Lake Conference Sportsmanship Policies and Procedures

A. School Areas of Responsibility

Each member school of the LAKE should develop a program which promotes respect for persons of all backgrounds while fostering a sportsmanship program based upon clearly defined fundamentals. Programs should include specifically defined responsibilities for the players, coaches, faculty, cheerleaders, band, students and adult spectators. When possible schools should keep home fans and visitors separate at stadiums and limit home access to the visitor bleachers.

B. Basic Fundamentals of Human Respect, Sportsmanship, and Acts of Good Conduct

1. Show respect for the officials, players and fans regardless of school affiliation.
2. Do not engage in discriminatory or harassing conduct, including conduct based on any characteristic protected by the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
3. Maintain self–control at all times.
4. Spectators must remain in appropriate spectator areas.

C. Acts of Misconduct

1. Use of artificial noisemakers – examples: megaphones, compressed air horns, duck calls, whistles, cowbells, firecrackers, etc.
2. Display of signs, banners and/or placards 
3. Throwing of objects – examples: silly string, beach balls, confetti makers, baby powder, flour, coins, pop bottles, folded programs etc.
4. Use of obscene or abusive language that seeks to offend, intimidate or show prejudice toward a player, cheerleader, official or spectator, including the derogatory use of the names or numbers of opponents.
5. Being on the premises of a contest while under the influence of or in possession of alcohol or chemicals or in violation of the school’s tobacco free policy.
6. Unauthorized entry into any scheduled contest or playing surface.
7. Student violation of the student discipline policy.

D. Suggestions for Implementation of Policies and Procedures

1. Each member school should make the public aware of expectations for spectator behavior by printing them in the program and posting the guidelines at the ticket booth.
2. Each member school should have the rules of conduct announced at each contest.
3. The athletic director or principal of each member school should  distribute/discuss the policies and procedures with the student body.
4. The athletic director should distribute/discuss the policies and procedures with the following:
   1. Principal and other school administrators
   2. Cheerleaders and their advisor
   3. Players and their coaches
   4. Parents and/or Adult booster groups
   5. Police liaison officer
   6. Band Director
   7. News media – local as well as school paper.

E. Suggestions for Solving Middle School Issues

1. Educate middle school students as to what is expected of them as spectators.
2. As a deterrent to negative behavior, have supervisory personnel present at games who are recognizable to middle school students.
3. If Steps #1 and #2 cannot be accomplished, or are not effective, collect the student IDs of middle school students who are out of compliance with conduct expectations and turn them in to the building principal for necessary action.
4. If the conduct of middle schools students is a persistent issue, institute a limitation on middle school ticket sales, such as requiring middle school aged students to be accompanied by a parent, guardian or other paid adult admission.

F. Lake Sportsmanship Guidelines - Bands

Proper band etiquette for performance at LAKE contests includes:

1. A supervisor shall be present when a musical group officially represents a school.
2. Band members shall be in proper attire when representing the school and in uniform when rules specify that uniforms should be worn.
3. Bands will perform at another school’s home by invitation only.
4. Instruments are to be used under the direction of the band director and only while playing music or for cheers.
5. All the efforts of the band members should be positive and the use of instruments and the selection of music may not be negative or unsportsmanlike.

G. Lake Sportsmanship Guidelines - Coaches and Players

Coaches and players have a unique position in the school community and thus have an opportunity to provide leadership for the school community while participating in the athletic program. It is important that this unique position of leadership be utilized in a responsible manner.

1. Treat your opponent with respect. Make a special effort to be courteous and respectful even when you feel you or your team has not been treated fairly.
   1. Be a humble winner and a proud, respectful loser.
   2. Conduct yourself in a manner of controlled intensity.
   3. Have only positive verbal exchanges with all persons, including teammates, coaches, spectators, the opposing team or school.
2. Respond to officials’ decisions in a controlled manner with a spirit of good Sportsmanship.
   1. Use only positive actions and words towards officials.
   2. Demonstrate sportsmanship and fair play regardless of the situation and/or outcome of the contest.
3. Make certain that buildings and property are in good condition when you are finished using them.
   1. Respect an opponent’s school and locker room areas, as well as any personal property in the area.
   2. Pick up any litter from the area and leave the area cleaner than when you found it.

H. Spectator Demonstrations

Sportsmanship and all that it entails is a primary goal of high school interscholastic athletics. The safety of participants and spectators is also of paramount importance. Demonstrations and displays at athletic contests that communicate anything other than positive support for the team may be disruptive, obtrusive, or misinterpreted and have the potential to lead to verbal or physical confrontation. The LAKE will enforce the expectation that all spectators will refrain from any and all such displays/demonstrations at an athletic contest.