I had the honor of coaching high school track and cross country for many seasons. I considered my role to be primarily within the sphere of athletics, but within that sphere to have a role in guiding young people to good behavior. However, I completely disagree with coaches such as the one being discussed here. I am aware that some school systems may consider it to be against the code of honor to ever drink. I ignored that rule as much as possible. Here are my reasons; it is not appropriate in my opinion for schools and their representatives to be judging students off school grounds and out of the school year. Matters with regard to cheating in academics or athletics, yes. Matters of morality off school property or not at sanctioned events, not our business or our job. More to the point, it is not an effective approach to dealing with those kids who have serious problems with drugs or alcohol. Ban a kid from meets—the serious addict will just hide the behavior. I occasionally had an athlete with serious issues. In those cases I would try to reach out and get him or her help. It’s the wrong approach to just issue a ban and then pretend anything is accomplished. The approach of this coach lies in the stupid old paternalistic Baron de Coubertain system of “amateur athletics” and the myth that the morality of the Gentry is the standard for humanity. We should abolish that pretense in my view.