.

Boys track coach Jeff Reed agreed with Mr. Gaspar that athletes need to know the risks they take when using substances and question whether or not it is worth it in the long run. "Underage drinking is illegal and doing it is breaking the law," he said. "Athletes represent the school, and they should be more responsible about their actions."

Many students agreed that what they do in the off-season should not be held against them. Most said that this new rule really hadn’t changed their views on alcohol and drug use.

One athlete, however, did say it affected his decision about substances. "I’ve decided it’s not worth throwing away my year and my reputation." Students also voiced their concerns about how being caught would upset their teammates and coaches and how it could change some of their plans for college and the future.

Also, this year, for the first time, colleges are asking a question on the Common Application about discipline that students and guidance counselors must answer truthfully, although some don’t always do that. The rule asks if the student has been "convicted of a crime, including a misdemeanor, or committed a school violation leading to probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion." Being caught using substances during the school year could greatly affect the outcome of one’s college admissions.



Despite the possible results, many student athletes don’t see the rule as being that different from before, and they said they are "a little more careful about posting pictures on the web." Mr. McDermott clarified the idea about the administration looking online for substance users. "We are not policemen. We’re not on the web looking for it," he said. He did say, however, that they are notified by the police about any DHS students who are caught with substances, and then they look into the situation further.

Also, parents are the main source for sending in emails and pictures of students drinking and smoking. Three years ago, Mr. McDermott found out about an athlete using substances through an email and that person was removed from the team. Many students said they have "deleted and removed tons of pictures from the Internet in order to protect themselves."

A major concern of the students regarding pictures on the Internet is the idea of "guilty by association."

"It is ridiculous. You should be able to put whatever you want on the Internet," one student said.

Another said, "It is unfair that you might happen to be at a party, but making good choices and not drinking, and you get caught in a picture with someone who is drinking. You shouldn’t be penalized for that."

The MIAA official rule states that that it is "not intended to render ‘guilt by association’" and the "rule represents only a minimum standard upon which schools may develop more stringent requirements."

At DHS, if someone is seen in the background of a picture that is not using substances, that athlete will not be immediately punished. Mr. McDermott said the student will be asked down to the athletic office and given a chance to defend himself.

"We might ask them why they had made the bad choice of being in that situation in the first place, but we do hear their side of the story before any penalty is given," said McDermott. Also, he allows other students to speak to clarify that that person was not using substances at that time, to help clear them from any wrongdoing.

Mr. Reed stressed that cameras are everywhere today, and through networking, it is very easy to find anyone. He also said how coaches are very observant and aware of what their athletes are doing, too. "Oftentimes people come into practice on Saturdays and are really too tired for it just being early in the morning. We suspect people, but we really can’t do a lot without concrete evidence," Mr. Reed said. "But things always have a way of coming out."

This new rule might not be a cure-all and stop everyone from using substances, but it may get a few more student athletes to think twice before making their decision.