2431B - SPORTSMANSHIP EXPECTATIONS
In keeping with Board policy and the concerns of the High School Athletic Association, the following behaviors are expected of each group as that group fulfills its role in providing for an athletic program that is based on exemplary sportsmanship.
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS are expected to:
Develop a program for teaching and promoting the ideals and fundamentals of good sportsmanship within the school, the league/conference, and the High School Athletic Association. This program should stress that disrespectful behavior, especially taunting, trash talking, and intimidation, will not be tolerated.
Provide appropriate supervisory personnel for each interscholastic event.
Support participants, coaches, and fans who teach and display good sportsmanship.
Recognize exemplary behavior and actively discourage undesirable conduct by participants, coaches, and fans.
Attend events whenever possible and function as a model of good sportsmanship. This includes communicating with spectators during an event what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT
- The function of a coach is to properly educate students through participation in interscholastic competition. The interscholastic program is designed to enhance academic achievement and should never interfere with opportunities for academic success. Each student shall be treated with dignity and respect and his/her welfare shall be uppermost at all times.
- The coach must be aware that he or she has a tremendous influence either good or bad, in the education of the student-athlete and, thus, shall never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest desirable ideals of character.
- The coach must constantly uphold the honor and dignity of the profession. In all personal contact with the student-athlete, officials, athletic directors, school administrators, the state high school athletic association, the media, and the public, the coach shall strive to set an example of the highest ethical and moral conduct.
- The coach’s (if the coach is a teacher of the school system) teaching assignment is of utmost importance. A coach/teacher shall not allow his/her teaching assignment to be negatively impacted by his/her coaching responsibilities.
- The coach shall refrain from using profanity and racial slurs. In addition, the coach shall refrain from humiliating, demeaning, or belittling a player.
- The coach shall show respect for contest officials and opposing coaches. The coach shall not indulge in conduct that will incite players or spectators against the officials and opposing coaches. Coaches should not publicly criticize officials and opposing coaches.
- Coaches shall actively use their influence to enhance sportsmanship by their spectators.
- The coach shall take an active role in the prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse and should always encourage student-athletes to be drug, alcohol, and tobacco-free.
- The coach shall promote the interscholastic and extracurricular activity program of the school and direct his or her program in harmony with the total school program.
- The coach shall be thoroughly acquainted with the contest rules and be responsible for their interpretation to team members. The coach shall not try to seek an advantage by circumvention of the spirit or letter of the rules.
- Coaches shall conduct an announced meeting with parents prior to the season’s first game to explain rules, expectations and explain the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct. It should also be emphasized to parents that their responsibilities encompass team and coach support.
- Coaches shall not exert pressure on faculty members to give student-athletes special consideration.
EACH STUDENT-ATHLETE is expected to:
Accept and understand the seriousness of his/her responsibility, and the privilege of representing the school, Corporation, and community.
Live up to the standards of sportsmanship established by the school administration and the coaching staff.
Learn the rules of the game thoroughly and discuss them with parents, fans, fellow students, and elementary students. This will assist the student and others to achieve a better understanding and appreciation of the game.
Treat opponents the way the student would like to be treated, as a guest or friend. Who better than the participating athlete can understand all the hard work and team effort that is required of the sport?
Refrain from taunting, trash talking, and making any kind of derogatory remarks to opponents during the game, especially comments of ethnic, racial, or sexual nature.
Refrain from intimidating behavior.
Congratulate opponents in a sincere manner following either victory or defeat.
Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials.
The officials are doing their best to help promote athletes and the sport. Treating them with respect, even if the athlete disagrees with their judgment, will only make a positive impression of the athlete and the team in the eyes of the officials and all the people at the event.
Win with humility; lose with grace. Do both with dignity. Avoid excessive celebrating after a play or end of a game.
EACH CHEERLEADER is expected to:
Understand the seriousness and responsibility of his/her role, and the privilege of representing the school, Corporation, and community.
Treat opposing cheerleaders the way the student would like to be treated, as a guest or friend.
Who better than the cheerleader can understand all the training and team effort that goes into a cheerleading squad?
Wish opposing cheerleaders good luck before the game and congratulate them in a sincere manner following either victory or defeat.
Establish standards of desirable behavior for the squad and attempt in a cheerful manner to transfer that to the school's spectators.
Select positive cheers which praise the school's team without antagonizing the opponents.
Encourage a positive crowd alternative when booing or an inappropriate chant begins by starting a popular cheer.
Use discretion in selecting the times to cheer. Give the opposing school the same amount of time the school's squad would want in performing cheers, and treat opposing players like the school's team is treated.
Give encouragement to injured players and recognition to outstanding performances for both teams.
Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials.
Treating them with respect, even if the cheerleader disagrees with their judgment, will only make a positive impression of the team, the squad, and community in the eyes of the officials and all at the event.
MEMBERS OF OTHER STUDENT GROUPS (PEP CLUB, BAND) are expected to:
Establish themselves as leaders in conduct before, during, and after contests and events. Always provide positive support for the school's team, rather than intimidating or ridiculing the other team.
Assist cheerleaders with yells, chants, etc., and be a working part of pep assemblies, with preparation, organization, and involvement.
Treat opposing players, coaches, spectators, and support groups with respect and enthusiasm.
Refrain from taunting or making any kind of derogatory remarks to opponents during the game, especially comments of ethnic, racial, or sexual nature.
Conduct themselves in an exemplary manner, remembering they represent the school both home and away.
Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials.
Treating them with respect, even if disagreeing with their judgment, will only make a positive impression of the group, the team, and community in the eyes of all people at the event.
Be exemplary role models by positively supporting teams in every manner possible, including content of cheers and signs.
EACH SPECTATOR is expected to:
Remember that s/he is at a contest to support and cheer for the team and to enjoy the skill and competition; not to intimidate or ridicule the other team and its fans.
Remember that school athletics are learning experiences for students and that mistakes are sometimes made. Praise student-athletes in their attempt to improve themselves as students, as athletes, and as people as you would praise a student working in the classroom.
Remember that a ticket to a school athletic event is a privilege to observe the contest, not a license to verbally assault others and be generally obnoxious.
Show respect for the opposing players, coaches, spectators, and support groups. Treat them as one would treat a guest in his/her own home.
Refrain from taunting or making any kind of derogatory remarks to the opponents during the game, especially comments of ethnic, racial, or sexual nature.
Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials. Understand that they are doing their best to help promote the student-athlete.
Recognize and show appreciation for an outstanding play by either team.
Refrain from the use of any controlled substances (alcohol, drugs, etc.) before and during games, and afterwards on or near the site of the event (i.e. tailgating).
Use only those cheers that support and uplift the teams involved.
Be a positive behavior role model through his/her own actions.
THE PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER is expected to:
Be impartial. Announce the contest with no show of favoritism.
Use proper language at all times.
Be enthusiastic but calm.
Not "talk over the crowd."
Not anticipate or second guess calls by the officials or criticize official's decisions, directly or indirectly.
Be aware of the entire venue so that calm directions can be given in an emergency.
Serious situations can be avoided if the announcer will caution the crowd against coming onto the playing surface, throwing things, and the like.
Permit no one to use the microphone (especially coaches during the game), except those in charge of the event and/or by design of those in charge of the event.
Be responsible for whatever is said over the p.a. system.
Announce convenient routes for spectators to leave the venue.
Be aware that good sportsmanship is a very important part of interscholastic activities.