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 provided officials' reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school boys' basketball revolve around verbal altercations and physical displays of frustration. These instances frequently involve players, coaches, and even fans engaging in cursing, disrespectful comments, or direct arguments with referees regarding calls. Ejections often stem from escalating these verbal exchanges, coupled with actions like taunting, aggressive gestures, throwing the ball at opponents, or, in more extreme cases, physical contact such as pushing, shoving, or throwing punches. Unruly spectator behavior, from stepping onto the court to directing obscene language and threats toward officials, also contributes significantly to unsportsmanlike incidents.
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 referee reports, the most frequent forms of unsportsmanlike conduct in these girls' basketball games involve physical altercations, particularly fighting or aggressive physical contact during play stoppages, like pushing, shoving, or throwing punches following fouls, rebounds or jump ball situations. Additionally, taunting, derogatory or profane language directed at players, and persistent disruptive behavior from spectators, including yelling, derogatory comments, and approaching the court, contributing to an overly-aggressive and hostile atmosphere. Head coaches often contributing as well. These behaviors often lead to technical fouls, ejections, and even game cancellations due to severe incidents.
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 conduct scenarios in high school football involve fighting, with players throwing punches, often escalating from pushing and shoving after the whistle. Verbal altercations, including trash talk and the use of profanity directed at officials or opposing players, also frequently lead to unsportsmanlike penalties and ejections. Furthermore, leaving the bench area during an altercation and intentionally making contact with officials is a persistent problem, resulting in immediate disqualifications.
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 appear to revolve around dissent towards referee decisions, often escalating to verbal abuse and leading to yellow or red cards for coaches and players alike. Reckless tackles and fouls, sometimes born out of frustration, also frequently result in second yellow cards or outright red cards. Furthermore, physical altercations between players, including hair-pulling and punching, as well as unsportsmanlike comments directed at opponents, and opposing team's coaching staff, contribute significantly to the instances of misconduct observed in these games. Finally, fan behavior involving profanity and negative comments directed at players/officials sometimes forces administrators to intervene to contain unruly spectators.
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 referee reports, the most frequent displays of unsportsmanlike conduct in girls' soccer center around dissent towards officials, whether it's players verbally abusing referees for perceived bad calls or fans berating them from the stands. Ejections are common for using offensive or abusive language, sometimes directed at opponents ("fucking bitch") or referees ("are you going to fucking call that or what?"). Often, these incidents escalate beyond simple disagreement and involve physical aggression, like kicking or punching opponents, either during active play or after the whistle. Fan interference, including usage of noisemakers such as airhorns, yelling profane language, and verbally abusing officials, can disrupt the game and necessitate ejecting spectators.
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 incident reports, the most common unsportsmanlike behaviors in high school girls' volleyball appear to involve coach outbursts stemming from disagreements over officiating calls. These incidents often escalate into verbal abuse directed at referees, sometimes involving profanity, refusals to comply with rulings, and even physical actions like throwing objects or refusing to leave the court. Fan behavior also emerges as a persistent issue, with reports of yelling, derogatory comments, taunting players, and, in one disturbing instance, following an official to the parking lot. These incidents highlight the need for increased enforcement of sportsmanship expectations for both coaches and spectators to ensure a positive and safe environment for players and officials alike.
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 conduct in high school wrestling revolves around biting opponents during a match, often resulting in flagrant misconduct penalties and disqualifications. Verbal abuse, including cursing at opponents, coaches, and officials, is another frequent issue, sometimes escalating after potentially dangerous stoppages or perceived unfair calls. Physical altercations, from throwing punches to headbutting, though less frequent, also occur, highlighting the intense emotions that can surface in competitive wrestling environments.
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.