SECOND ATHLETE BROUGHT UP ON DRUG CHARGES OK TO PLAY

PORTSMOUTH - The season-only clause in the high school's athletic
contract means another student facing drug charges will remain on the
boys lacrosse team.

Travis R. Crosby, 17, of 419 Greenleaf Ave. was one of four students
arrested last month in connection with the alleged sale of marijuana
to a police informant. Crosby was charged with possession of
controlled drugs in a motor vehicle.

The sophomore's position on the lacrosse team was not affected
because the alleged infraction happened before the season started,
coach Chris McGuirk said Wednesday.

Another student arrested with Crosby, Matthew Anderson, who will
serve a week in jail this summer after he pleaded guilty to marijuana
possession charges, remained on the school's baseball team for the same reason.

The school's Student-Athlete/Parent Expectations contract prohibits
students from possessing or using drugs and alcohol, and being
"knowingly in the presence of drugs and alcohol." But the rules apply
to student behavior only during their team's season.

McGuirk said there was "a lot of thought and discussion" about
Crosby's situation, but said administrators had to follow the
provisions of the contract.

"It was explained to me ... that because he was not under contract
for the lacrosse season at that point, he was not in violation," McGuirk said.

McGuirk said coaches must adhere to the contract and cannot remove
players from a team on their own.

"Even if I wanted to, there was no action to be taken," he said.

Superintendent Bob Lister agreed that coaches do not have such discretion.

"We do not ask coaches to make those decisions under any
circumstances," he said. "If (a student) meets the contract, they're
playing - and if they don't, they're not."

McGuirk said there "have been ramifications for Crosby on the team,"
but said he would not discuss the details.

"I think he's an excellent individual who has made a very bad
mistake," McGuirk said. "I think there is, and should be,
consequences for his action as dictated by the court system and his
family and friends."

There have been questions as to whether the athletic contract is fair
to all students. Some parents of swim team members were upset when
the season was canceled after some students were found drinking at an
overnight swim-a-thon fund-raiser.

School officials have stressed that the swim team incident is
different from Crosby's and Anderson's situation. However, they have
acknowledged that the athletic contract should be re-examined in
response to parental concerns.

The School Board's athletic committee is expected to meet next week
to discuss a number of athletic policies. Lister said the committee
may look at making the contract applicable all school year or to all
student activities, not just sports.

Pat Corbin, executive director of the New Hampshire Interscholastic
Athletic Association, said the association encourages certain student
conduct off the field, but leaves it up to schools to enact and
enforce those rules.

"With drugs and alcohol (rules), you have huge discrepancies around
the state," he said. "I personally wish we had more authority that
way because I think there really should be a zero tolerance policy."

At nearby high schools in Hampton and York, Maine, athletic contracts
include drug and alcohol clauses, but like Portsmouth, the rules
apply only during the season a student plays sports.

"For us to extend that umbrella out of season, or out of the school
year, would be difficult to enforce," said York High School athletic
director Ted Welch. "It may not be inherently fair to do that."