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.

Baseball

Based on these reports, the most common unsportsmanlike conduct in high school baseball stems from disagreements with umpire calls, particularly balls and strikes. This leads to ejections of players, coaches, and even fans for arguing, using profanity, or making personal attacks towards officials. Displays of poor sportsmanship, such as taunting opponents with gestures or bat flips, also frequently result in ejections impacting game flow and reflecting negatively on team behavior.

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.

Boys' Basketball

Based on these reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in boys' basketball involve escalating physical altercations beyond the initial foul, including unnecessary hard fouls and players shoving or pushing opponents after the whistle. Secondly, there is pervasive unsportsmanlike conduct from fans: harassing referees, yelling profanities, and sometimes even invading the court. Also, players, coaches, and fans show visible disgust with officials' calls, and coaches taunt officials. These incidents often result in ejections, technical fouls, and sometimes the involvement of law enforcement to 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.

Girls' Basketball

Based on these reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in girls' basketball involve fan interference and player misconduct. Fans often cross the line by yelling profanities at officials, players, or coaches, sometimes even entering the court, leading to ejections and disruptions. Player misconduct frequently includes fighting, throwing the ball aggressively at opponents, and excessive arguing with officials, resulting in technical fouls, flagrant fouls, and ejections. Bench personnel leaving the bench and coaches acting inappropriately towards officials or going to the score table are other problematic behaviors.

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.

Football

Based on these game reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school football involve physical altercations like throwing punches, kicking, or shoving opponents, especially after the play is over. Verbal abuse is also a frequent culprit, including using profanity towards officials or opposing players, often leading to ejections. Leaving the bench area during altercations is another significant issue, as is intentional contact with game officials, whether by shoving or bumping them. Finally, repeated unsportsmanlike conduct, even for different infractions, often results in players being ejected from 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.

Girls' Flag Football

Based on these officials' reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in Girls' Flag Football appear to revolve around physical altercations, taunting, and aggressive behavior directed at opponents or officials. These incidents range from post-play shoves and punches thrown between players, often stemming from perceived fouls or disagreements, to escalated confrontations involving parents or sideline attendants. Verbally abusive language pointed at opponents and officials also leads to disciplinary action. The reports highlight the challenges of maintaining control during heated moments, especially when security is limited and emotions run high following close or contentious plays.

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.

Soccer

Based on these reports, the most frequent unsportsmanlike behaviors in high school soccer stem from three main areas: dissent towards match officials, reckless or overly aggressive fouls, and unsportsmanlike conduct related to celebrations or game restarts. Dissent manifests through abusive language from players, coaches, and fans, often resulting in cautions, ejections, and even team sanctions. Reckless fouls, described as unsporting behavior or violations of safety, frequently lead to yellow and red cards for players. Lastly, unsportsmanlike behavior at restarts - delaying the game or showboating - result in cautions and may escalate to ejections. These actions interrupt the flow of the game and detract from the spirit of fair play that high school soccer seeks to embody.

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.

Girls' Soccer

Based on these incident reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school girls' soccer revolve around disrespectful and aggressive behavior by players, coaches, and spectators. Players frequently get ejected for using foul language towards referees and opponents, committing violent fouls like kicking, punching, hair pulling, or hard shoves, and dissent toward officials (often involving screaming protests). Coaches and fans often exhibit disruptive behavior, yelling abuse at the referees, sometimes accusing them of cheating either during game play or at the conclusion of competition. These behaviors show issues with emotional control, respect for rules, and anger management in the heat of 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.

Girls' Softball

Based on the officials' reports from various high school girls' softball games, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios involve fans berating umpires with offensive language, questioning their integrity, and even making threats. Players sometimes commit malicious contact, argue calls aggressively, or use inappropriate language towards umpires, leading to ejections. Coaches frequently argue calls, occasionally escalating to profane language and aggressive behavior, resulting in ejection or restricted designations.

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.

Girls' Volleyball

Based on these referee reports, the most common unsportsmanlike conduct in Girls’ Volleyball stems from disagreements with officiating decisions. Coaches frequently argue calls, often escalating to verbal abuse, profanity, and even physical acts like throwing objects or refusing to leave the court even after warnings or ejections. Furthermore, fan behavior is problematic, with instances of verbal harassment towards officials, players, and scorekeepers, sometimes leading to ejections and even confrontations outside the gymnasium. This toxic environment appears to be exacerbated by a lack of consistent security presence and adequate responses when issues arise.

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.

Wrestling

The officials' reports paint a picture of high school wrestling matches frequently marred by unsportsmanlike conduct. Common infractions include excessive profanity directed at opponents or officials, often triggered by perceived bad calls or frustrating moments in a match. Physical altercations such as punching, shoving, or aggressive cross-facing, and even biting are other issues. Removing clothing in protest and the unsportsmanlike behavior of coaches, parents, and fans towards officials, wrestlers and opponents can quickly escalate into incidents requiring ejection from the tournament.

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.