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.
140players |
40fans |
39coaches |
1faculty/staffs |
1others |
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 ejection reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school baseball revolve around heated disagreements with umpires regarding strike zone calls. These disputes often escalate from verbal complaints and contesting calls to direct, aggressive verbal attacks, physical gestures, or prolongated arguments after warnings are issued. Such behavior is exhibited by players as well as coaches and sometimes fans, leading to ejections for unsportsmanlike conduct, including aggressive arguments, profanity, verbal abuse, and crossing the foul line after receiving a warning.
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 boys' basketball revolve around player and fan behavior. Players frequently commit flagrant fouls such as throwing elbows, punches, or stepping over opponents, often triggered by frustration over fouls or game situations. Unsportsmanlike conduct technical fouls stem from verbal altercations, taunting opponents ("And one" or swearing), or reacting inappropriately to calls. Fans display unsportsmanlike actions by shouting abusive language at officials, making threats, or encroaching on the court, sometimes leading to ejections and interruptions of 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, unsportsmanlike conduct in girls' basketball most commonly manifests as aggressive physical altercations, including fighting and flagrant fouls like vicious elbows or shoving. Verbal abuse directed at officials, bench personnel leaving designated areas during conflicts, and unruly fan behavior involving profanity and threats also disrupt games. These actions frequently lead to technical fouls, ejections of players, coaches, and fans, highlighting the need for greater emotional control and respect for rules and authority figures.
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 provided reports, high school football games are too often marred by unsportsmanlike conduct stemming primarily from fighting-related incidents such as throwing punches, stomping on downed players, and bench-clearing altercations. Taunting opponents and using offensive language, including racial slurs, directed towards players and officials, also appear frequently. The reports show a concerning number of ejections resulting from these behaviors, impacting game flow and raising significant concerns about player discipline and sportsmanship.
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, high school soccer games frequently see unsportsmanlike conduct stemming from dissent towards officials, often escalating to explicit language and even physical actions like throwing objects or verbal abuse aimed at referees and opposing players. Reckless challenges and dangerous play, such as fouls with excessive force or intent to injure, also contribute significantly to ejections, while persistent infringement or stopping a promising attack also leads to multiple yellow cards and a subsequent red. Finally, there are also instances of misconduct from coaches and fans, ranging from dissent to derogatory comments and even interfering with play, leading to ejections and team warnings.
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' Soccer revolve around dissent towards referees and violent conduct on the field. Dissent often manifests as coaches arguing calls, approaching referees aggressively, and using inappropriate language, sometimes escalating to ejections. On the field, violent conduct includes retaliatory acts like pushing, grabbing, punching, and dangerous tackles, frequently resulting in red cards and immediate ejections. Additionally, denying obvious goal-scoring opportunities (DOGSO) and persistent late challenges are also recurring issues that lead to significant disciplinary action during games.
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 umpire reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school Girls' Softball involve fan and coach ejections stemming from disagreements with umpire calls. These disagreements frequently involve arguing balls and strikes, interference, and safe/out calls, often escalating to derogatory remarks, questioning the umpire's integrity, and in some cases, perceived threats or aggressive behavior. Additionally, players can exhibit unsportsmanlike conduct by intentionally making malicious contact with another player, leading to ejection.
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 often involve acts of aggression and verbal abuse directed at opponents, coaches, and officials. Wrestlers demonstrating poor sportsmanship frequently include biting, excessive profanity toward opponents or during matches, confrontation after potentially dangerous stoppages, or throwing headgear in anger after losses or perceived bad calls. Coaches can also display unsportsmanlike behavior, such as entering the wrestling area to yell about calls, or confrontational behavior towards officials. Finally, parents may exhibit aggression, such as yelling and cursing at officials following their child's match.
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.