"Athletes are on a gratification system," Green says. "They feel like they've been deprived of social time, so they may go overboard when they get the chance."
Athletes say Green's pragmatic approach makes him more effective.
"I think it's helped a lot," Parker says. "It's not like a lecture. He knows you're going to drink--he tells you how to take care of yourself."
A one-shot lecture cannot cover everything, however, so coaches say they also look out for their athletes.
"I've got a few guys who I know I have to keep an eye on, just like anybody," says Joe Walsh, the head coach of Harvard's baseball team.
Walsh says he recognizes that players will drink--he just does not want not students to hurt themselves or the team.
Walsh checks in on players in their hotel rooms and keeps a curfew while the team is on the road, he says. On campus, he relies on the captains and senior leadership to make sure no one puts himself in danger.
"My only rule is that baseball is a priority," Walsh says. "I'm sure that good times are going on, whether that includes alcohol or not."
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