`Smoking at football matches is blase' Perhaps this was because he was just appointed a matter of days before the team left for Jamaica whereas the others had been working together and with the players for some months. `Head of Delegation' seems, in itself, a sufficiently descriptive title -- he is in charge. But is he basically in charge of administrative arrangements only, or also of the other officials and players? Recommendation A `job description' should be prepared for all team officials so that there is no confusion in anyone's mind as to their respective authority and responsibilities.

*** SECTION II The incidence of the misuse of drugs in relation to football in Bermuda.

MARIJUANA AND THE DRUGS CULTURE IN BERMUDA, GENERALLY, AND IN FOOTBALL How bad is it? The Police describe it as a "thriving industry''.

It is very bad and getting worse. Worse still, it is big "business'' and treated by importers as such. We are told that just as merchants build up stocks for the big events -- Cup Match, Christmas etc -- drug importers do similarly for their big events -- county games, reggae concerts etc. And notwithstanding all the efforts to intercept, educate and rehabilitate, the problem continues to worsen.

The Police have shared their 1994 Report with us which reads, in part, as follows: "There was a decrease in the total weights seized of heroin and cocaine (discounting 27.8 kilos which washed ashore), but an increase in cannabis resin and a huge increase in herbal cannabis. Although one large seizure of 239.32 kilos of cannabis was made, the figures are still up dramatically from 1993, to a staggering 361.23 kilos (795 lbs) with an estimated street value in excess of $18,000,000.

"The Civil Air Terminal and cruise ships were again the main conduits for drug shipments, as well as parcels, packages and freight at the Airmail Postal Facility and in the Airport Freight Shed. Shipments of illegal drugs were also seized from passengers, luggage and packages imported by legitimate courier services.

"Eighteen couriers were intercepted carrying drugs either on their bodies or internally, or in accompanied luggage.'' On the face of it, it was a successful year; but unfortunately only the tip of the iceberg. Increased seizures are often the harbinger of increased importations. Indeed, local and international law enforcement agencies estimate seizures probably amount to less than 5% of imports.

The Police and Customs are doing everything they can, working intelligently, courageously and tirelessly at the problem. But they are the first to admit that interception and seizures cannot be the final solution. That rests with reduction of demand; with the `Community Saying No to Drugs'.

Is enough being done in Education? If education is the final answer, then judging by the increased usage of drugs, the answer to this question has to be `no'. As the Administrator of the Bermuda Schools Sports Federation said: "Kids have not been made aware of the inherent dangers of marijuana.'' This is not to say that nothing is being done. Quite the contrary.

The Lions Quest programme in Primary School teaches life skills and has a module on drugs, albeit a relatively small one. We understand that the intention is to extend it to the secondary schools shortly. Appendix 6 explains.

But is this enough, having regard to the estimate that 28% of all young people between the ages of 12 and 16 are using marijuana? Incidentally, a significant correlation is that 50% of their parents and r older siblings are using marijuana.

Coaches and club officials have made the point that it is hardly surprising that players are smokers since many are `hooked' when they come to them.

Whereas at one time it was adults or older teenagers pushing to the younger children, now, we are told, children of 10 are selling to their peers.

We are encouraged that the National Drugs Commission is gearing up for a major campaign aimed at signing on the different segments of the population to "Say No to Drugs''. The one we are most interested in and about which clubs will be hearing a lot more is "Sportsmen Say No to Drugs''.

But in view of the abuse of marijuana among the young we recommend that the educational campaign in schools be intensified. Indeed we trust that the National Drugs Commission will focus on this with a "School Children Say No to Drugs'' campaign.

Drugs in football -- how serious a problem is it? From the preceding, it follows that there has to be a problem -- and considering the age demographics of those playing football, a serious problem.

As a coach explained: "Years ago, players who smoked were in a minority and it was easier to manage them. Now they are in a majority.'' For the purpose of this exercise, we are thinking of drugs in football in terms of marijuana smoking. That it is a major problem is unanimously confirmed by coaches, club officials and sports reporters. They consider that its use by spectators and players is a contributory cause to the misbehaviour of both. One club president told us that he was "astonished and appalled'' following inquiries, to find that, without exception, his whole team smoked marijuana.

Is there a reluctance by coaches and team officials to deal with it and, if so, why? Yes, there has been a reluctance by coaches and club officials to deal with it. They admit that most of the time, most of them turn a blind eye to good players whom they know are smokers.

Why? Because, to a considerable extent, their club's viability (when they own their own premises) depends on gate and bar sales during games. To attract spectators, the club needs a good team -- preferably one that is in contention -- so they turn a blind eye to skillful players smoking marijuana.

