National Soccer Power Suspends 15 For Curfew Violation

http://www.cleveland.com/brett/blog/index.ssf/2012/08/medina_girls_soccer_suspension.html

There’s often one set of rules for students and another set for stars.

Not in Medina.

Girls soccer is big in Medina. The Bees were Division I state champs in 2009. At the start of 2010, they were named the No. 1 girl’s soccer team in the nation by ESPN. The girls won their first game this year against Copley, 4-0.

Yet tonight, 15 players – nearly the entire varsity roster — will be sitting out the game against Solon. All of them were benched for two games after they were caught being out after curfew.

The team played on Saturday without the 15. Using mostly junior varsity players, they lost to the Westlake Demons, 2-1.

A curfew violation? Big whoop.

Not in Medina.

Athletic Director Jeff Harrison said: “We hold them to a higher standard on and off the field. If they choose to wear Medina across their chest, the standard is higher.”

Not lower.

Take note coaches, principals and athletic directors around the region. Winning isn’t everything. Character is. Integrity is. Accountability is.

There are benefits and perks to being an athlete. There are also responsibilities and standards. They should be higher, not lower, than those set for the rest of the student body. An athlete is representing the entire student body. The city, even.

And there are consequences. They should be clear and consistent.

Too many times we read about schools that refuse to raise the bar. Too many of them lower the bar for athletes, then praise the students for reaching down to touch it.

Medina High School Principal Bryan Farson said there was no fallout from the suspensions. He said the parents, staff and students were supportive. He’s been the principal for five years. The school has close to 2,400 students.

When I asked him if it was a hard decision to make to suspend virtually an entire team, he didn’t miss a beat.

“Nope. Not at all,” he said.

No hand-wringing? No hand-holding?

Nope. Not at all.

It didn’t matter that the incident happened outside of school grounds, which is how some schools cater and cave to athletes — claiming administrators’ hands are tied so the athletes won’t miss winning games.

Farson praised the coach, Doug Coreno, for his leadership. “The expectation level is high,” Farson said. “We hold them accountable.”

It’s a hard lesson, but an important one. It’s also a good reminder to let your kids know what time curfew is wherever you live.

In Medina, curfew for kids 15 and under is 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For kids 16 and over, it’s 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Exceptions are made if a child is leaving work, school or church.

It’s also a good time to sit down with your child and go over the Athletic Code of Conduct so everyone knows what’s expected and what the consequences are.

The principal called the girls soccer players “the finest kids I’ve ever come across.” He just wants them to understand the right way to behave in society.

“Our goal is to produce good, productive citizens,” Farson said.

They’re off to a great start.

You Might Also Like

Ohio hockey coaches placed on leave ahead of state tournament

New study suggests brain changes in football players who are subject to head impacts

Trae Young’s athletic center in Norman, OK opens