JJIBB:  SPORTSMANSHIP

The Kittery School Committee believes that competition should be a healthful, positive and safe experience for everyone who is involved.  Further, the School Committee believes that such events should occur in an environment that teaches values and ethics, promotes competition without conflict, enriches the lives of all participants, and emphasizes handling success with grace and losing with dignity.  The School Committee expects everyone involved to exhibit good sportsmanship and promote the core values of discipline, fairness, responsibility, trustworthiness, and citizenship.

A.    Participants

In demonstrating sportsmanship, students are expected to:

1.     Understand and follow the rules governing the competition;

2.     Recognize skilled performance by others, including opponents;

3.     Display respect for teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials;

4.     Respect the judgment of officials and accept their decisions;

5.     Refrain from behavior such as taunting, using insulting language or gestures and cursing;

6.     Be modest when successful and gracious in defeat; and

7.     Recognize that their conduct reflects on themselves and on their school community.

B.    Coaches

In demonstrating sportsmanship, coaches are expected to:

1.     Know that they serve as role models for students and must set a good example for students and spectators;

2.     Abide by the rules governing the competition, in both letter and spirit;

3.     Treat all parties with respect;

4.     Act with dignity and self-control;

5.     Respect the judgment of officials and accept their decisions;

6.     Take corrective action with students who exhibit unsportsmanlike behavior; and

7.     Be modest when successful and gracious in defeat.

C.    Spectators and Parents

Competitive school events are activities that are part of the overall educational program.  Such activities are not a public forum.  The public is invited to attend for the purpose of supporting all of the participants regardless of the school they represent.  In particular, adult spectators are expected to be role models for students and to provide a positive model of behavior that contributes to the value of the experience.  School administrators and officials have the authority and discretion to remove any spectators who do not comply with the expected rules of conduct and sportsmanship.

Therefore, when attending competitive events, spectators are expected to:

1.     Respect the purpose of the competition and act in the role of support for all of the participants;

2.     Show positive support for outstanding performance, regardless of school affiliation;

3.     Show concern for injured participants, regardless of school affiliation;

4.     Refrain from angry or abusive language or actions toward any adult or student participants or other spectators;

5.     Refrain from any act that creates a danger for participants or spectators;

6.     Refrain from any act that could be considered taunting, heckling, or berating of participants, officials, or coaches; and

7.     Follow all School Committee rules and policies pertaining to conduct on school property, including but not limited to use and possession of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or weapons.

D. Penalties for Inappropriate Conduct

Students who engage in unsportsmanlike conduct will be subject to the penalties described in School Committee policy, the student handbook, team rules, and the Student Code of Conduct.  In all cases, unacceptable conduct will result in appropriate disciplinary consequences.

Adult spectators or other visitors from outside of the school who engage in unsportsmanlike conduct may be asked to leave the premises and may be excluded from future events.  The administrator in charge of the event may seek the assistance of law enforcement authorities if necessary to remove or exclude a spectator deemed to be in violation of these rules of conduct or School Committee policy; law enforcement may remove anyone who is disrupting an event or creating an unsafe environment or damaging public property.

E. Notice of Rules

The building administrator shall be responsible for the posting of spectator rules at the entrance to each event site, or to otherwise inform all attendees of the expectation for conduct that demonstrates good sportsmanship.

Adopted: October 16, 2012 

Cross Reference:    

ACAD - Hazing

JJI - Philosophy of Athletics

JJIB - Sponsorship and Evaluation of Athletic Programs

JJIBA - Hiring and Evaluation of Coaches                       

JJIBC - Relations with Booster Groups (or alternative code KJA)