2431B - SPORTSMANSHIP EXPECTATIONS

West Clermont Local School District

Administrative Guidelines

2431B - SPORTSMANSHIP EXPECTATIONS

In keeping with Board policy and the guidelines 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:

	A.	Provide appropriate supervisory personnel for each interscholastic event.

	B.	Support participants, coaches, and fans who teach and display good sportsmanship.

	C.	Recognize exemplary behavior and actively discourage undesirable conduct by participants, coaches, and fans.

	D.	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.

EACH COACH is expected to:

	A.	Exemplify the highest moral character, behavior, and leadership, adhering to strong ethical and integrity standards. Practicing good citizenship is practicing good sportsmanship!

	B.	Respect the integrity and personality of the individual athlete.

	C.	Abide by and teach the rules of the game in letter and in spirit.

	D.	Describe and define respectful and disrespectful behavior. Stress that disrespectful behavior, especially taunting, trash talking, and intimidation, will not be tolerated.

	E.	Set a good example for players and spectators to follow.

	F.	Refrain from arguments in front of players and spectators.

	G.	Not use gestures which indicate an official or opposing coach does not know what s/he is doing or talking about.


H.	Not throw objects in disgust.

I.	Shake hands with the officials and the opposing coaches before and after the contest in full view of the public and demand the same of his/her players.

J.	Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials.

		The officials are doing their best to help promote athletics and the student athlete. Treating them with respect, even if you disagree with their judgment, will only make a positive impression of you and your team in the eyes of all people at the event.

K.	Display modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat in public and in meeting/talking with the media.

L.	Confine his/her remarks to game statistics and to the performance of his/her team.

M.	Instruct participants and spectators in proper sportsmanship responsibilities and demand that they make sportsmanship the No. 1 priority.

N.	Develop a program that rewards participants and spectators for displaying proper sportsmanship and enforces penalties on those who do not abide by sportsmanship standards.

O.	Be no party to the use of profanity or obscene language, or improper actions.

EACH STUDENT-ATHLETE is expected to:

	A.	Accept and understand the seriousness of his/her responsibility, and the privilege of representing the school, District, and community.

	B.	Live up to the standards of sportsmanship established by the school administration and the coaching staff.

	C.	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.


D.	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?

E.	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.

F.	Refrain from intimidating behavior.

G.	Wish opponents good luck before the game and congratulate them in a sincere manner following either victory or defeat.

H.	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.

I.	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:

A.	Understand the seriousness and responsibility of his/her role, and the privilege of representing the school, District, and community.

B.	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?

C.	Wish opposing cheerleaders good luck before the game and congratulate them in a sincere manner following either victory or defeat.

D.	Establish standards of desirable behavior for the squad and attempt in a cheerful manner to transfer that to the school's spectators.


E.	Select positive cheers which praise the school's team without antagonizing the opponents.

F.	Encourage a positive crowd alternative when booing or an inappropriate chant begins by starting a popular cheer.

G.	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.

H.	Give encouragement to injured players and recognition to outstanding performances for both teams.

I.	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:

	A.	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.

	B.	Assist cheerleaders with yells, chants, etc., and be a working part of pep assemblies, with preparation, organization, and involvement.

	C.	Treat opposing players, coaches, spectators, and support groups with respect and enthusiasm.

	D.	Refrain from taunting or making any kind of derogatory remarks to opponents during the game, especially comments of ethnic, racial, or sexual nature.

	E.	Conduct themselves in an exemplary manner, remembering they represent the school both home and away.


F.	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.

G.	Be exemplary role models by positively supporting teams in every manner possible, including content of cheers and signs.

EACH SPECTATOR is expected to:

	A.	Remember that s/he is at a contest to support and yell for the team and to enjoy the skill and competition; not to intimidate or ridicule the other team and its fans.

	B.	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.

	C.	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.

	D.	Learn the rules of the game, so that s/he may understand and appreciate why certain situations take place.

	E.	Show respect for the opposing players, coaches, spectators, and support groups. Treat them as one would treat a guest in his/her own home.

	F.	Refrain from taunting or making any kind of derogatory remarks to the opponents during the game, especially comments of ethnic, racial, or sexual nature.

	G.	Respect the integrity and judgment of game officials. Understand that they are doing their best to help promote the student-athlete, and admire their willingness to participate in full view of the public.

	H.	Recognize and show appreciation for an outstanding play by either team.


	I.	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).

	J.	Use only those cheers that support and uplift the teams involved.

	K.	Recognize and compliment the efforts of school and league administrators in emphasizing the benefits of educational athletics and the role of good sportsmanship to that end.

	L.	Be a positive behavior role model through his/her own actions and by censuring those close by whose behavior is unbecoming.

THE PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER is expected to: (see Form 2431B F6)

A.	Be impartial. Announce the contest with no show of favoritism.

B.	Use proper language at all times.

C.	Be enthusiastic but calm.

D.	Not "talk over the crowd."

E.	Not anticipate or second guess calls by the officials or criticize official's decisions, directly or indirectly.

F.	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.

G.	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.

H.	Be responsible for whatever is said over the p.a. system.

I.	Announce convenient routes for spectators to leave the venue and caution the crowd to drive safely on its way home.


	J.	Be aware that good sportsmanship is a very important part of interscholastic activities; reading a sportsmanship statement prior to the beginning of an event, and at key times during breaks in the action contributes to a positive, educational atmosphere.