Protect Your Game

Our “Protect Your Game” campaign’s goal is to reduce underaged substance misuse by bringing the latest scientific evidence about substances and sports to athletes (and the coaches and parents that support them). The Protect Your Game message contains a substance-science core focused on what alcohol, marijuana and nicotine do specifically to the athlete and athletic performance. The contents of this campaign create a common understanding that makes conversations and decision-making around substance use more productive and powerful. Remember, not all game time decisions are made on the field.

Physical impacts of ALCOHOL use:

  • Weekly alcohol use doubles the rate of injury
  • Interferes with metabolism
  • Slows recovery
  • Interrupts sleep
  • Reduces Endurance

Increases Injury – 54.8% of athletes who drink alcohol during the week suffer an injury.

Physical impacts of NICOTINE use:

  • Makes an athlete weaker and more prone to injury
  • Slows recovery
  • Reduces endurance
  • Damages the heart and lungs
  • Negatively affects blood and breathing functions

Highest addication rate of all drugs – 85% of nicotine users have a use disorder.

Neurological impacts of MARIJUANA/THC use:

  • Dulls reaction time
  • Reduces hand/type coordination
  • Impairs facial recognition
  • Reduces balance and tracking ability
  • Reduces memory recall and impact of all training

Brain Heath is Athlete Health. THC alters MEMORY, MOVEMENT and MOTIVATION.

Why is this important? Kids get one shot at adolescent brain development. Substance use can slow down this process and can cause real damage.

Athletes can influence culture even in the general population, so changing their opinions and behaviors around drugs and alcohol can reach beyond just the athlete and team.

We recognize the three major stakeholders in athletics – the athletes, the coaches, and the parents – and the important role each plays.

We want to increase the number of athletes that choose not to use by empowering them with information. “Just say no” needs “why.” In choosing not to use, athletes get: optimal physical and mental health, maximum athletic performance, to be part of a team performing at its highest level possible, and real team bonding and connection. Substance use diminishes all of these.

Coaches have a unique influence in the lives of athletes. “Protect Your Game” enables coaches to lead and administer team and district policy consistently; create a culture of no-use; reduce the amount of time and energy a coach wastes on drug and alcohol discussions; make coaching more impactful and enjoyable knowing the health of their athletes is intact; reduce stress around liability and potentially negative outcomes from using athletes; and maximize the relationships athletes can have with their coaches. This campaign can also help parents help their child navigate away from alcohol and drugs; clarify ways to support coaches and team policies in this mission; and see their kids thrive and excel both generally and in athletics.

For more information, check out www.substance-free-athletics.org.