NSAA Guidelines to Address Unsportsmanlike Conduct

The NSAA and its member schools strongly believe that the major purpose of high school athletics is to be a part of the total educational program. A major part of this purpose is to stress to coaches, players, officials, and fans the vital importance of sportsmanship. It is important that everyone understand the role they play in developing good sportsmanship.

New NSAA sportsmanship guidelines were passed in the Spring of 2001, strengthening the emphasis on sportsmanship. Following a year of considerable study and debate about what the appropriate sportsmanship approach should be, the following definition of Unsportsmanlike Conduct was established:

Unsportsmanlike conduct shall include the following: fighting, verbal abuse or dissent toward an official or opponent, racial or ethnic slurs, inappropriate comments or actions that may be construed as sexual harassment, profanity, obscene gestures, flagrant and violent fouls, taunting, trash talk, baiting, cheating, throwing or abusing equipment, inappropriate posters, physical intimidation or abuse of an official or opponent, and unauthorized leaving of a team bench area.

As a part of the NSAA Sportsmanship legislation, any participant ejected from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be ineligible for the next athletic contest at that level of competition and any other athletic contest at any level during the interim, in addition to other penalties the NSAA or school may assess. Likewise, any coach ejected from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct is subject to those same sit-out rules.

Game officials play a key role in the sportsmanship process.

· Accept your role in an unassuming manner, to avoid someone wondering about showboating or over-officiating.

· Maintain confidence and poise, controlling contests from start to finish.

· Know rules thoroughly and abide by the National Federation code of ethics.

· Do not allow the new participant and coach ejection penalties to change the manner in which you officiate a contest.

· Publicly shake hands with coaches of both teams before the contest, and initiate communication equally for all schools.

· Never exhibit emotions or argue with participants and coaches when enforcing rules.

· Afterwards, portray yourself as a role model for the students you’ve just officiated.

Reporting Function Expected of All Officials:

The following guidelines have been established for officials to report an ejection or unusual situation:

1. Officials will be expected to file with the NSAA an electronic or mailed report for any ejection of a player or coach from a contest. Any unusual situation that occurs prior to, during, or after a contest should also be reported.

2. Prompt reporting to the NSAA office is necessary. Officials are asked to either send their electronic report or call the NSAA office by noon the day following the ejection. If the official reports the incident by phone, a written report must be mailed that same day.

3. Officials registered with the NSAA will be provided a report form on which an ejection and other unusual situations can be submitted. That form is also on the NSAA website, listed under “officials”: (http://www.nsaahome.org).

4. Officials are asked to be specific in listing the reason(s) for an ejection.

5. Affiliated officials (officials registered from contiguous states) will also be required to perform this

reporting function.