SECTION III RULE

PENALTY FOR UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

Section III has adopted a rule effective 1/1/89 that provides for a penalty for any coach who is disqualified from a High School athletic contest.

Section III has had a rule for athletes since 9/17/87.

It was interesting to note that the United States Supreme Court recently rules that an association did have the right to discipline individuals involved in association activities.

Section III Sportsmanship Policy

Athletes and coaches who have been disqualified from athletic contests for unsportsmanlike conduct shall not be permitted to participate or coach in the next previously scheduled contest.

If a school investigates a disqualification and finds sufficient justification for not applying the penalty, then that school must notify all pertinent parties of this decision.  (Officials, Section Office, next opponent, and the opponent when the disqualification occurred.)

The designated reporting form is to be completed and mailed by the Athletic Director of the school that had individuals disqualified within seven days of the disqualification.

Failure to notify, or delinquency in reporting disqualifications, may result in a school being reprimanded by the Section III Executive Committee.  Future shortcomings in this area will result in stronger disciplinary action.

A school administrator that fails to enforce this policy will have a contest forfeited in which the offending individual participates or coaches as an ineligible person (next previously scheduled contest).

All notification must take place before the next contest.  Time restrictions may require that telephone communications take place in order to properly notify all parties.

NOTES :

1.   The intent of the rule is as stated.  Therefore, if an individual was in fact unsportsmanlike, then they shall be penalized as indicated.

2.   Relief should only be granted for rules infraction disqualifications that are not unsportsmanlike.

i.e. -   running out of a lane in track

i.e. - wrong individual disqualified

3.   Common sense dictates that when the wrong individual was disqualified, the school has an obligation to discipline the correct individual in the proper contest.

4.   The words “next previously scheduled contest” were carefully selected.  This now prohibits a school or individual from scheduling a contest of “lesser” importance between the contest where the disqualification occurred and a contest of “greater” importance.

5.   If a school administers the proper penalty, they do not have to contact officials or opponents.

6.   The proper form must always be forwarded to the Section office regardless of the school action and/or telephone notification.