Teamwork, Leadership, Empowerment

UTAH SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION

Sportsmanship Policies

PHILOSOPHY

The Utah School Sports Association (USSA) encourages its members to “develop teamwork and self-discipline, leadership and social skills that will empower students in future success.”  We expect each of the teams, coaches, their fans, and all who associate with the league to model these values, both in the classroom and during competition.

 

GENERAL SPORTSMANSHIP GUIDELINES & ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIORS

“Everyone should do their job: Let the players play, the refs ref, and the fans be fans of their team.”

i.Be “Humble in Victory, Gracious in Defeat”;

ii.Be respectful to all (participants, coaches, officials, staff, and fans);

iii.Sportsmanship expectations should be announced at each game;

iv.Cheer FOR your team, and cultivate a positive environment;

v.Display appreciation for good performance regardless of the team;

vi.Demonstrate concern for all injured players;

vii.Applaud good play, regardless of the team;

viii.Regardless of the outcome, shake hands after the game

 

POLICIES REGARDING EJECTIONS, FIGHTING, AND VIOLENT ACTS

Any player, coach, or bench personnel ejected by an official shall be suspended from the next regularly scheduled competition.

i.While serving his/her suspension, and prior to returning to competition, an ejected player shall complete a free 20-minute NFHS Course, “Sportsmanship” at www.nfhslearn.com.

ii.While serving his/her suspension, and prior to coaching in his/ her next contest, an ejected coach or bench personnel shall complete the NFHS online course, “Teaching and Modeling Behavior” (4-5 hrs, $20) at www.nfhslearn.com.

If a player or coach is ejected during tournament play, he/she must have the required course completed before the next game or in the case of the state tournament, within one week of the ejection.

iii.When serving out a penalty for ejection, a coach or bench personnel is prohibited from attending any games (“out-of-sight, out-of sound”).

iv.When a player is ejected and must sit out an additional game, the player shall not be in uniform, warm-up with the team, or be introduced with the team.

 

PLAYER, COACH OR BENCH PERSONNEL CONDUCT SITUATIONS AND EXAMPLES:

If a player, coach, or bench personnel is ejected from a game, he/she cannot participate in the school’s following game.  
If the player, coach, or bench personnel is ejected a second time during the season, he/she will be suspended for the next two (2) regularly scheduled games.
If the player, coach, or bench personnel is ejected a third time during the season, he/she will be suspended for the remainder of that season (at least a minimum of three games).

An ejection occurring on the final game of the season will carry over for all schools, coaches, and underclassmen to the first game of the succeeding season in that sport.

A player who is “restricted” to the bench or ejected shall remain in the bench area with the team. A coach or bench personnel who is ejected shall leave the vicinity (“out of sight and out of sound”) of the playing or contest area immediately and is prohibited from any further contact (direct or indirect) with the team for the remainder of the game or contest.
Players, bench personnel, or coaches ejected for fighting or other violent behavior shall be suspended for not fewer than two regularly scheduled games.

Additionally, the incident will be reported to the school (or district) which may impose additional penalties consistent with the school's disciplinary policies.

The USSA Board is empowered to enact suspension penalties for flagrant or violent acts whether detected or not by officials.
Any player, bench personnel, or coach who approaches an official at the conclusion of a game in an unsportsmanlike manner shall earn a one-game suspension.

Generally, a thirty-minute “cooling off period” is in place after a contest where players, bench personnel, and coaches are banned from approaching officials.

i.This includes dressing room areas, parking lots or any other area where game officials are located.

The report will be made by the official to the USSA and the ejection notice will be forwarded to the coach through the principal.
If a fight breaks out or has broken out, the head coach may leave the confines of the bench or box, to assist in de-escalating the situation.

If the head coach instead escalates the situation, he/she will be ejected from the game or contest.

i.The penalty for such an ejection is stated above.

Bench personnel, other than the head coach, who leave the confines of the bench during a fight are ejected from the game and shall leave the vicinity of the playing or contest area immediately.

i.The penalty for such an ejection is stated above.

Any player who leaves the bench area during a fight, or who participates in a fight during the season or tournament play, will be ejected from that game and shall remain in the bench area with the team.

i.The penalty for such an ejection is stated above.

Schools are not allowed to schedule, cancel, or otherwise re-work games or contests to avoid the ejection policy penalty.
These sportsmanship conduct policies and rules apply to all competitions (i.e. preseason, region and postseason play).