EMS Sportmanship Policy
by Keith Morgan
October 27, 2005
ERIE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTSMANSHIP POLICY
Good sportsmanship is a primary goal of athletic programs in the Erie Middle School. Both adults and students are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship during extracurricular events.
EXPECTATIONS
Administrators:
Develop a program for teaching and promoting sportsmanship.
Provide appropriate supervisory personnel for each extracurricular event.
Recognize exemplary behavior and actively discourage undesirable conduct by participants, coaches and fans.
Attend events whenever possible.
Apply sportsmanship policies/rules equitably at all times.
Develop a crowd-control plan for both home and away games.
Coaches:
Follow the rules of the extracurricular event during the progress of the contest.
Accept the decisions of contest officials.
Avoid offensive gestures or language.
Display modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat.
Avoid the public criticism of game officials
Teach sportsmanship and reward/acknowledge players that display good sportsmanship.
Provide instruction, training and motivation without put-downs and/or the use of abusive language.
Educate and sensitize themselves to cultural differences, gender equity and disability issues.
Shake hands with opponents at the end of the contest, regardless of the outcome.
Treat the competition as a GAME.
Student - Athletes:
Show respect at all times for coaches, opponents and game officials.
Accept the decisions of contest officials.
Avoid offensive gestures or language.
Display modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat.
Follow the rules of the game.
Show respect for public property and equipment.
Shake hands with opponents at the end of the contest, regardless of the outcome.
Treat the competition as a GAME.
Spectators - Parents:
Avoid criticism of game officials and sideline coaching which may sidetrack the athletes from their performance.
Stay off the playing area.
Show respect for public property and equipment.
Work cooperatively with contest officials and supervisors in keeping order.
Do not approach a coach after a game to discuss any concerns that you might have. A meeting can be made at a later date.
Officials:
Accept your role in an unassuming manner.
Know the rules, apply them equitably at all times and keep the game moving.
Publicly shake hands with coaches of both teams before the contest.
Never show emotions or argue with a player, coach, or fan.
When watching a game as a spectator, give the officials the same respect you expect to receive when working a contest.
UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR:
Disrespectful or derogatory yells, chants, songs or gestures.
Booing or heckling an official's decision.
Criticizing officials in any way.
Blaming the loss of a game on an official, coach or participant.
Taunting or name-calling to distract an opponent.
Use of profanity.
Doing own yells instead of following lead of cheerleaders.
Hand-held signs containing derogatory language.
CONSEQUENCES TO UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
The Erie Middle School is dedicated to the philosophy that good sportsmanship should be portrayed at all events involving Erie Middle School students and spectators. The following will be a guideline for inappropriate and appropriate behavior by spectators, coaches, and players.
Depending on the severity of the action, the individual will be warned or removed from the event.
Depending on the severity of the inappropriate behavior, the punishment may result in suspension from attending activities for a period of one activity up to the rest of the school year.
Further incidents will result in the loss of the privilege to attend any future Erie Middle School activities.
Students may be suspended from school for inappropriate behavior at school-sponsored events including away events. Interscholastic events are an extension of the classroom; therefore, the same rules apply.
Students will write letters of apology to those people they have offended. They will also make a verbal apology to the local people who were offended.
