SAD #37 POLICY

 

SPORTSMANSHIP

 

The Board believes that athletic competition should be a healthful, positive, and safe experience for everyone involved, conducted in an environment that teaches values and ethics, strengthens the community, promotes competition without conflict, and enriches the lives of athletes.  Players should learn to handle success with grace and losing with dignity.  In order to promote core values such as discipline, fairness, responsibility, trustworthiness, and citizenship, everyone associated with athletics, including players, coaches, parents, and spectators, is expected to exhibit good sportsmanship during athletic competitions.

 

PARTICIPANTS:

 

In exhibiting sportsmanship, student athletes are expected to:

 

  1. Understand and follow the rules of the sport;
  2. Recognize skilled performance of others, regardless of the player’s team;
  3. Display respect for teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials;
  4. Respect the judgment of officials and accept their decisions;
  5. Refrain from antics, taunting opponents, and using insulting language or swearing;
  6. Be modest when successful and gracious in defeat; and
  7. Recognize that their conduct reflects on their school

 

COACHES:

 

In exhibiting sportsmanship, coaches are expected to:

 

  1. Recognize that they are role models for students and set a good example for athletes and fans to follow;
  2. Abide by the rules of the sport, in letter and in spirit;
  3. Treat all participants with respect;
  4. Behave with dignity and self-control;
  5. Respect the judgment of officials and accept their decisions;
  6. Take corrective actions toward any player who intimidates or shows disrespect toward an official or displays unsportsmanlike behavior; and
  7. Be modest when successful and gracious in defeat.

 

SPECTATORS—INCLUDING PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS:

 

Spectators attending athletic events are expected to:

 

  1. Realize that the main purpose of the competition is the play of the game and that the role of the spectator is one of support;
  2. Show positive support to the teams and players for outstanding performance;
  3. Show concern for injured players, regardless of which team they are on;
  4. Refrain from angry or abusive language or actions toward any player, official, coach, or other spectators;
  5. Refrain from endangering participants or spectators by throwing objects;
  6. Refrain from heckling, taunting, or berating players, officials, coaches, or other spectators; and
  7. Follow all Board policies and rules pertaining to conduct on school property, including but not limited to those pertaining to tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and weapons.

 

School athletic events are school activities that are part of the educational program.  An athletic event is not a public forum.  The public is invited to attend athletic events for the purpose of supporting the participants on both teams and the schools they represent.  Appropriate behavior by spectators, especially adults, provides a positive model for students and contributes to the value and educational purposes of athletic activities.  Negative comments and behavior by spectators are inconsistent with the purposes of athletic activities.  School administrators and officials have the authority and discretion to remove any spectators who do not comply with rules of sportsmanship.

 

PENALTIES FOR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR:

 

Student athletes who engage in unsportsmanlike behavior will be subject to penalties described in the Athletic Code or to appropriate disciplinary consequences if the conduct constitutes a violation of Board policy, school rules or the Student Code of Conduct, and/or the Student Handbook.

 

Student spectators whose behavior constitutes a violation of Board policy, school rules or the Student Code of Conduct will be subject to appropriate disciplinary consequences.

 

Adult spectators who engage in unsportsmanlike behavior or conduct that violates Board policy may be asked to leave the premises and may be excluded from future events.  The administrator in charge of the event may seek the assistance of law enforcement authorities if necessary to ensure the safety of participants, coaches, officials, or other spectators or to prevent damage to school property.

 

NOTICE OF RULES:

 

The building administrator will be responsible for posting spectator rules.

 

 

Cross References:         JJI—Philosophy of Athletics

                                    JJIBA—Hiring and Evaluation of Coaches

                                    JJIBC—Relations with Booster Groups

                                    JJIBD—Sponsorship & Evaluation of Athletic Programs

 

 

 

 

Adopted:  ­­­­­­­­­­­January 31, 2007

 

 

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