There was a time when news about professional athletes related only to on-field activities. However, athletes today increasingly are making headlines off the field as well. During the past few years, there have been stories involving star athletes being arrested for gun possession, domestic violence, assault, drug and alcohol related crimes, and other reckless behavior. And it's not just athletes getting into this type of trouble. The manager of a team that would eventually play in this year's World Series was reported to have tested positive for an illicit substance during last season. Recently, New York papers reported that a Major League Baseball equipment manager was under investigation for illegal gambling activities. These incidents, while clearly detrimental to the individuals involved, also cause significant damage to an organization, not the least of which is the possible loss of a star player for an extended period of time. While no organization can insulate itself completely from these types of events, there are a number of ways that it can protect against such occurrences. This article identifies some of the basic components of an effective program.
First, educate your players, coaches and staff about the consequences of making these "mistakes." We often forget that most professional athletes are still very young when they arrive on the scene. They quickly find themselves being paid well, traveling from city to city, and enjoying a lot of "down time." All of this can lead to trouble. An organization that wants to set the right tone with its personnel should develop a program for its new employees, whether star athletes or not, that educates them on what they may face as part of their employment with the team. Mandatory sentencing guidelines do not make exceptions for people who were unaware of their existence. A lecture by former law enforcement personnel about the realities of the judicial system or from a former player who made a costly mistake is a good way to set the tone from the beginning.
Second, set the tone. Players, coaches, and staff need to understand that they represent the team at all times and not just during games. On-field rules are designed to protect the players and teams must develop off-field policies to do the same thing. No team can insulate its players from all the uncertainties of off-field life, but every team should be proactive in identifying activities and situations that lead to bad outcomes. Setting the tone works only if programs are in place to support the players and other personnel. A few months ago, there was a story in the news about the DUI arrest of a New York Jets player. The story revealed that the Jets had instituted a program to provide rides to any of its players who felt they were no longer able to drive home. This was a great idea by the Jets organization. Unfortunately, although the player was aware of the program, he chose not to use it. This demonstrates that even the best-intentioned and well-designed programs will fail if players and coaches fail to buy in to believing the program is an essential part of the organization. It's clear that rookies emulate and imitate veteran behavior. If seasoned players and coaches participate in off-field programs, new additions to the team will understand that utilizing such programs is a part of life for that team. Establishing positive incentives also creates a culture of compliance with an off-field program.
Third, enforce the rules. Teams cannot, nor should they, monitor their employees 24 hours a day. However, off-field behavior can distract teammates, disrupt seasons, and cost teams the chance to win games. Organizations must not let rules violators slide in order to keep winning or because an incident did not become public. There must be a firm response to any violation so that the players and employees know that the organization is serious about enforcing these rules. This way, players and coaches will understand that their off-field behavior can jeopardize their season and their future with the team. Tolerating or turning a blind eye to violations of team policy encourages other team members to believe that the rules may exist but may not apply. Players, coaches, and staff have to understand that off-field rules exist to protect their lives and the livelihood of the team.
By following these three simple steps, an organization can begin to create an environment of compliance and, by doing so, decrease the likelihood that it will see one of its coaches, players, or staff on the cover of a tabloid newspaper and/or saddled with legal troubles for a season or more.
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