Throughout the school year, TSSAA-registered contest officials report incidents of unsporting behavior to the TSSAA in order for the Executive Director to insure that schools are respecting association bylaws regarding unsportsmanlike conduct.
The TSSAA and its member schools believe strongly that the major purpose of education-based 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 critical that all parties understand the role they play in maintaining an atmosphere of good sportsmanship and being a positive role model for others.
A finalized list of incidents and responses is maintained by the state office staff and presented to the Board of Control each year at its June meeting.
785players |
106fans |
84coaches |
4faculty/staffs |
4others |
3Bench personnel |
To address these issues, coaches and school administrators can teach and demonstrate positive behavior by emphasizing the importance of respect and sportsmanship. Coaches should lead by example, treating officials, opponents, and their own players with respect at all times. They should emphasize the importance of fair play and encourage their players to display good sportsmanship. Additionally, coaches and administrators should create a positive game environment by promoting crowd etiquette and addressing any fan behavior that goes against the values of sportsmanship. It is crucial to educate everyone involved in the game about the importance of positive behavior, both on and off the court, to create a more enjoyable and respectful atmosphere for all participants.
Based on these reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school baseball revolve around disagreements with umpire calls, especially strike zone judgments. Players frequently express their frustration, sometimes with profanity or aggressive behavior, leading to ejections. Coaches often challenge calls, occasionally escalating into prolonged arguments and demonstrating unsportsmanlike conduct. Finally, fans exhibiting disruptive behavior by yelling at umpires, using foul language, and making threats. Overall, the reports highlight that displays of anger, disrespect towards officials, and a lack of composure from players, coaches, and fans are the most frequent causes of unsportsmanlike events.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on these reports, unsportsmanlike conduct in boys' high school basketball games most frequently involves: players receiving technical fouls for arguing calls (especially using profanity), making aggressive gestures towards opponents, flexing after a play, or committing flagrant fouls like throwing elbows or punches. Fans also contribute to the problem by making obscene comments towards officials and occasionally encroaching on the court. Ejections often result from accumulating two technical fouls or committing intentional flagrant fouls, leading administrative interventions and even calls for police involvement to remove disruptive individuals or restore order.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on the provided officials' reports, unsportsmanlike conduct in girls' basketball frequently stems from on-court altercations ignited by flagrant fouls or aggressive plays leading to retaliatory actions like throwing punches or hitting players with the ball. Tensions often spill over to the sidelines, leading to players leaving the bench to engage in disputes, resulting in ejections. Beyond player misconduct, heated emotions from coaches and fans directed at the officials are also a recurring issue, with actions ranging from verbal abuse and constant complaining about calls to using profanity and making threats, sometimes escalating to technical fouls or ejections. In a handful of scenarios, players and coaches are being ejected for Flagrant fouls and taunting.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on the officials' reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school football stem from a lack of emotional control and respect. Frequent issues include fighting (throwing punches or stomping), using profanity or racial slurs directed at opponents or officials, taunting and disrespectful behavior like laughing in opponents' faces, late hits after the whistle, and players disrespectfully questioning the integrity of the game officials. These actions lead to unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and disqualifications, negatively impacting the game and reflecting poorly on sportsmanship.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on these reports, common unsportsmanlike incidents in Girls' Flag Football often involve escalating tensions leading to physical altercations. These frequently stem from heated moments during the game, like perceived bad calls or late hits, triggering unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against players and, occasionally, coaches or even fans. The reports also highlight a concerning trend of post-game incidents, with handshake lines erupting into large-scale brawls. This points to a need for an increased focus on sportsmanship and conduct, not only during the game itself, but also in the crucial moments before and after the final whistle.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on these officials' reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in boys' lacrosse revolve around escalating physical altercations. These incidents frequently start with relatively minor infractions, such as late hits, illegal body checks, or post-whistle contact, that then spiral into aggressive physical responses. Players often resort to punches, stick fouls like slashing, or even full-blown fighting. Contributing to these problems are bench clearings, where players leave their designated area to join the fray, which shows a lack of discipline and can cause mass ejections or disqualifications. These scenarios are all too often rooted in escalating tensions and a breakdown of self-control on the field.