Suggested Responsibilities for Developing Sportsmanship
All of us can play an important role in establishing an atmosphere of good sportsmanship, and each member school is encouraged to develop approaches that work best for their community. The following suggestions about how to divide up responsibilities within your school systems are based on the successful experiences of the member schools that serve on the WIAA Sportsmanship Committee.
School Board
- Adopt policies that reflect the community’s educational objectives and promote the ideals of sportsmanship, ethics and integrity.
- Establish standards for athletic participation to reinforce that high school sports activities are a privilege, not a right.
- Remain a policy-making body and allow the administration to interpret and implement your policies. Give support to school officials when difficult disciplinary sportsmanship policies are enforced.
- Attend high school sports activities and be a positive role model for sportsmanship.
- Support and recognize participants, coaches, school administrators and fans who display good sportsmanship.
- Recognize the value of school activities as a vital part of education.
School Administrators
- Develop and direct a program for teaching and promoting the ideals and fundamentals of good sportsmanship within your schools and your conference as well as among your fellow WIAA members.
- Attend sports activities and be a positive role model for sportsmanship.
- Provide appropriate supervisory personnel for each interscholastic event.
- Support, recognize and encourage good sportsmanship behavior by participants, coaches, teams and fans. Actively discourage and communicate about undesirable conduct.
- Apply sportsmanship expectations uniformly and consistently.
Coaches
- Set a good example by exemplifying the highest degree of character, behavior and leadership.
- Respect the integrity and judgment of officials--and accept their decisions.
- Display modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat.
- Shake hands with officials and the opposing coaches in public.
- Follow and teach the rules of the game.
- Teach student athletes about good sportsmanship. Acknowledge student-athletes that display good sportsmanship and appropriately address undesirable sportsmanship behavior.
- Respect the integrity and personality of each student-athlete.
Cheerleaders
The WIAA in conjunction with the Wisconsin Association of Cheer and Pom Coaches (WACPC) promotes good sportsmanship at all events. Cheerleaders can play an important role in establishing an atmosphere of good sportsmanship.
- Know and respect the rules of the game.
- Establish standards of desirable sportsmanship behavior and perform cheers for spectators that reflect those standards.
- Respect opposing cheerleaders and bands, and use proper discretion in the timing of cheers. Greet opposing cheerleaders and treat them as guests.
- Respect the property and equipment of others.
- Respect the integrity and judgment of contest officials, and work with supervisors to assist in maintaining appropriate fan behavior.
- Encourage support and respect for injured players.
- Lead positive cheers that encourage and motivate your team, and begin positive cheers when undesirable sportsmanship behaviors begin.
Student-Athletes
- Know and respect the rules of the game.
- Respect opponents and coaches at all times.
- Respect the integrity and judgment of officials--and accept their decisions.
- Respect the property and equipment of others.
- Display self-control in all circumstances. Remember, you are representing your team, your school, your family and your community.
- Be modest in victory and gracious in defeat.
- Shake hands and offer appropriate comments of congratulations or compassion to opponents following the contest.
Spectators
- Support and cheer for your team and enjoy the skill and competition.
- Cheer in a positive way that respects the efforts of all teams and players involved.
- A ticket is a privilege to observe a high school athletic event, not a right to demonstrate undesirable or inappropriate behavior.
- Know and demonstrate the fundamentals of sportsmanship at all times.
- Remind yourself and others that interscholastic athletics are an extension of the traditional classroom and are learning experiences where mistakes are made.
- Encourage and commend students’ attempts to improve themselves educationally and athletically.
- Be a positive role model through your own actions, remaining positive and supportive in cheers, signs, and interactions with others.
- Know and respect the rules of the game.
- Respect the integrity and judgment of officials--and accept their decisions.
- Show respect during National Anthem and presentation of the flag.
- Respect school property and school authorities. Remain off the playing/competitive area and never throw anything in the stands or onto the field or floor.
- Respect and support the commitment and efforts of coaches.
- Respect and cooperate with the positive and enthusiastic efforts of cheerleaders.
- Recognize and show appreciation for an outstanding play.
- Participate only in activities and behaviors that are appropriate for school-sponsored events before, during and after games near the site of competitions.
Public Address
- Be impartial. Announce the contest with no show of favoritism.
- Use proper language at all times.
- Do not anticipate or second guess calls by officials or criticize officials’ decisions, directly or indirectly.
- Be familiar with the venue so that clear directions can be given in an emergency.
- Help prevent serious situations from developing by working with event administration to remind spectators about not entering the playing area, not throwing items and travel and weather advisories if appropriate.
- Restrict use of the microphone to those in charge of the event or to those who are invited to address the crowd. The announcer is responsible for whatever is said over the public address system.