All-Star Social Media & Underage Drinking/ Drug Use

[ryanaarontroy]

Can someone please link me to anywhere where consequences are taken into action when athlete/ or team is found with alcohol or drugs via social media or in person? Thanks! So any forms or things like that from USASF or competition brands.

I'm hoping that there is something that is in the topic of this especially for underage children.

 

[omgitssydthekid]

Can someone please link me to anywhere where consequences are taken into action when athlete/ or team is found with alcohol or drugs via social media or in person? Thanks! So any forms or things like that from USASF or competition brands.

I'm hoping that there is something that is in the topic of this especially for underage children.

Is there something the USASF does about this? I thought it was typically just handled by the gym and parents of the athlete.


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[ryanaarontroy]

Is there something the USASF does about this? I thought it was typically just handled by the gym and parents of the athlete.


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That's what I'm trying to figure out as well. I heard rumors of teams being unable to compete at events due to multiple athletes being caught up with drinking underage but Who knows what's true. I just wanted to know if there was anything physically written.

If there isn't, maybe there should be.

 

[Fiercecheermom]

In our handbook, drinking/drug usage along with questionable pictures on SM are reasons to be removed from the program. That being said, I think the line gets drawn more at official events vs on their personal time. I have seen many snap stories, private twitter accounts, and IG pictures that clearly indicate underage drinking or drug use and nothing has happened to these athletes. Still trying to figure out why their parents aren't on their SM accounts and dealing with this. These kids have no idea how this will affect their futures...AND how these pictures can get out.

 

[quitthedrama]

I don't believe USASF gets involved with these issues. It would be hard for them to enforce without drug testing. It needs to be handled at the gym level (and if it was my kid at the parent level)

 

[catlady]

I don't know how the USASF could police that unless kids were attempting to take the floor intoxicated or drugged. You would hope parents and chaperones would be supervising but, from what some of the posters have said in the past, parents are often the suppliers. You would hope gyms would have a no tolerance policy but, honestly, that would mean the team would reap the consequences along with the offenders. Ultimately, that's the right thing to do but, I truly can't picture a gym owner calling parents together and saying, "I know you have spent thousands of dollars but, we aren't taking the floor...."

 

[MomMomMamaMom]

The USASF does not have any public records, that I have been able to find, explicitly making a stance. They do have a professional code that states members should not condone the use of alcohol/drugs or provide it to minors. But that's all I've seen. I can't find 2015-2016 but it's #8 in professional responsibilities for 2014-2015

https://usasfmembers.net/members/resources/Terms_for_gyms.pdf

 

[Ashley]

I thought USASF came out with something related to drinking/partying at Worlds and penalties for the team. I could be wrong about that, but as far as I know, that's the only official policy they have on it.

 

[MomMomMamaMom]

Yes, if a(n) USASF member athlete is caught under the influence of drugs or alcohol at one of the venues, it is cause for immediate action, the athlete is ineligible to compete for rest of event, may have membership revoked for up to a year ( if happens twice) , and the gym faces potential penalty and potential revocation of athletes membership and review. But as with all of their policies, it is not overwhelmingly clear when/if the gym penalties come into play?

 

[Official OWECheer]

In our handbook, drinking/drug usage along with questionable pictures on SM are reasons to be removed from the program. That being said, I think the line gets drawn more at official events vs on their personal time. I have seen many snap stories, private twitter accounts, and IG pictures that clearly indicate underage drinking or drug use and nothing has happened to these athletes. Still trying to figure out why their parents aren't on their SM accounts and dealing with this. These kids have no idea how this will affect their futures...AND how these pictures can get out.

I've seen this as well. I wonder how easy or difficult it is to keep track of all of it, though.

 

[gofriars610]

I don't think this is in USASF's sphere of influence. Their job is to put on cheerleading events and make sure teams are following cheer rules. Teams can deal with their own rules on their level.

 

[MomMomMamaMom]

I don't think this is in USASF's sphere of influence. Their job is to put on cheerleading events and make sure teams are following cheer rules. Teams can deal with their own rules on their level.

I only semi agree with this. I don't think the USASF should necessarily be policing social media etc... However, I do think that as the credentialing body they should require that member gyms have a policy, and have consequences for gyms that do not enforce these policies.

 

[CheerBank]

I don't think this is in USASF's sphere of influence. Their job is to put on cheerleading events and make sure teams are following cheer rules. Teams can deal with their own rules on their level.

I think it would only come into play if an athlete was found to be intoxicated at a competition endangering themselves as well as their team by competing. Then, if it was a USASF sanctioned event, I do think the USASF should have a firm stand on consequences. Whether they follow through it or not is another story....

And I'm not talking about being trashed at All-Stars or the block party after Worlds, but actually at the competition when that athlete steps foot on the mat.

 

[oncecoolcoachnowmom]

I don't believe USASF gets involved with these issues. It would be hard for them to enforce without drug testing. It needs to be handled at the gym level (and if it was my kid at the parent level)

Yes to the parent level.

As an aside, as a high school staff member, you'd be surprised (or maybe you wouldn't be) at how much parents actually know about their children partying.

Folks would like to think that parents don't know, but in many cases, parents look at 17/18 year olds and think "Well, he/she is about to go off to college and do it anyway, we may as well buy it and let them party here." or "She is almost an adult. I can't tell her she can't drink at dance nationals/Worlds/wherever kids are drinking."

Never mind the fact that 17 is not "almost an adult" but that is another thread in itself.

 

[MomMomMamaMom]

I think it would only come into play if an athlete was found to be intoxicated at a competition endangering themselves as well as their team by competing. Then, if it was a USASF sanctioned event, I do think the USASF should have a firm stand on consequences. Whether they follow through it or not is another story....

And I'm not talking about being trashed at All-Stars or the block party after Worlds, but actually at the competition when that athlete steps foot on the mat.

I agree that there should be strict consequences for athletes competing while intoxicated. But I also think that since USASF does not only sanction events, but credentials coaches and lends their name to gyms ( as members) for credibility, that their responsibility goes beyond this. I think that for a gym to be a(n) USASF member, there should be rudimentary safety and professional standards that include a policy regarding drugs and alcohol. I don't necessarily believe that this policy has to include off time ( though I wouldn't mind if a gym held its athletes to high standards outside of USASF standards), but I do believe that a coach should face losing their credentials, and a gym should face losing their membership if either permits am athlete to practice while intoxicated or under the influence.