We aren't talking about in life or in study hall. We aren't talking about sportsmanship at the college or pro level. The WIAA represents interscholastic athletics in Wisconsin. That's who they are concerned about, and rightfully so.

I do agree with this statement, but I also hope that they put this in the hands of the administrators of the particular schools.

This to me could all be done without making it public in a news article.

Peace

And that's exactly what they do. The policy is non-binding and they leave it to the member schools to enforce. The school sent its athletes some of the WIAA's information. An athlete got upset about it and told the WIAA where to go with it. The school suspended her.

There is nothing to see here.

But it makes good fodder for Daily Internet Outrage.

My goodness.

The original was an email sent to ADs.

An AD mistakenly forwarded it to student athletes.

The student athlete posted it on Twitter along with profanity.

It was never *intended* to be public.

Did I say that I was offended or that leagues that cater to individuals like your son shouldn't exist? Oh, I didn't? Glad we got that straightened out.

I was speaking in general about sports leagues, leagues that don't cater to individuals like your son, that don't keep score because they don't want winners and losers. Life has winners and losers and I believe in teaching that right away.

Upward is fine for you and your son and it has its place. I just don't agree with telling our children that everybody wins and that everybody is equal in a regular sports league.

So you believe that some innocent chants being done by students are having long term negative effects on kids?

I'm not talking about the ones that go over the line and refer to somebody as fat or some other physical features. I'm talking about calling somebody a "sieve" or other good natured chants.

Not at all during sporting events. You brought life and study hall into it and I wasn't sure why. I've never heard a chant ever that made me think for a second that an AD needed to deal with it.

In fact, the worst chants I've heard were directed at officials and they just made me laugh.

And where in this thread, or the story from Wisconsin, did anybody suggest such a perspective? You made an asinine stereotype of leagues such as Upward, the participants, and their parents when those leagues have nothing to do with this story.

And this upsets you?

Peace

You posted that it was made public in a news article. I explained that it wasn't.

Officials have nothing to do with what was sent out nor in the enforcement of anything.

For the record, I'm fine with the suspension.

It was made public in the news article.

I also was asking if they would have the officials involved in this, never said that is what the article said. And I was hoping that this issue never came to us in Illinois in this manner. Well if they only keep this with the administrators, but someone is going to get the bright idea and put us in this situation.

And if you mean the kid responding, that is a separate issue. I never even commented about that situation. I think you need to take that fight up with someone else.

Peace

Guys - do you think this rule is also intended to cover signs held by fans at the games? Sometimes signs can be somewhat offensive. Of course, sometimes they can be funny. I remember years ago I was watching a UCLA - USC game on television and a UCLA fan in the gym was holding up a sign that said, "FLUSH USED TROJANS". When they showed in on TV, even the announcers were laughing.

Jay Bilas royally trolls Wisconsin’s decision to ban chants at high school games | USA Today High School Sports | USA Today High School Sports

I like some of Jay's new chants. Maybe this thread can be steered in this direction

That was my point exactly!!!!!!!

Unless somebody is mooing at cheerleaders or threatening somebody, the chants that are done at games are harmless in my opinion. They are not bad sportsmanship. It is just a bunch of kids being kids and having some fun. It's the PC crowd trying to take over again and I think it's a non issue..........most of the time.

Thanks for the discussion!