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on recent game reports, unsportsmanlike conduct in girls' lacrosse often stems from aggressive physical responses to in-game contact. Violations can range from excessive force during plays, like a player kneeing a downed opponent in the back after a collision, to repeated intentional fouls like shoving, stick checks aimed at an opponent's body instead of the ball, or pushing with both hands after previous warnings for similar behavior. These actions highlight a concerning trend of escalating on-field altercations beyond the bounds of fair play.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on the reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school soccer revolve around dissent towards officials and dangerous or violent play. Dissent manifests as players or coaches arguing calls, using foul language towards referees or opponents, and even physical actions like slamming water bottles. Dangerous play includes reckless tackles, violent conduct like kicking opponents (especially goalkeepers), and intentional fouls outside the run of play, highlighting a lack of respect for the safety of other players. These actions result in cautions, ejections, and reflect poorly on the spirit of the game.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on these reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school girls' soccer seem to stem from dissent towards referees, reckless tackles, and retaliatory actions after a foul. Dissent often manifests as verbal abuse, questioning calls, or even taunting gestures towards officials, coaches and opponents. Reckless tackles often lead to cautions, and in some cases ejections that can quickly lead to further acts of dissent from coaches. Finally, players sometimes react to fouls with retaliatory physical actions or verbal abuse, further fueling the issue.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on these reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in girls' softball involve arguments over strike zone calls, close plays at bases (especially regarding pulled feet and interference), and the application of rules like the infield fly rule. These disagreements frequently lead to coaches and fans yelling at umpires, questioning their integrity and making personal insults, often escalating to ejections. Occasional physical actions, such as throwing equipment or even potential physical threats, also contribute to the negative atmosphere. The assistant coaches were found to be big problems, too, not as much for the head coaches.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
While blatant cheating like pacing runners, as seen in the Briarcrest and St. Benedict 4x400 relay disqualifications, is less frequent, unsportsmanlike conduct in Girls' Track and Field often manifests in subtler forms. More common are instances of athletes taunting opponents, making inappropriate gestures after a race, or displaying poor sportsmanship through demonstrative frustration after a poor performance. Coaches, too, can contribute to the problem with inappropriate or aggressive behavior towards officials, such as the Briarcrest coach's ejection for using derogatory language and questioning the pacing rule. These actions, while not always explicitly breaking rules, create a negative environment and detract from the spirit of fair competition.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on the officials' reports, unsportsmanlike conduct in girls' volleyball frequently stems from disagreements with officiating. This includes fans and coaches verbally abusing referees, disputing calls aggressively, and exhibiting disruptive behavior like throwing objects or refusing to leave the premises after ejection. Additionally, unsportsmanlike conduct also includes players counting while the opposing team serve, making unsportsmanlike comments, and kicking volleyballs under the net.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on these official reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school wrestling stem from frustration and anger after losing a match, leading to wrestlers cursing at opponents, coaches, or officials (often including profanity), throwing headgear, and sometimes even physical acts like biting. Coaches and occasionally parents can escalate situations by arguing aggressively with officials, and in at least one instance, by entering the wrestling area during a match. The overall tendency is toward outbursts of anger and disrespectful behavior when outcomes are not favorable.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.
Based on the provided officials' reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in girls' wrestling involve biting, flagrant misconduct of intentional striking out of frustration, and verbal abuse directed at officials by coaches and wrestlers. Coaches often become aggressive and confrontational, questioning calls and sometimes leading to ejections. Wrestlers display unsportsmanlike behavior through intentional biting, punching, and verbally lashing out.
The full list of disciplinary actions is only available to school personnel. Sign into the Portal and return to this page to view the report.