Then how can they be part of the solution? They have been caught up in the dilemma described previously -- the necessity of fielding a good team. But we get the impression that they are now prepared to take a harder line, accepting that short-term losses are likely to lead to longer-term gain; that in the longer-term, perhaps character is as important as skills; that winning should not be the `be all and end all' to the extent that all else is sacrificed to it. As one club president put it: "If we do something about it we will lose some status players, but standards will rise again.'' All have taken the view that for National teams, marijuana should be a banned substance for which players are tested. Some feel that this should be extended to the club level, believing that it would act as a deterrent. We will deal with these suggestions later in our recommendations.

But marijuana is not a performance enhancing drug, it is a performance reducing drug. If that is correct, then why do players use it? It is correct that marijuana is an energy and performance reducing drug, hence particularly among athletes it is to be discouraged. But perhaps the young and not so young are unwilling to accept that its use can reduce performance.

Perhaps players have been encouraged by the fact that marijuana is not listed as a drug banned at the international level by FIFA or the Olympic Association. It is not a performance enhancing drug, but one which reduces energy and performance, hence at the international level they assume that players will not want to take it. However, it is banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the United States Olympic Committee.

We have been told that many young people believe that: Marijuana is no big deal.

It is a social custom -- no worse than a beer.

It is illegal but not criminal.

The smoking of `ganja' is fashionable for persons between the ages of 15 and 30, the age group that attracts serious peer pressure.

It's not really a health hazard.

As someone said: "If people don't perceive marijuana to be bad then it can't be bad.'' But this is dangerous thinking. Dangerous to the individual, to his family, to the community and, at the National level, to the honour of his country. The attitudes indicated above are myths. The facts tell another story.

The following is extracted from the United Nations Drug Control Report 1992 (attached as Appendix 7) which separates myths from facts about drug abuse (including marijuana).

Myth: `Recreational' use of drugs is not harmful.

Fact: All illegal drugs are dangerous and cause physical and psychological changes in the user. Prolonged drug use exacerbates these harmful effects and can lead to addiction . . .

Myth: Marijuana is no worse than using alcohol or tobacco.

Fact: Marijuana is very dangerous. Unlike alcohol, which usually leaves the body within 24 hours because it is water soluble, marijuana is fat-soluble, which means that the psychoactive chemicals attach themselves to the fatty part of the body (usually the brain and reproductive organs) and can be detected up to 30 days after initial use. Extensive research has indicated that marijuana impairs short-term memory and slows learning; interferes with normal reproductive functions; adversely affects heart functions; has serious effects on perception and skilled performance, such as driving and other complex tasks involving judgment or fine motor skills; and greatly impairs lung and respiratory functions. A marijuana cigarette contains more cancer-causing agents than the strongest tobacco cigarette.

Myth: Everybody is taking drugs.

Fact: This common argument is used by drug users in an effort to gain acceptability for their deviant behaviour. No matter how alarming drug use statistics may be, the majority of the people of the world do not use illegal drugs. Peer pressure is always difficult to cope with and it takes more courage and strength to stand up for what you know is right, and to resist drugs, when friends try to convince you that "everybody is doing it''. In fact, everybody is not using drugs; those who use them are far less likely to have happy and productive lives than those who remain drug-free.

The Addiction Research Foundation has this to say about marijuana: Cannabis: At low to moderate doses, cannabis produces relatively mild and transitory physical symptoms, which can include increased heart rate, muscle weakness, mild motor incoordination, slight tremors, reddened eyes, involuntary movement of the eyeballs, slightly increased body temperature, increased appetite, and dry mouth and throat. In this dose range, most users experience euphoria, disinhibition, relaxation and garrulousness; however, drowsiness and sedation often follow the initial stimulation and exhilaration.

Hallucinogenic effects are generally dose-related and relatively mild, although the range and intensity of effects varies greatly among users.

Typical doses of cannabis (such as a few milligrams of THC in a marijuana cigarette) produce perceptual distortions in some users. Higher doses in most users produce LSD or mescaline-like changes in perception and thought. Vivid visual imagery is much less commonly experienced than with most other hallucinogenic drugs, and the main psychoactive effects tend to diminish more rapidly, typically within two hours after smoking.

Cannabis can also cause unpleasant effects in some users, although these seem to occur less frequently and generally with less intensity than with other hallucinogens. In low to moderate doses, mild to moderate anxiety may be experienced, most commonly among inexperienced users. More severe consequences occasionally occur at higher doses and less frequently at lower doses; these may include severe anxiety, panic reactions, paranoid thinking, and frightening hallucinations.

