All,

As many of you know I am very much against the use of any type of tobacco products at a kids wrestling tournament.

I warn all coaches at our tournament that any use of these products will be cause for ejection.

Despite the warning, I still saw the use of chew at our tournament.

I took him off to the side and made him get rid of it!! Yes, I blew it, it should have been an escort out of the gym. To be honest with everything going on, I dont even know what club he was from.

My question is this...

Do coaches have so little respect for the rules that you still use chew even though you know the punishment for its use is an ejection.

Also, when asked specifically by a tournament director to not use it, you still feel the need to break the rules.

It is my hope that all tournament directors will make it a priority to ban these things from all tournaments.

Thoughts??!!!

is it really that big of a deal, its not like smoking,others cant die from you doing it,IMO you should pick your battles

i understand the whole "tobacco-free zones" around schools, but personally I think it's a battle you choose to fight. I think it's a disgusting habit, but no one makes me do it or inhale the fumes. My kid's coaches all dip and they are the first ones to say they wish they never started. I can't win that battle; I say choose which ones to fight.

I DONT DO IT BUT REALLY WHAT IS IT HURTING

IF THEY ARE NOT SPITTING ON THE FLOORS OR ON ANYBODY ITS REALLY NOT HURTING ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES
I ALSO WALKED OUT THE DOOR TO SMOKE NOONE WANTS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT

KUDOS to Jeff Broadbent for following Kansas Statute.

72-53,107
Chapter 72.--SCHOOLS
Article 53.--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
72-53,107. Tobacco products, use in school buildings prohibited; school building defined. (a) The use of tobacco products in any school building is hereby prohibited. No board of education of any school district shall allow any person to use tobacco products in any school building.

(b) As used in this section, the term "school building" means any enclosed building used for pupil attendance purposes by the board of education of a unified school district. The term school building does not include a building, or part thereof, used for residential purposes or leased from the school district for nonschool sponsored activities.

History: L. 1988, ch. 229, § 1; July 1.

No they are not spitting on the floors but have you ever stayed after to clean up? Clean up is nasty enough as people leave banana peels, dirty baby diapers etc...but picking up a spit bottle is the most disgustiing.

In the bronze clinic this is certainly discussed.

You are in a public facility setting a role modeling example for smaller children. Just the notion of smoking right outside the doors and the children viewing the cigarette butts when they come to school is much more than they need to deal with since they're tobacco free zones.

The idea is if you have to chew...then swallow. Don't get caught spitting.

Not all schools are tobacco free zones on the property. Many are of course but many still are not. Of course none allow tobacco use in the building nor have smoking areas like they did when I went to school. Even the students could smoke with written permission from the parents!

It's the idea that coaches should be setting the example for the kids. Back in the early 80's I chewed at the tournaments I was wrestling in and all the rest of the time. Alot of kids did, but today with better education about the negative effects we realize it's not appropriate, especially for the coaches. It should not be allowed at any tournament.

BTW-I quit chewing about 13 years ago for health and cost reasons.

24/7

Kids tourny's are crazy enough as is,and tobacco is a downer, just think how crazy it would be if people didnt chew.
I think if everyone had to put a dip in at the door things would go much smoother.

thats just my 2 cents. I could be wrong.

i don't think the question is chewing wrong or right. i believe the question is if the tournament director says no chewing should the chewer be ejected if caught.

my answer to this would be yes for the simple fact if some one heard no chewing and done so anyway, what are they saying forget you your rules don't apply to me.

now this would apply to any rules being broke, say you eject someone for chewing, but you also said no sitting matside and there some one is sitting matside well you would have to eject them as well.

No Chewing means No chewing. Where i was working there was a strict no tabacco policy. Same as some of the tourneys. I have seen peope let go because of violating that rule. I say suspend the people. I chew so I dont want to get get jumped on by the others that do. If i want to put a dip in a go out to the car. Yes that is still on school property but it is not around the mat or around the kids. I dont even have one in during practices!

How about we allow chewing just no spit bottles? You have to swallow it! As a former dipper I think that would solve the problem.

Yes, we do talk about it at Bronze clinics! Coaches and spectators that choose (in most cases) to violate the law ... are modeling, that the rules don't apply to me!

A few of us "gray-beards" can probably recall when a few Dad's (coaches) use to tailgate with adult beverage, in the parking lots of high schools during kids tourney's. Fortunately, for the most part, that no longer happens.

Both of these, fall into areas that model undesirable (often times, illegal) behavior! I think this should be a battle we should fight!!

Now, if you want to talk about the "no coolers in the gym" violations or the blocking doors and aisles violations or the assorted fire code violations or the 2-coaches per mat side etc.. It seems we model several behaviors that are either illegal or against the rules ... especially, if they inconvenience us!

The point is....


It is specifically in the rulebook that use of tobacco (products) is against the rules.

Richard - Rule please.... and punishment.

Jeff

Rule 7, secion 5, Article 5 reads as follows:

"Flagrant misconduct on the part of the coach or any other team personnel is any act which the referee considers serious enough to remove the offender from the premises. These acts can occur prior to, during, or after a match. This includes the use of tobacco products. Flagrant misconduct shall be penalized in accordance with the Penalty Chart."

Chew is gross. Stop it.

Oh, and with regards to punishment, the Penalty Chart says,
"First penalty: Remove from premises immediately on first offense and deduct 3 team points. Removal is for the dual meet, remainder of a multiple school event or tournament."

Damon,

I knew I gave the rule book to you for a reason!!!

Jeff

Never leave home without it!