When was the last time you heard a Fairfield athlete turn down an alcoholic beverage? Chances are, not recently.
However, if you offered a drink to a Fairfield athlete 24 hours before a competition, the answer is most likely no thanks.
All athletes at Fairfield are required to abide by the 24-hour rule. According to the 2003-2004 Student-Athlete handbook, consuming alcohol 24 hours before any competition is prohibited. Consuming alcohol at any team related function before or after competition is also prohibited.
Violators of these policies are warned and can be suspended from games and practices. If the individual continues to violate these rules, extreme measures can be taken including suspension from varsity athletics, cancellations of grants and scholarships, and additional counseling.
Like other students here at Fairfield, athletes venture to the beach and townhouses. You can find them anywhere from townhouses parties, the naut or the Grape.
Like most students at Fairfield, varsity soccer player Taylor Warwick ’07 enjoys going to the beach.
“The beach is a great positive environment for gathering and the occasional co-ed confrontation, and I sometimes go there with my friends,” he said.
The coaches at Fairfield have realistic expectations and policies that most athletes do not find difficult to follow.
“Our policies are very clear. Although cross-country does not have a dry season, the 24-hour rule is very strictly enforced. Any violators are kicked off the team,” said men’s and women’s cross-country coach Andrew Harrington.
Just two years ago, a female cross-country runner violated her team’s drinking policy and was kicked off the team. Last year on a team Spring Break trip, two men’s tennis players were stripped from their captainships because they were caught drinking.
Some teams, such as men’s golf and women’s volleyball, have a dry season.
“Our coach doesn’t think drinking is appropriate during season, and he is pretty strict about it,” said golf team member Dan Quatorcelli ’07.
Some coaches enforce a dry season while other like men’s lacrosse coach Ted Spencer strongly encourages his team not to drink at all during its spring season.
“I believe my players work so hard for 20 hours a week, and alcohol only inhibits maximum performance the players are capable of,” said Spencer.
Overall, most athletes seem to be compliant to the 24 hour rule.
“I’m sure some of the players go out before a game. I don’t because I personally think it effects my play,” said field hockey player Kiara Nickl ’04.
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