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 officials' reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school boys' basketball revolve around a lack of emotional control from players, coaches, and fans. Players frequently receive technical fouls for taunting opponents, using foul language, or engaging in physical altercations such as throwing elbows or cheap shots. Coaches often get penalized and ejected for verbally abusing or arguing with officials, refusing to follow instructions, stepping onto the court, and generally displaying a lack of composure. Finally, fans contribute to the problem with persistent derogatory comments, obscene language, and aggressive behavior towards officials, sometimes escalating to physical confrontations or requiring removal 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, the most prevalent unsportsmanlike behaviors in girls' high school basketball revolve around physical altercations and outbursts directed toward officials. Fighting, often sparked by aggressive play or reactions after fouls, is a recurring issue, leading to numerous ejections. Furthermore, verbal abuse and harassment of referees by coaches, players, and spectators, sometimes escalating to flagrant language or entering the court, are prevalent, resulting in technical fouls, ejections, and game administration interventions to maintain 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.
Based on the provided reports, the most common unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school football revolve around fighting (throwing punches or general physical altercations), verbal abuse (cursing at officials and/or opponents, using racial slurs), illegal hits (helmet-to-helmet contact), and inappropriate gestures/behavior (grabbing crotch, flipping the bird), contact with officials, and leaving the bench. These actions often lead to ejections, unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and occasionally, fan ejections from the stadium.
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 prevalent unsportsmanlike scenarios in high school soccer revolve around dissent towards officials, resulting in yellow and red cards for coaches and players alike due to verbal abuse and persistent disagreement. Furthermore, physical altercations between players, often stemming from frustration and escalating into hair-pulling, punching, and reckless tackles, are another significant contributor to ejections and game disruptions. Finally, fan behavior involving profanity, derogatory comments towards players and officials, and general negativity frequently necessitates administrator intervention and, in some cases, ejections from the stadium.
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 soccer involve dissent towards officials and violent conduct. Dissent can range from verbal abuse directed at referees by players, coaches, or fans to prolonged arguments and challenges to calls. Violent conduct manifests as players committing physical attacks on opponents, such as punching, kicking, or hair-pulling, that extend beyond the normal course of play. Ejections are frequently a result of language both by the player towards the referee or by spectators towards the players and referees. Finally, the most common form of team disruption that appears in the reports is fans and/or playing personnel being disruptive enough to be ejected from the contest.
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 high school girls' volleyball stems from coaches and spectators reacting poorly to officiating decisions. Common scenarios include coaches arguing excessively about calls, sometimes resulting in warnings, cardings, and even ejections. Spectators often engage in harassing or abusive behavior towards officials, players, and scorers, ranging from yelling insults and making disparaging comments to, in extreme cases, throwing objects and making physical threats. The absence or ineffective response from security personnel can further exacerbate these situations, creating a hostile and unsafe environment for all involved.
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 frequent unsportsmanlike conduct in wrestling involves profanity directed at opponents, coaches, or referees, often stemming from frustration after losing a match or disagreeing with a call. Other recurring issues include physical acts of aggression like biting or headbutting, throwing equipment (headgear or mouthguards), and disruptive behavior from coaches or fans, such as arguing with officials, approaching the mat during live action, or using threatening language.
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.