A concern has been brought to my attention by several members of the Paddleball community. I believe it is necessary to bring this matter to the forefront and put in place steps to address the issue.
The concern is that more than a few people involved in tournaments have been seen consuming alcohol at these events. This includes referees and linespersons as well as players. Drinking alcohol could create safety issues for the players in that their judgment may be impaired and their reaction time slowed. Officials engaged in drinking of course may not be able to perform their jobs properly.
Many of our tournaments are played at NYC parks. Some of you may not be aware of a Parks Department regulation that prohibits the consumption of alcohol in any park and also prohibits anyone from possessing any alcoholic beverage with intent to consume it or allow others to consume it. It’s also illegal to appear in a park while under the influence of alcohol to the point of endangering others or yourself.
So our concerns go beyond player safety and tournament integrity; it’s the law, too! However, we obviously are not equipped to have an elaborate screening or enforcement program, nor is that something we would want to get involved in. The PFA has been a leader from its inception by doing everything possible to implement steps to improve the image of the sport of paddleball and to make it as safe as possible. With that as a goal, we will do the following:
Effective immediately, officials and players who are observed to be engaged in openly drinking alcohol at PFA’s tournaments will not be allowed to play in or officiate games.
We hope other tournament directors join us in this effort to make our beloved sport safe for all, maintain its high integrity and adhere to the laws in place today.
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