Know the rules, follow the rules, and don't compromise yourself or your team by your actions.
Melrose athletes have been suspended for rules violations. Nobody holds up a flag saying, "That couldn't happen here." That's why this column matters.
Student-athletes have freedom of choice; freedom of choice does not include freedom from consequences.
You work too hard and too long, make too many sacrifices to see those go "up in smoke."
I asked ChatGPT Plus to summarize a recent high school rules violation that caused a team to forfeit a Final Four match. Good people can make poor choices.
The Ipswich lacrosse controversy is less about cigars and more about judgment, optics, accountability, and unintended consequences.
What Happened?
In June 2026, several graduating players from the boys' lacrosse team at Ipswich High School were photographed after graduation appearing to smoke cigars. Because the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) prohibits tobacco use by student-athletes, the school investigated and suspended six senior players. With additional players opting not to participate, Ipswich forfeited its Division 4 state semifinal game rather than compete shorthanded.
The controversy intensified when parents argued that the cigars were actually homemade props containing tea and other non-tobacco materials. School administrators later disputed those claims, stating that their investigation led them to conclude the cigars were real and that some of the evidence presented after the fact was inconsistent with the timeline.
Regardless of which version ultimately proves correct, the season ended with a forfeit, a divided community, angry parents, devastated teammates, and a cautionary tale for high school athletics.
Accountability Lessons for High School Athletes
1. Optics Matter
One of the oldest coaching lessons is:
"Don't put yourself in a position where appearances become the story."
Even if the players believed they were not violating the rule, they created an image that looked exactly like a rule violation. In the social media era, adults, schools, opponents, and governing bodies often react to what can be seen rather than what was intended.
A useful standard for athletes:
If a photo requires a five-minute explanation, it's probably a bad photo to take.
2. Individual Choices Affect the Team
The most painful lesson is that a small group decision ultimately impacted dozens of teammates.
Athletes often hear:
"You represent more than yourself."
Whether fair or unfair, the actions of a few players ended a championship opportunity for an entire roster. This is the essence of team accountability.
3. Know the Rulebook
Many high school athletes know the game rules but not the conduct rules.
Elite programs teach both.
The question is not:
"Do I think this rule is reasonable?"
The question is:
"What are the consequences if someone decides I've violated it?"
Those are different questions.
4. Winning the Argument Isn't Always Winning
Much of the public discussion has focused on whether the punishment fit the offense. Reasonable people can disagree.
But successful athletes learn that after a mistake, energy spent proving someone else wrong often produces less value than accepting reality and moving forward.
The scoreboard doesn't care who won the debate.
5. Leadership Means Thinking One Step Ahead
The best captains and leaders develop a habit of asking:
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How will this look tomorrow?
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How could this be misunderstood?
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What happens if this photo goes public?
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Is the risk worth the reward?
Most leadership failures occur not from bad intentions but from a failure to anticipate second-order consequences.
A Coaching Perspective
For a coach, the biggest lesson is not tobacco, cigars, or even discipline.
It's decision-making under uncertainty.
The players likely saw a harmless graduation tradition. Administrators saw a potential rules violation. Parents saw an overreaction. Teammates saw a lost opportunity.
All of them may have been sincere.
The enduring lesson for athletes is that maturity means understanding that intentions matter, but consequences matter too.
Or, as many coaches put it:
Make decisions that leave no room for doubt.
That's often the safest path for athletes who don't want their season, team, or reputation determined by a photograph.
Summary:
- Know the rules. The MIAA rules on tobacco, alcohol, and drugs are unambiguous. Coach Scott Celli shares them with you.
- Don't think, DATU - "doesn't apply to us."
- Follow them to the letter. If you are at a gathering where others are violating the rules, that can impact you and your team.
- You are accountable for your choices which can affect your team.
- You own your choices. Make good ones. Bad choices kill dreams.
Lagniappe...from Coach Lisle on Instagram