The National Drugs Commission, from its sources, has provided the following information: (1)The effects of low-dose marijuana are: Hilarity Loss of time and space perception Impaired co-ordination Loss of judgment Short-term memory loss (temporary) Mild distortion in auditory and visual sensitivity Conjunctivitis Bronchitis (2)The effects of high dose marijuana are: Illusions Delusions Depression Confusion Occasional hallucination (3)The effects of frequent, regular and prolonged use of marijuana are: Impaired problem-solving skills Infertility Cancer The conclusive evidence is that the use of marijuana is harmful to one's physical and mental health. Indeed, we have been told by the Coordinator of Addiction Services that there are persons in St. Brendan's who, as a consequence of the regular use of marijuana, are entirely dysfunctional. He points out that "it is not a soft drug anymore, its potency has trebled since the 1980s''.

Hence, one reason for the increasingly harmful effects of marijuana is that, whereas some years ago its potency ranged between 6% and 10% THC (delta-9-tetra-hydrocannabinol), now it is often between 25% and 35%. There is no longer any doubt that the use of marijuana is harmful to one's health.

Football players are, of course, no exception. Regular use will diminish their effectiveness, their team's chances and, at the National level, their country's chances.

We urge them to be in the forefront of the National Drug Commission's campaign "Sportsmen Against Drugs''.

So should there be drug testing for league players? The Board is already on record as saying that there should be drug testing for National Team players representing Bermuda. There seems to be unanimous agreement on this.

And some club officials and coaches are on record with us that, if this problem is to be arrested, drug testing as a deterrent should be applied also to league players. But it seems to us that this may be going from one extreme to another. Appendix 8 supplied to us by Dr. Allan Young of the Central Government Laboratory of the Department of Health and entitled "Urine Testing Procedures Guide'', will confirm that the process, if it is to be done, needs to be managed very carefully. We doubt that all of the clubs have the facilities or resources to do it. But there is certainly merit in the principle of the idea. Perhaps it could be achieved and would be a deterrent if, say at the beginning or during the season, two players were randomly selected from each team to be tested.Incidentally, we were surprised to learn of the prevalence of drug testing in Bermuda. Dr. Young confirmed that the Central Government Laboratory does some 7,000 tests per year, although the majority are for Addiction Services hence do not require confirmatory testing.

We therefore recommend that in consultation with the affiliates, the BFA produce a drugs policy, including provision for testing league players.

*** SPECTATOR BEHAVIOUR It was the unanimous opinion of all the delegations and persons who met with the Board that spectator behaviour must improve if we are to restore the type of community atmosphere that will be conducive to families and others attending the games. This will, in turn, lead to an increase in attendance.

The greatest concerns raised are as follows: (1) The unlawful use of marijuana at club grounds and the bad behaviour which it appears to spawn.

(2) The uncontrolled bad language.

(3) The abuse of alcoholic beverages by many spectators, including teenagers.

(4) Frequent examples of violent behaviour, especially in the areas where drugs are sold or smoked.

Indeed, we believe it is often this unacceptable spectator behaviour that raises the temperature of players, with unfortunate consequences for them and for the game.

Families who used to attend, no longer do so because of the above and the general disrespect shown towards them by some spectators. Even a referee, some coaches, a member of the National Squad and others told us that they no longer attend games that they are not involved in because of the general bad behaviour -- and under no circumstances would they take their children to a game. An important objective is to bring families back to football.

As one sports writer told us: "Smoking at football matches is blase.'' During our interviews with the club representatives and others, it was unanimously agreed that each ground has its brazen smokers' section or sections, and that they, the field operators, did not encroach upon this territory for fear of repercussions such as damage to property or, worse still, physical violence.

The problem is not confined to smoking. Drinking is also a problem -- even worse when combined with smoking.

This state of affairs cannot, and should not, be allowed to continue. The property inhabited by the dealers and users of drugs during a match is not theirs to claim as the so-called smokers' section. It must be reclaimed.

During our interviews we put forward and received some recommendations to deal with the problems associated with alcohol, drug abuse and general bad behaviour at football matches.

Recommendations (1) After consultation with the Police, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation and any other appropriate Government agency, the clubs should introduce some form of video surveillance, the object being to identify persons flouting the law and behaving badly and have them dealt with subsequently, by the law if necessary, and collectively by the affiliates.

(2) The Police should have a uniformed presence, particularly during major matches, in the anticipation that the mere presence of the Police is likely to act as a deterrent.

