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.
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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 the officials' reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school football involve fighting and retaliatory punches, often sparked by late hits or post-play scrums, as well as unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for taunting, profanity, and abusive language directed at opponents or officials. Coaches are frequently flagged for repeatedly leaving the coaching box and aggressively arguing calls, while player ejections most often result from throwing punches in a fight or accumulating two unsportsmanlike fouls for verbal abuse.
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.
Across the reported matches, the most frequent unsportsmanlike scenarios involved persistent dissent toward officials—often escalating from verbal warnings to multiple yellow cards and ejections—alongside verbal abuse, including offensive language directed at opponents or referees, and physical altercations such as violent conduct (punching, grabbing, or reckless challenges) that led to straight red cards. Additionally, spectator misconduct—parents entering the field, threatening officials, or harassing players—repeatedly forced match stoppages or early terminations.
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 girls’ volleyball involve persistent fan harassment—including yelling, profanity, and refusal to leave—directed at officials and scorekeepers, often over contested calls; coaches arguing judgment calls, refusing to follow sideline directives, and escalating to ejections; and a troubling lack of timely support from site administrators or school resource officers, which allows such behavior to continue and creates unsafe environments for referees.
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.