Blame game
School districts throughout the state continue to keep a closer watch on their student athletes and are dealing with a few more violations of the Athletes Code of Conduct. Everyone is all too familiar with the Flint Southwestern case, where two of its football players exercised poor judgment over the summer and pleaded guilty to home invasion, but were allowed to play football on jail release on Friday nights.
What has come to light recently in two communities, including Lapeer, is more bad judgment by athletes over the summer that has resulted in their being benched for several games in several different sports.
Every freshmen season, athletes receive, read and sign their Athletes Code of Conduct, along with their parents. Within that code are a wide and varied set of guidelines and expectations covering student conduct on and off school grounds. What many may not realize is that this code applies throughout the summer, as it is considered offseason. The students still represent their school in the public and private sectors and are held accountable for any infractions throughout their athletic careers.
Clearly, smaller infractions such as becoming grade ineligible or fighting on school property are less severe than infractions involving alcohol and tobacco or more severe crimes that place the individuals within the juvenile court systems.
Anonymous letters and phone calls to the media often seek to call out these athletes and the school, but juvenile records are considered closed and not part of public records that can be obtained by filing a request under the Freedom of Information Act. Further, it is a violation of juvenile’s privacy because they are not legal adults.
Be assured however, that in all three cases, the athletes in question have indeed been suspended and disciplined as verified through the schools. Lauren Murphy Director of Communications and District Services for Lapeer Community Schools reminds readers that these are private school matters and will not be played out in local media outlets because of the violation of students’ legal rights.
Lapeer Community Schools’ Athletes Code of Conduct stipulates that athletes can be suspended for 25 percent of their season, which means 2.5 games in football and as many as six games in hockey. The term of suspension is based on games played in each sport. Punishment can include expulsion or suspension from athletics for an entire season or for the duration of the athlete’s high school careers, depending on each individual situation.
As a reminder to our readers, it is our policy to not publish anonymous letters to the editor. A signature and contact information is required on all letters to the editor.

Unreasonable
pressure
Another issue coming to light from parents, who for obvious reasons wish to remain anonymous, has come as fallout from the high school sports season switch in Michigan. It was an expected outcome that boys would have to choose between football, soccer and tennis during the fall season.
What is unexpected, and quite frankly unacceptable, are comments reportedly being made to boys by a handful of coaches. Parents report that their sons have been told that they have ruined seasons by defecting to other sports. First of all, we need to step back and remember one thing. This is a matter of choice for the athletes. It is their sports seasons, not the parents’ or the coaches’. To treat that any other way is not only conduct unbecoming of coaches, but a burden unfairly placed on the kids. Kids make these hard choices each season and that it has become harder because of the realignment should not be further complicated by ridiculous comments. Talk about poor sportsmanship; what happened to leading by example?
It is a coach’s responsibility to compete with the players that made their team, not to penalize them and those who chose not to. Schools had hoped for, and for the most part have received, a spirit of cooperation that allows kids to participate in multiple sports. That a few adults who are ruining it for all should not negatively reflect the majority that are not, but it is important to note for upcoming seasons that will see similar choices played out.

More Tips