Tech For The Student Section??

[rwest]

Originally Posted by stripes

I've said it before and I'll say it again...THIS IS NOT GOLF. Fans are allowed to yell. If players can't hack it, they need to take up another sport, like golf. We have no authority to penalize a crowd for something like this.

You do have authority to T up a team for unsportmanlike conduct of their fans. However, the rule book says you "may" enforce a Technical but strongly suggests otherwise. I've never T'd up a team because of their fans. I don't believe it helps things. I believe it will just make matters worse. Also, how do you know for sure it was the team's supporters? I would not put it past some kid to dress up like a fan for one team in hopes of getting a T called on that team. In my opinion it's best to NOT have rabitt ears and let game administration handle it as others have said.

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by chseagle

Here's a Sportsmanship/Fan Etiquette listing I found in a HS Basketball program:

1. Welcome visitors to your gym & treat them as guests!
2. Do not "boo" opponents or officials!
3. No chanting in poor taste or distractions during opposing introductions!
4. Always displayappreciation for good performance, even if it is by the opposing team!
5. Excercise self control & permit only POSITIVE sportsmanlike behavior-Don't accept swearing or negative comments about players or coaches in your rooting section!
6. Make an effort to know the rules of the contest!
7. Be supportive to all & this will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the contest!
8. General rules: NO noisemakers, NO signs, NO stomping/pounding on the bleachers, NO negative activity during player introductions, NO booing of officials/opponents.

How many on this list do you approve? Of those you disapprove of, why?

I just found out, via additional investigating, that the Sportsmanship/Fan Etiquette listing I posted above is league mandated.

Here's how it is listed in the league's SOP Handbook:

Definition: "Sportsmanship is more than a series of behaviors - it is an attitude. It is based on honesty, fairness, and humanity toward others."

SPORTSMANSHIP/FAN ETIQUETTE
1. Welcome visitors to your gym and treat them as guests!
2. Do not "boo" opponents or officials!
3. No chanting in poor taste or distractions during opposing introductions and free throw situations!
4. Always display appreciation for good performance, even if it is by the opposing team!
5. Exercise self control and permit only POSITIVE sportsmanlike behavior - Don't accept swearing or negative comments about players or coaches in your rooting section!
6. Avoid stomping on the bleachers - This is very destructive!
7. Make an effort to know the rules of the contest!
8. Be supportive to all and this will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the contest!
9. Bands will refrain from inappropriate songs such as:
NaNaNaNa Hey Hey, Goodbye
Another One Bites The Dust
Hit The Road Jack
10. General rules: NO noisemakers, NO signs, NO stomping/pounding on bleachers, NO negative activity during player introductions, NO booing of officials/opponents.
11. No continuous standing in indoor events.

[APG]

I find some of those points over the top.

Seriously, as long as there are no artificial noisemakers, no profane language, nothing derogatory towards opponents, then the fans have met my expectations for sportsmanship. Fans want to boo me as an official, fine by me. Fans boo an opponent, fine by me at appropriate moments.

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by chseagle

I just found out, via additional investigating, that the Sportsmanship/Fan Etiquette listing I posted above is league mandated.

Here's how it is listed in the league's SOP Handbook:

Definition: "Sportsmanship is more than a series of behaviors - it is an attitude. It is based on honesty, fairness, and humanity toward others."

SPORTSMANSHIP/FAN ETIQUETTE
1. Welcome visitors to your gym and treat them as guests!
2. Do not "boo" opponents or officials!
3. No chanting in poor taste or distractions during opposing introductions and free throw situations!
4. Always display appreciation for good performance, even if it is by the opposing team!
5. Exercise self control and permit only POSITIVE sportsmanlike behavior - Don't accept swearing or negative comments about players or coaches in your rooting section!
6. Avoid stomping on the bleachers - This is very destructive!
7. Make an effort to know the rules of the contest!
8. Be supportive to all and this will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the contest!
9. Bands will refrain from inappropriate songs such as:
NaNaNaNa Hey Hey, Goodbye
Another One Bites The Dust
Hit The Road Jack
10. General rules: NO noisemakers, NO signs, NO stomping/pounding on bleachers, NO negative activity during player introductions, NO booing of officials/opponents.
11. No continuous standing in indoor events.

The ones in red to me are the most important ones.

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

I find some of those points over the top.

Seriously, as long as there are no artificial noisemakers, no profane language, nothing derogatory towards opponents, then the fans have met my expectations for sportsmanship. Fans want to boo me as an official, fine by me. Fans boo an opponent, fine by me at appropriate moments.

I agree that some of those listed are a bit over the top.

