Barrington High School’s Broncos Committed Welcomes Nationally Known Speaker

A nationally known speaker behind a program adopted by Barrington High School for its Broncos Committed, is visiting the area to spread the word about living a drug and alcohol free lifestyle.

John Underwood, founder of Life of an Athlete/Human Performance Project, will be giving two presentations this week explaining the concept of sports science and how drugs and alcohol affect an athlete’s body and performance.

Underwood is a sports science consultant and national speaker who works with professional sports teams and coaches 28 Olympians.

BHS began Broncos Committed last year focusing on teaching athletes how healthy living _ including being drug and alcohol free _ can positively affect optimal performance using Underwood’s concepts, said Brenda Nelson, student assistance program coordinator at BHS.

“The substances you either use or avoid….these lifestyle choices affect your life right now and they lay the neurological groundwork for the rest of your life,” according to a Broncos Committed brochure.

Teens are told not to eat this food or don’t drink alcohol or do drugs but they aren’t learning the science behind why they shouldn’t do it, Nelson said.

Broncos Committed looks at the science behind drugs and alcohol use and the effects on athletes, she said. For example, alcohol decreases protein synthesis and lowers testosterone, she said. Getting drunk one time erases up to 14 days of training, she said.

“If you care about your team and your performance, you have to think about your choices,” she said.

BHS’s program focuses on alcohol and marijuana, she said. Teen are given information like how drinking means you are twice as likely to get injured, she said.

Students learn how marijuana affects sleep. It significantly reduces a kid’s ability to reach REM sleep, which is needed for muscle and brain rejuvenation, she said.

Athletes have been the focus of the first year because those students, particularly varsity athletes, tend to party and drink more, Nelson said.

“Fifty percent of varsity athletes drink. You think of how that affects the school culture and it’s very detrimental,” she said.

The Class of 2013 had strong leaders who were on board with a commitment to have a drug and alcohol free lifestyle, she said. So far, 127 seniors the Broncos Committee pledge _ stating they will be alcohol and drug free throughout high school _ in the 2013-2014 school year. Nelson estimates 450 students other grades have made the pledge.

“It’s important for it to be student driven. In terms of student enthusiasm, it is absolutely essential,” Nelson said.

A focus this year will be to get more students, besides athletes, involved and get more students to take the pledge, she said. “We are looking to have a more all school appeal,” she said.

Broncos Committed is also looking at the bigger health issues, teaching students to pay attention to their stress level, diet, sleeping habits and general health, she said.

Barrington High School is the first school in the state to fully implement the program.

This week, Broncos Committed is welcoming Underwood who will introduce the concepts of Life as an Athlete/Human Performance Project to students and their parents. 

He is speaking at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13 to athletes in fall sports. He will speak with athletes in winter and spring sports at 8 p.m. Parents and the general public are welcome to either session. He will appear at BHS’s auditorium.

Underwood speaks to students in grades 5 to 8 at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14 also at BHS.

“It’s exciting to have him come out,” Nelson said. “He’s one of those inspiring speakers. You get inspired by getting good information.”