(3) All clubs, in conjunction with the BFA, should agree to a standard set of rules that can be used and displayed at all grounds, and certainly at the point of entrance. This should include a prohibition on taking alcoholic beverages on to the property.

(4) Club officials, wearing identification bands, should patrol the grounds observing infringements of the above rules in order to curtail drug use and unruly spectators. Any person who breaks these rules should, in the first instance, be given a written warning and, if the behaviour persists, should be banned from all grounds.

(5) A strong `Sportsmen Say No To Drugs' campaign should be developed with the assistance of the National Drug Commission.

(6) Parents of players must take a more active interest and be more involved than they are now, at all levels -- even if they simply go out to watch games and show their support as parents.

(7) Clubs should consider experimentally banning the sale of alcoholic beverages during matches.

The above are some ways in which we suggest the problem of spectator behaviour can be addressed and hopefully improved.

If these problems are not faced head-on, they could lead to the demise of football as we know it.

*** SECTION III Other matters which appear to the Board to be relevant.

HOW IMPORTANT IS FOOTBALL TO BERMUDA? Football is very important to Bermuda, not only because it provides sporting activity for thousands of children and young adults, but also because it is perhaps one of the principal activities contributing to maintaining a level of stability in the community. It is, therefore, in the best interests of the entire community to preserve and nurse our premier sport back to good health.

Football is undoubtedly the number one attraction in Bermuda, both in terms of player participation and spectator interest. The season runs from October to April and the BFA has approximately 2,500 registered players for the 1994 5 season (ranging in age from six years upwards) and 6-7,000 spectators who watch games every week.

Most of the teams start training for the season in August. Teams train at least three evenings a week and play, on average, twice a week during the season making their schedules onerous. It therefore takes a great deal of dedication and personal sacrifice on behalf of the players, coaches and other officials. Football provides an excellent learning ground for team-work, responsibility and loyalty.

For many of these young people, football provides a structured and disciplined environment which is often either missing or inadequate in their normal lives.

It also plays a much needed role in providing the friendship and companionship which these young people crave. If they were deprived of this activity it would create a serious void in their lives. Football, therefore, provides a healthy and wholesome outlet for thousands of children and young adults in some of the most important years of their lives. Football also has other tangible benefits for the players: (1) It gives some young people status and r notoriety in the community that they otherwise would not have achieved.

(2) It could lead to football scholarships to universities in the US.

(3) It could lead to a professional career in football overseas.

Our National teams' achievements in international competition have unified Bermuda more than any other single event. The teams draw support from all sectors of the Community -- that is why the incident in Miami turned our "pride into despair'' and "our glory into gloom''.

As in most countries, football is largely played by and draws most of its spectator support from people who are at the lower end of the economic spectrum. Bermuda is no different. It draws its players and affiliates from workmen's clubs. Many of these clubs are struggling for survival due, among other things, to a dwindling membership and a dearth of trained administrators to manage the clubs and by extension, the BFA. Football is too important for our political and business leaders to have only a passing interest in it. The clubs and the BFA need the support of our entire community, especially the expertise and the financial assistance of the Government and the business community.

In the wake of the Miami incident, we must take effective and constructive steps to ensure that football continues to be a positive force for good in our community: One that changes lives.

One that provides stability and discipline in the lives of young people.

One that teaches players to respect themselves, respect others and respect the of the game.

One that instills national pride, and; One that inculcates leadership skills that young people require to be productive and responsible members of our community.

*** THE FINANCIAL SACRIFICE OF PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS SELECTED FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM All players and officials in amateur sport expect to make a sacrifice in terms of time but some of the players and officials, when they are representing Bermuda, make what they consider, and indeed what we consider, to be unreasonable financial sacrifices.

To illustrate the above point, in preparation for the Pan American Games the team was required to travel to Germany for training for two and a half weeks; then four weeks after their return to Bermuda they were in Jamaica for two weeks to play in the Pan American qualifying matches. Seven weeks later they were away for a further one week of training, this time in Orlando. Finally, four weeks after their return from Florida, they were in Argentina for up to three weeks, depending on their success in the Pan American Games.

Many players and officials use up their vacation leave and even take unpaid leave for overseas international commitments. But there is also a career ob risk. Some have been replaced on their jobs because small employers, understandably, could not pay them or do without them for long and frequent periods of time. Notwithstanding, it is the policy of many, perhaps most of the large employers, -- amongst them the Government, the Bank of Bermuda, the Bank of N.T.Butterfield, the Bermuda Electric Light Company and the Bermuda Telephone Company -- to support participants in major sports representing Bermuda at the international level.

By way of example, we quote two of the policies which have come to our attention: The Bermuda Government