During one BV game earlier this year, I heard fans stomping on the bleachers during FTs & I requested that the PA announcer made the announcement about "No stomping on the bleachers". The Boys' JV Coach looks over & says "come on this is basketball & not golf, let them stomp on the bleachers!"

What else can be said in a situation like that except that it's mandated by the league?

I can see a bit of reasoning behind the no stomping on the bleachers though especially since the bleachers are wooden.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by chseagle

During one BV game earlier this year, I heard fans stomping on the bleachers during FTs & I requested that the PA announcer made the announcement about "No stomping on the bleachers". The Boys' JV Coach looks over & says "come on this is basketball & not golf, let them stomp on the bleachers!"

What else can be said in a situation like that except that it's mandated by the league?

I can see a bit of reasoning behind the no stomping on the bleachers though especially since the bleachers are wooden.

That the league is stupid?

[Terrance "TJ"]

Curious, does the NCAA/NJCAA have sportsmanship standards they hold the school/student body to separate (but during a contest) from the players and coaches?

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by just another ref

That the league is stupid?

I'm thinking maintenance costs & less chance of injuries by spectators.

Which is worse, no stomping on bleachers or no banging/slapping the glass (like a nearby hockey team)?

The other interesting question is that how can these be enforced if game management is not told about them or the AD says nothing?

[APG]

Originally Posted by just another ref

That the league is stupid?

I agree...I have never heard of this mandated by any league. I could maybe see maintenace but I kind of doubt that. If that were true, they would have that silly mandate in older gyms I've worked at. And no one is getting injured stomping on the bleachers.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by chseagle

The other interesting question is that how can these be enforced if game management is not told about them or the AD says nothing?

That's (one reason) why they're stupid.

[chseagle]

The etiquette is listed on the back of programs, however how many people actually read things in the programs other than rosters?

No PA Announcements are made unless asked to do so, & game management is limited (like said earlier) due to not knowing about these rules.

It is interesting though about the no signs. How often do you see signs during HS basketball games? (This is a WIAA Fan Conduct rule as well)

Some of the items listed are common sense, & other items (like others have said) are stupid.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by chseagle

I just found out, via additional investigating, that the Sportsmanship/Fan Etiquette listing I posted above is league mandated.

Here's how it is listed in the league's SOP Handbook:

Definition: "Sportsmanship is more than a series of behaviors - it is an attitude. It is based on honesty, fairness, and humanity toward others."

SPORTSMANSHIP/FAN ETIQUETTE
1. Welcome visitors to your gym and treat them as guests!
2. Do not "boo" opponents or officials!
3. No chanting in poor taste or distractions during opposing introductions and free throw situations!
4. Always display appreciation for good performance, even if it is by the opposing team!
5. Exercise self control and permit only POSITIVE sportsmanlike behavior - Don't accept swearing or negative comments about players or coaches in your rooting section!
6. Avoid stomping on the bleachers - This is very destructive!
7. Make an effort to know the rules of the contest!
8. Be supportive to all and this will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the contest!
9. Bands will refrain from inappropriate songs such as:
NaNaNaNa Hey Hey, Goodbye
Another One Bites The Dust
Hit The Road Jack
10. General rules: NO noisemakers, NO signs, NO stomping/pounding on bleachers, NO negative activity during player introductions, NO booing of officials/opponents.
11. No continuous standing in indoor events.

I've encountered a lot of leagues that issue sportsmanship edicts like this in my career. I've never encountered one that really tried to enforce it except sporadically when problems were brought to the attention. Talk is cheap.

[grunewar]

Friday night's GV game girls is at the line shooting first of two FT's w/ 16 secs left in the first half. I am L and bounce the ball to the shooter and the speakers come on and start playing loud music. CLANK. Music immediately goes off.

I retrieve the ball and look at the R (who is in the T) and go over to him and ask him if he's going to say something to the table. He tells me to play on w/o going to the table. I do.

In the locker room at half-time game mgt delivers our drinks and apologizes for the music. Says, he, not the table, flipped the switch to announce the step team at half time and the music came on by default. Oops.

Oh yeah, the FT shooter was from the home team!

[Adam]

If I remember correctly, the WIAA decided a few years ago to come down hard on this issue and we discussed it here at the time; coming to the same conclusion. It was/is draconian and over-the-top.

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

If I remember correctly, the WIAA decided a few years ago to come down hard on this issue and we discussed it here at the time; coming to the same conclusion. It was/is draconian and over-the-top.

On the WIAA Website, the only references I can find is about the "Just Play Fair!" program.

Here's their listing for code of conduct:

http://www.wiaa.com/subcontent.aspx?SecID=512

[chseagle]

Here's the Sportsmanship/Crowd Management Evaluation form from the WIAA:

http://www.wiaa.com/ConDocs/Con394/EvaluationForm.pdf