LV426
03-02-2007, 07:26 PM
High school sports fans may be banned from booing
http://seattlepi.nwsource.c om/local/305898_booban03.html ?source=rss
By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
P-I REPORTER
The organization that oversees high school sports in Washington is considering rules for fans that could ban booing and offensive chants.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has not made an official ruling, but has discussed guidelines to crack down on negative conduct, a spokesman said.
The sportsmanship guidelines are meant to address the dwindling number of people who want to be coaches and officials. WIAA officials also say the guidelines remind fans to cheer for their team, and not against the other.
"I don't know why people think it's acceptable to boo in the first place," WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese said. "It's a pretty novel concept to me."
Some of the state's top coaches believe a boo ban is extreme.
"They're kidding, right?" asked Rainier Beach High School coach Mike Bethea, who played as a student at Franklin High School. "I can see stopping someone if they're saying derogatory remarks, but not letting people boo? Come on."
Bethea, who has led the Vikings to three Class 3A state championships, said not all of the hundreds of fans that may attend high school games would know the specific rules, and it would be ridiculous to penalize the players or schools.
"Booing is part of the game," he said. "That's what gets people hyped up and changes the momentum of a game. If they won't let people boo at a basketball game, what's next?"
Specific rules on booing are "all in draft stages," Colbrese said. The ideas came from a 15-person committee of school administrators that met last fall to discuss sportsmanship, he said.
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"It's a much broader topic than just booing," he said. "What we're trying to teach our fans is that you have to be civil. Just because you bought a ticket you can't be irresponsible or disrespectful."
The WIAA already prohibits any negative commentary relative to officiating prior to, during or following any interscholastic activity or athletic event. "Constructive criticism or comments are always welcomed," the organization's handbook states, "and should be made available through the proper channels (verbally or in writing) directly to the person(s) involved and/or their immediate supervisors."
Schools and their employees found in violation of the policy are subject to WIAA penalties, including fines or forfeiture of games.
At the boys and girls 4A state basketball tournament, concluding with Saturday's championship, the WIAA distributed a handout to participating schools with specific sportsmanship policies.
Pom-poms with printed text on them and artificial noisemakers are not allowed. Printed foam fingers are also banned. Only the official school banner may be in the stands; no other signs are allowed.
Adam Barrett, girl's basketball coach at Auburn Riverside High School, praised the WIAA for trying to create a positive environment, but said an excess of specific spirit rules may deter school pride.
"What happened to the days when students threw toilet paper around in the stands or held up newspapers when the opposing team was introduced?" asked Barrett, who said his league does not allow students to paint their faces for games. "That's part of the fun of high school sports and having school pride. I think it's good to see kids with their faces painted and hair all done in school colors. "
Auburn Riverside was 21-2 entering a West Central District semifinal on Friday, and their coach credited their fans for helping them reach the playoffs.
"We have a great following and we pack the gym everywhere we go," said Barrett, a coach in Class 3A. "I was down at the 4A state tournament this week and I saw only a few schools with a major support base from their students. I think that may be because we don't let them have school spirit as we have in years past."
Student behavior at this week's state basketball tournaments has not all been in accordance with WIAA policies. Some brought hand-made signs, brought helium balloons and worn attire unacceptable for school functions -- all violations of tournament policies.
School administrators are responsible for enforcing the WIAA's tournament sportsmanship policies, Colbrese said.
"Again, this is still in the draft stages," Colbrese emphasized. "We want to come up with more specific actions that are appropriate or inappropriate so all of our nine districts have the same policies.
"I think there are a lot more positive ways to generate school spirit than by being negative."
P-I reporter Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or caseymcnerthney@seat tlepi.com.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.c om/local/305898_booban03.html ?source=rss
By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
P-I REPORTER
The organization that oversees high school sports in Washington is considering rules for fans that could ban booing and offensive chants.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has not made an official ruling, but has discussed guidelines to crack down on negative conduct, a spokesman said.
The sportsmanship guidelines are meant to address the dwindling number of people who want to be coaches and officials. WIAA officials also say the guidelines remind fans to cheer for their team, and not against the other.
"I don't know why people think it's acceptable to boo in the first place," WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese said. "It's a pretty novel concept to me."
Some of the state's top coaches believe a boo ban is extreme.
"They're kidding, right?" asked Rainier Beach High School coach Mike Bethea, who played as a student at Franklin High School. "I can see stopping someone if they're saying derogatory remarks, but not letting people boo? Come on."
Bethea, who has led the Vikings to three Class 3A state championships, said not all of the hundreds of fans that may attend high school games would know the specific rules, and it would be ridiculous to penalize the players or schools.
"Booing is part of the game," he said. "That's what gets people hyped up and changes the momentum of a game. If they won't let people boo at a basketball game, what's next?"
Specific rules on booing are "all in draft stages," Colbrese said. The ideas came from a 15-person committee of school administrators that met last fall to discuss sportsmanship, he said.
advertising
"It's a much broader topic than just booing," he said. "What we're trying to teach our fans is that you have to be civil. Just because you bought a ticket you can't be irresponsible or disrespectful."
The WIAA already prohibits any negative commentary relative to officiating prior to, during or following any interscholastic activity or athletic event. "Constructive criticism or comments are always welcomed," the organization's handbook states, "and should be made available through the proper channels (verbally or in writing) directly to the person(s) involved and/or their immediate supervisors."
Schools and their employees found in violation of the policy are subject to WIAA penalties, including fines or forfeiture of games.
At the boys and girls 4A state basketball tournament, concluding with Saturday's championship, the WIAA distributed a handout to participating schools with specific sportsmanship policies.
Pom-poms with printed text on them and artificial noisemakers are not allowed. Printed foam fingers are also banned. Only the official school banner may be in the stands; no other signs are allowed.
Adam Barrett, girl's basketball coach at Auburn Riverside High School, praised the WIAA for trying to create a positive environment, but said an excess of specific spirit rules may deter school pride.
"What happened to the days when students threw toilet paper around in the stands or held up newspapers when the opposing team was introduced?" asked Barrett, who said his league does not allow students to paint their faces for games. "That's part of the fun of high school sports and having school pride. I think it's good to see kids with their faces painted and hair all done in school colors. "
Auburn Riverside was 21-2 entering a West Central District semifinal on Friday, and their coach credited their fans for helping them reach the playoffs.
"We have a great following and we pack the gym everywhere we go," said Barrett, a coach in Class 3A. "I was down at the 4A state tournament this week and I saw only a few schools with a major support base from their students. I think that may be because we don't let them have school spirit as we have in years past."
Student behavior at this week's state basketball tournaments has not all been in accordance with WIAA policies. Some brought hand-made signs, brought helium balloons and worn attire unacceptable for school functions -- all violations of tournament policies.
School administrators are responsible for enforcing the WIAA's tournament sportsmanship policies, Colbrese said.
"Again, this is still in the draft stages," Colbrese emphasized. "We want to come up with more specific actions that are appropriate or inappropriate so all of our nine districts have the same policies.
"I think there are a lot more positive ways to generate school spirit than by being negative."
P-I reporter Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or caseymcnerthney@seat tlepi.com.