S P I R I T G ROUPS MIAA S UPPORT

These groups are also visible representatives of The MIAA will firmly support the enforcement of their schools. As such, high expectations are unsportsmanlike conduct rules at all MIAA placed on them for appropriate behavior. sanctioned events. Furthermore, the MIAA may Cheerleaders, bands, and other spirit groups are assess penalties for improper behavior which is admitted to contests at the pleasure of our not detected or properly addressed during the MIAA Guide institutions to support their teams and assist in contest. Member schools and their personnel are creating a positive atmosphere. They are not expected to fully cooperate with the MIAA’s effort to the Purpose, admitted in order to disrupt or confront the to investigate inappropriate behavior. opponent; such behavior must not be tolerated. In the unfortunate event that an altercation occurs Philosophy, and Their focus must be toward encouragement of during a contest, all individuals who are on the their own team while at the same time bench are expected to remain there. It is Application demonstrating respect for the opposing team. incumbent upon the Head Coach to ensure that this occurs. The MIAA may suspend the Head O FFICIALS of the Coach of a team whose bench personnel enter Officials who are assigned MIAA contests must the playing area during an altercation, regardless enforce the rules regarding sportsmanship of whether those individuals become involved in without tolerance for abuse. The only warning to the altercation. TAUNTING participants and coaches regarding C O N C L U D I N G S TATEMENT sportsmanship should come at the beginning of the contest. Once the contest begins, penalties The MIAA believes that the efforts to meet the POLICY (consequences), not warnings, must be assessed expectations outlined in the Statement will for unsportsmanlike conduct. Similar to the encourage and promote the high ideals of baseball policy of ejecting coaches for arguing sportsmanship at all levels of play. In so doing, balls and strikes, the MIAA expects that Officials the MIAA seeks to create a positive atmosphere will eject any coach who protests for athletic competition at interscholastic events unsportsmanlike conduct calls provided by the throughout the Commonwealth. rules of that sport. It is clear that policy without positive programming Each Official at an MIAA sponsored event will be will fail. MIAA constituents are encouraged to provided with a card with the following statement, complement this sportsmanship initiative with which must be read to the Captains and Coaches preseason meetings, Coaches’ workshops, and of every contest prior to the beginning of the Captains/Leadership Workshops. contest: “The MIAA requires Officials to enforce all Rules regarding unsportsmanlike conduct by coaches and student-athletes. There will be

no tolerance for negative statements or actions between opposing players, especially trash-talking, taunting, or baiting of

opponents. If such comments are heard, a penalty will be assessed immediately. We have been instructed not to issue warnings during the contest. It is strongly suggested

that you remind your participants of this policy. revised 7/29/20 Good coaches have risked losing by removing MIAA TAUNTING POLICY P URPOSE from a contest a student-athlete who has 1. Taunting includes any actions or comments by The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic demonstrated disrespect for his or her opponent. coaches, players, or spectators which are Association (MIAA) is committed to encouraging This disciplinary measure teaches the importance intended to bait, anger, embarrass, ridicule or and promoting the high ideals of sportsmanship, of sportsmanship over participation or winning in demean others, whether or not the deeds or integrity and ethics at all levels of interscholastic athletic events. While everyone wants to win, words are vulgar or racist. Included is conduct competition. MIAA also is committed to winning at the expense of good sportsmanship is that berates, needles, intimidates or threatens developing a positive environment for athletic not acceptable. events throughout the Commonwealth. based on race, gender, ethnic origin or This type of attitude and courage must be background, and conduct that attacks religious A major part of the role of education through adopted by all coaches throughout the MIAA, and beliefs, size, economic status, speech, family, sports is to teach our student-athletes to conduct staunchly supported by administrators. special needs or personal matters. themselves with sportsmanship and respect – Administrators and coaches must pay special Examples of taunting include but are not respect for the game itself, respect for attention to the behavior of their student-athletes limited to: “trash talk”, defined as verbal teammates, coaches, officials, and respect for and continually emphasize the need for communication of a personal nature directed opponents. sportsmanship and respect. by a competitor to an opponent by ridiculing In an effort to achieve this goal of establishing a Such attention and education is needed to his/her skills, efforts, sexual orientation, or lack healthy and positive environment for athletic counteract the constant messages received by of success, which is likely to provoke an competition, the MIAA has generated this Policy our young people from many professional altercation or physical response; and physical Statement which outlines its expectations of the athletes and others who demonstrate a total lack intimidation outside the spirit of the game, various groups and individuals associated with of respect for others. The MIAA is committed to including “in the face” confrontation by one interscholastic athletic programs in sending a strong message to our student-athletes player to another and standing over/straddling Massachusetts. which encourages sportsmanship and good a tackled or fallen player. S C H O O L A N D A T H L E T I C ethics. 2. In all sports, officials are to consider taunting a A DMINISTRATORS Coaches also have the ability to influence the flagrant unsportsmanlike foul that disqualifies behavior of their fans. MIAA coaches must take It is incumbent upon High School Administrators the offending bench personnel or contestant every opportunity when addressing the media, to do everything in their power to create a positive from that contest/day of competition. In parents, and fans to express their desire for fans environment for interscholastic events. They must addition, the offender shall be subject to to support their own teams, but not to abuse adopt the attitude that the treatment of visiting existing MIAA Expulsion Rules. A warning visiting teams and their fans. teams and spectators will be in the same manner shall be given to both teams by game that they would want their own teams and S TUDENT - A THLETES officials prior to the contest. spectators treated. Respect for the sport in which the student-athlete 3. At all MIAA contest sites and tournament participates also demands respect for the venues, appropriate management may give Athletic Directors must ensure that those opponent. Student-athletes participating in MIAA spectators one warning for taunting. representing the host school treat opponents with sponsored events are expected to treat Thereafter, spectators who taunt players, fairness and respect. This includes student- opponents with respect. There can be absolutely coaches, game officials, or other spectators athletes, cheerleaders, bands, and public address no tolerance for trash-talking, taunting or baiting are subject to ejection. announcers. of opponents. Comment: All MIAA endorsed rule books give School Administrators and Athletic Directors MIAA student-athletes must appreciate and officials/umpires/judges authority to penalize should review periodically with all groups involved understand that they are perhaps the most visible what is generally considered taunting. The precisely what constitutes acceptable conduct, as representatives of their schools. In addition, their purpose of the MIAA’s action is to be more set forth in this Statement. behavior is observed and emulated by many who specific in the definition, more emphatic on the C OACHES are younger. penalty of disqualification, and more uniform Coaches have the greatest influence over on the application of the definition and MIAA student-athletes must honor the whether student-athletes are taught to recognize enforcement from sport to sport. responsibility which accompanies the privilege of and follow the principles of sportsmanship, representing their school by behaving with dignity Adopted by the Board of Directors on November 17, 1994 integrity and ethics. and class on and off the field.