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 officials' reports, the most prevalent unsportsmanlike scenarios in boys' high school basketball revolve around disrespect and aggression directed towards officials, frequently stemming from perceived bad calls. This includes players using profanity and taunting, coaches aggressively challenging calls (sometimes with inflammatory language related to race), and fans behaving abusively from the stands. Physical altercations, such as pushing, shoving, and even punching, also occur, sometimes escalating to bench-clearing incidents. These behaviors often lead to technical fouls, ejections, and even game suspensions, highlighting the need for better sportsmanship and emotional control among players, coaches, and fans.
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' basketball appear to stem from escalated verbal altercations, both between players and between fans/coaches and officials. These conflicts frequently involve taunting, profanity, or aggressive language leading to technical fouls and ejections. Physical altercations, though less frequent, typically involve retaliatory actions like pushing, shoving, or throwing punches after a foul is called or during gameplay, highlighting issues with emotional control on and off the court. The reports also include instances of disruptive fan behavior that often escalates to verbal abuse which requires admins to remove the offenders to defuse these tense situations.
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 game reports, unsportsmanlike conduct in high school football frequently stems from several triggers: physical altercations such as throwing punches or engaging in shoving matches, especially after the whistle or during dead ball periods; verbal abuse, including the use of profanity and taunting directed at officials or opposing players; and blatant disregard for rules and sportsmanship, such as intentionally making contact with officials or engaging in dangerous plays like kicking or stomping on downed players. Furthermore, leaving the bench area during on-field altercations is a recurring issue, and repeat offenders of unsportsmanlike conduct face ejection 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.
Based on these reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school soccer games involve dissent towards officials, often leading to yellow and red cards for players and coaches alike. Physical altercations are also frequent, ranging from retaliatory actions after fouls (hair-pulling leading to punches) to outright fighting on the field. Additionally, foul and abusive language directed at referees and opposing players is a recurring issue, occasionally escalating to post-match confrontations and/or fan involvement, further marring the reputation of the sport with preventable incidents that are avoidable under the right supervision.
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 involve dissent towards officials, often escalating to the point of ejection. This includes players verbally abusing referees with offensive language, questioning their calls, or directing personal insults. There are also instances of violent conduct, such as striking or kicking opponents, either during play or after the whistle. Parents and spectators frequently contribute to the negative atmosphere by yelling abusive language or personal attacks at the referees and the players, which results in them 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.
Based on these reports, the most common acts of unsportsmanlike conduct in girls' high school volleyball stem from coaches and fans losing emotional control over officiating. Coaches' reactions often include arguing calls, using profanity, refusing to follow instructions, and even throwing objects, resulting in warnings, penalties, and ejections. Fan misconduct ranges from berating the scorer's table, making derogatory comments, throwing objects at opposing players, and verbally abusing officials, sometimes leading to ejections and confrontations outside of the gymnasium. Line judge misconduct is also reported, including inappropriate phone use and inappropriate reactions about being overruled/overriding. These incidents highlight issues with respectful interactions and sportsmanship amongst both coaches and fans.
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 wrestling involve physical aggression, disrespectful language, and failure to adhere to official rulings. Wrestlers are being ejected for biting opponents during matches, throwing punches, cursing at opponents or officials, and intentionally head-butting. Coaches and fans are also contributing to the problem with disruptive behavior, arguing with officials, and using abusive language leading to ejections and team penalties.
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.