UAH Athletics

ALCOHOL POLICY

Currently, in addition to The University of Alabama in Huntsville alcohol policy that governs all students at the university, the UAH Athletics department has the following programs in place:

• Education - continuous program of speakers, seminars, literature, etc.

• Monitoring- observance of behavior by coaches and athletics personnel

• Testing- random testing for drugs and alcohol

• Counseling - professional counseling when warranted

• Disciplinary Action - from curfew restrictions to suspension

The additional policy below will take effect immediately on one becoming a student-athlete and includes:

• Any student-athlete charged with DUI may receive an immediate temporary suspension from practice and competition.

• The charge will be investigated immediately by UAH personnel. If the charge is without merit, the temporary suspension may be lifted.

• If the student-athlete is convicted of DUI, he/she may be suspended indefinitely and if so will forfeit his/ her scholarship.

• In the event a student-athlete is charged with public intoxication or underage consumption of alcohol, the student-athlete may be required to enter and complete an alcohol-counseling or/and educational program as mandated by athletics administration. If the incident involves an additional charge (e.g., injury to persons or property), more severe action may be taken.

Teams will typically have additional rules. Violations of these rules are to be reported to the head coach of the sport.

Athletic department personnel will report any knowledge of a student-athlete receiving a DUI, public intoxication, minor in possession, underage consumption of alcohol, or alcohol related incidents to the head coach of the team involved, the Director of Athletics, Head Athletic Trainer, Senior Woman Administrator and/or the Director of Athletic Compliance. Upon receipt of the information, the above mentioned personnel will report to the Director of Athletics who will begin investigation and verification of the authenticity of the information. Penalties will be imposed after confirmation of violations. (2-26-13)

Steps to take for UAH Athletic Department Personnel-

1. Report any knowledge of a student-athlete(s) receiving a DUI, public intoxication, minor in possession, underage consumption of alcohol, or alcohol related incident to one of the following: head coach of team involved, head trainer, SWA, DoAC, or AD. Those that receive the report who are not the AD report next to the AD.

2. The AD will begin investigation and verification of the authenticity of the information.

3. The AD will impose penalties of the violation if true, communicating with the head coach and the student athlete.

4. If there are team rules for the sport involved that address the violation, the coach will implement the team rules, and communicate such to the AD.

5. If there is a suspension, the Director of Athletic Compliance is notified. NCAA rules will be followed if applicable.

6. If the charge is public intoxication or underage drinking, the AD and head coach will define and monitor the counseling and/or educational program.

7. If and when a student athlete is lifted from suspension, the Director of Athletic Compliance is to be notified.

TOBACCO POLICY

The UAH Athletic Department supports and upholds the NCAA Tobacco Policy which states that no one who is part of playing in or involved with NCAA sponsored practice or game (players, coaches, trainers, officials, administrators, etc.) is to use tobacco in any for throughout the practice and/or game from arrival until departure from the event. 

In addition to the NCAA policy, the UAH Athletic Department policy regarding tobacco is that no student-athlete, coach, trainer, or administrator shall use tobacco or tobacco products while on University time. University time begins when you get out of your personal vehicle on campus until the time you are back in your personal vehicle, and are leaving campus. This includes team travel and extends through the entire duration of the trip, again, from the time one leaves one’s vehicle until the trip is over and you are back in your vehicle leaving campus. No tobacco is to be used on buses, in vans, restaurants, parking lots, hotels, or at any time, on any trip, by any person in the UAH travel party.

In addition, UAH is a tobacco free campus and all the UAH policies and procedures come into effect.

Stated as briefly as possible, no one in the UAH Athletics Department shall use tobacco in any form while representing the University and/or during the entire duration of any trip funded by the University.

Steps to Take for Athletic Personnel for tobacco or tobacco products use by personnel or a student athlete-

1. Any UAH athletic department associated person who witnesses use of tobacco or a tobacco product while on University time, must report the violation to the Director of Athletics.

2. The AD will take steps necessary if he use is outside of a practice, weight lifting, conditioning, or competition. This may include involvement of UAH Personnel. 

3. If it is within a practice, weight lifting, conditioning, or competition, the witness must report the violation to the head coach who must disqualify the student athlete from participation for the remainder of practice and or competition. If  at competition, the head coach needs to inform the sports information representative so that person can document that withholding of the student athlete for the remainder of the competition. They must also report the violation to the Director of Athletic Compliance. The steps for reporting an NCAA violation with the NCAA will be taken from there. The AD will also take necessary personnel steps as mentioned in Step 2 above.

4. If the violation is during a game, the game manager is responsible for making sure the violation is reported to the appropriate channels as listed in these five steps.

5. If the violation occurs during a practice with a trainer in attendance, the trainer in attendance is responsible for making sure the violation is reported.