08/28/17-Role of the Home Team, Officials and Coaches in Practice of Sportsmanship at Soccer Contests

September 6, 2017 Athletic Department Blog Updates

This combination of requirements, recommendations, and best practices supersedes all prior versions of this communication.THE ROLE OF THE HOME TEAM, OFFICIALS AND COACHES IN THE PRACTICE OF SPORTSMANSHIP AT CONTESTS

Background

The practice of good sportsmanship is integral to conducting an interscholastic athletic contest. After reviewing past records of disqualifications and sportsmanship issues involving the KHSAA and its member schools, the KHSAA Board of Control has adopted the following additional recommended procedures for implementation at contests in the sport of soccer.

Home Game Management Responsibilities

• The Principal of the home team shall designate a game manager on site prior to the start of each contest at a time designated by the KHSAA.
• The home game manager will meet with the officials during the pre-game period, making the officials aware of his/her primary location for the entire contest.
• The home game manager is responsible for providing proper security at each event.
• The home game manager shall identify a safe and secure area for officials to change before and after each contest whenever possible.
• The home game manager shall ensure that officials are safely escorted from the playing field after each contest.
• The home game manager shall have an emergency action plan in place to deal with any unusual circumstances.
• The home game manager assumes responsibility for all aspects of crowd control such as ensuring that only authorized personnel are allowed in the team bench area.
• The home game manager will make sure that all fans remain at least ten yards from the playing area unless an existing barrier (fence, wall, etc.) is in place.
• Unruly or disruptive fans will be escorted from the facility by the home game manager when necessary.

Contest Official Responsibilities

• Officials shall arrive at the game site ready to officiate no later than fifteen minutes prior to the start of the contest.
• In the event that the official is running late to a contest, he/she will do his best to communicate with home game management via telephone.
• Prior to the start of each contest, officials shall limit interaction with coaches and players of either team.
• The official shall conduct a pre-game meeting to include both head coaches, team captains, and the home game manager.
• During the pre-game meeting, the official will acknowledge his/her understanding of the Officials Code of Conduct printed in the NFHS Rules Book.
• Before, during, and after each contest officials will avoid unnecessary dialogue with coaches and players and fans.
• Officials will avoid any interaction/dialogue with fans and spectators at all times.
• Officials will ignore as much as possible, the commentary made from fans except in the case that it affects the official’s ability to manage the contest, or threatens in any manner, the health, safety or welfare of any participant, coach, official or any other related party to the contest.
• The official has the ability to temporarily suspend a contest if a situation arises that requires the home game manager to remove unruly fans, coaches, or players, from the site.

Coaches’ Responsibilities

• Both head coaches shall attend the pre-game meeting.
• During the pre-game meeting, both head coaches will acknowledge their understanding of the Coaches Code of Conduct printed in the NFHS Rules Book.
• It is the responsibility of the head coach to ensure that all of his/her players are safely and properly equipped prior to the start of each contest in compliance with the playing rules.
• Coaches will avoid unnecessary dialogue with officials, before, during, and after each contest.
• Coaches will avoid any interaction/dialogue with fans and spectators at all times and will avoid any unnecessary dialogue with officials.
• The head coach is responsible for managing his/her bench area and the conduct of all parties within that area.
• The head coach is responsible for emphasizing a philosophy of good sportsmanship to his/her team, his assistant coaches, and all other team personnel such as managers and trainers.
• The head coach is responsible for conducting a pre-season meeting with all parents/fans/participants to ensure they understand what the expectations are in regards to behavior at all contests.