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 these reports, the most frequent unsportsmanlike behaviors in boys' basketball involve verbal abuse and taunting directed towards officials, followed by physical altercations between players. Coaches and fans frequently lose their cool as well. Players often commit acts of physical aggression like pushing, shoving, or striking opponents, often after a foul has already been called. Such actions frequently lead to technical and flagrant fouls, ejections, and occasionally, even fan involvement that requires police intervention.
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' high school basketball stem from on-court altercations, disrespectful conduct towards officials, and unruly fan behavior. Fights between players, often involving flagrant fouls or technical fouls for instigating or retaliating, and players leaving the bench to join altercations frequently lead to ejections. Disrespect towards officials, ranging from derogatory comments to abusive language, results in technical fouls for players, coaches, and even ejections for repeat offenses, or indirect technical fouls. Beyond the court, fan misconduct, including profanity, derogatory remarks directed at players and officials, and even entering the court, necessitates ejections and removal from the premises, sometimes involving security or law enforcement.
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 football involve fighting, including throwing punches or striking opponents, especially after the play is over or when a player is down. Verbal abuse towards officials and opposing players is also prevalent, often involving foul language or racial slurs. Additionally, leaving the bench area to participate in altercations on the field is a frequent issue. Contact with officials, whether intentional or unintentional, is another cause for ejection, as are egregious unsportsmanlike actions such as kicking, stomping, or making obscene gestures.
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 soccer appear to stem from a combination of on-field frustrations boiling over into physical and verbal misconduct. This includes reckless tackles and violent conduct like kicking or stepping on opponents, retaliatory actions such as punches or hair pulling, and dissent towards referees manifested in foul language, verbal abuse, and even physical actions like throwing objects. Furthermore, the reports highlight instances of coaches behaving inappropriately towards officials, and fans engaging in abusive and derogatory language directed at players and referees, demonstrating a lack of respect and sportsmanship from various participants in 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 frequent unsportsmanlike conduct in girls' soccer stems from dissent towards referees and violent conduct. Dissent manifests as players disagreeing with calls, using offensive language directed at officials or opponents leading to cautions and ejections. Physical altercations, ranging from reckless fouls to intentional acts of violence like punching, kicking, hair-pulling, and shoving, resulted in multiple red cards and player ejections throughout the games observed. Additionally, unruly fan behavior involving offensive language, harassment of officials, and disruptive actions such as air horns also contributed to a negative atmosphere on the field. These incidents highlighted the need for maintaining control of players and fans to ensure fair play and respect for 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 the officials' reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in girls' volleyball revolve around heated interactions between coaches, fans, and referees, often triggered by contested calls. Coaches frequently exhibit disruptive behavior, ranging from arguing excessively, using profanity, refusing to follow directives, throwing equipment, and in extreme cases, facing ejection. Fan misconduct is also prevalent, including verbal abuse directed towards officials, players, and scorers, with instances of students throwing objects and disruptive behaviors like counting during serves. Security officers and administrators are often necessary to remove fans from the premises.
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 high school wrestling most frequently stems from outbursts of anger and frustration following perceived unfavorable calls or match outcomes. Profanity directed at opponents, officials, or coaches is a recurring issue, as are physical altercations, ranging from shoves and punches to more egregious acts like biting. Furthermore, disrespectful gestures like removing singlets or throwing headgear, and verbal outbursts directed towards officials, are common catalysts for penalties and ejections.
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.