Big Nine League Fan Expectations...
GOAL STATEMENT
Realizing the importance
and need to teach good sportsmanship and good citizenship through
interscholastic athletics not only to the athletes/coaches who participate in
the program, but to all students, adult fans, and participants, the Big 9
considers it an ongoing goal to emphasize the following expectations.
CROWD CONTROL
Big 9 Athletic events are
meant to provide a safe environment where everyone feels respected. The
WIAA Handbook places the responsibility for crowd control at interscholastic
activities clearly in the hands of the member schools. Student and adult fans
are expected to support COLUMBIA BASIN BIG 9 activities in a positive manner.
Incidents of negative or disruptive behavior on the part of student and adult
fans shall be considered a violation of the COLUMBIA BASIN BIG 9 LEAGUE rules
for good sportsmanship and shall be dealt with according to the nature of the
specific violation and in accordance with the appropriate state statutes.
SPECTATOR RULES OF CONDUCT
Spectators shall have all
spirit items approved by the school administration. Individual schools and/or
facilities may have expectations different than listed here and will be
communicated to schools prior to their event as needed.
BANNERS, PAINTING and HAND
HELD OBJECTS
- Foam
fingers, hand held pom-poms, and small hand-towel sized rally towels with
professional printing approved by school administration (a
sponsor name/logo on the hand towel is permissible provided
it is secondary in size to the predominate school name/logo)
are permissible.
- Official
school banners and flags are permitted. Only Administrative approved
hand-held signs are permitted.
- Individual
schools and facilities dictate whether face painting is allowed.
- Signs
for event sponsors and broadcast media are permitted.
- All
fans must wear shirts at all times. Appropriate school clothing is
expected.
- Artificial
noisemakers, including thunder sticks are not allowed and will be
confiscated. Cheerleaders may use megaphones.
- Confetti
(or confetti-like material including Talcum Powder/Flour Bombs) are not
allowed at an athletic event.
- Run
through signs are allowed at events only under the direction of
the school administration and only if they are done by the cheer
squad.
CHEERS / CHANTS / YELLS
- Only
school district accepted cheers may be used at appropriate times.
- Cheers
and chants are to be directed only toward the school’s team.
- Cheers,
chants or yells intended to degrade an opponent and/or profanity will not
be allowed. Repetitive chants toward the opponents
are not allowed.
- Cheers,
chants or yells that single out any particular player by using his/her
name or uniform # will not be allowed.
- Harassment
of any kind, including racial or sexual comments directed towards
players, opposing fans, or officials will not be
tolerated. Violators may be removed from the contest
and/or subject to penalties from the league as well as local law
enforcement.
MASCOTS
- Mascots
are allowed for the home team only, and must be a part of the schools
cheer / spirit program.
DESIGNATED ROOTING SECTIONS
- Each
facility will indicate appropriate seating for home and visiting
spectators.
- Student
sections shall remain on the side of the gym or field designated for their
school. Visiting athletes, not playing in the current game
are required to sit in the designated area for their school.
- Each
school will designate a section for students to stand continually.
Continual standing will not be allowed in any other area during
the contest. It is the responsibility of the supervisors from
each school to admit students to those sections and supervise their
conduct.
COURT / FIELD ACCESS
- Sports
Medicine, Dance and Cheerleaders are the only student groups allowed
access to the field or floor before, during and after the event.
- At
no time may students be in the playing arena before, during or after
the event. The only exception would be for halftime activities as
approved by school administration.
- Tunnels
may be formed and must not encroach on the playing area unless in
uniform and under the direction of the school administration.
- High
Five lines may be allowed depending on the host school. High five lines
are for the home team only and must involve the home teams side of
the playing arena only. These lines must stay completely outside of
the court or field lines.
- Upon
the completion of all contests, teams will be allowed to shake hands and
return to their locker room areas prior to anyone gaining access to
the field/court.
Revised
12-7-16
