Section 08: Sportsmanship
Revised: January 10, 2012Article 1: Captains
The team captain is responsible for the actions of his or her team and their spectators. Additionally, the captain will ensure that his or her team is familiar with the rules of play and Recreational Sports policies and procedures contained in this handbook. Sportsmanship is a vital component for success in every Recreational Sports contest. Participants and spectators are expected to display good sportsmanship toward opponents and the Recreational Sports staff at all times.
Sportsmanship points can be penalized to a team if a spectator's behavior does not meet the sportsmanship standards. Cards will be given at the discretion of the Officials and Recreational Sports staff.
Article 2: Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Participants and spectators shall not commit acts of unsportsmanlike conduct. This includes, but is not limited to, arguments with staff, flagrant fouling, fighting, etc. before, during or after a contest. No player or team shall:
· Use foul or derogatory language, threaten, or verbally abuse any other participant, spectator, or Recreational Sports staff before, during or after the game.
· Participate in a game for which he or she is ineligible.
· Argue or talk back to the Recreational Sports staff, including officials. Only the captain should address an official and only if done so in a courteous manner.
· Intentionally strike, push, trip or flagrantly foul another participant, spectator, or Recreational Sports staff.
· Mistreat the facility, equipment or supplies of BYU Idaho and/or the Recreational Sports Department.
Article 3: Individual Sportsmanship - Definitions
A yellow/red card system will be used to monitor unsportsmanlike behavior, rough play and improper conduct. A participant who receives a red card will be ejected from the game and will be required to leave the field/court before play resumes. If a player is carded and refuses to tell his name, the game will be forfeited.
Article 4: Individual Sportsmanship - Red and Yellow Cards
Yellow cards will be given for minor offenses and are worth 1 sportsmanship point. The following are Yellow card Offenses:
· Arguing
· Rough play
· Taunting opponents
· Jumping any fence around the facilities
· Dishonesty
Red Cards will be given for major offenses and are worth 2 sportsmanship points. The following are Red Card offenses:
· Illegal participation
· Flagrant contact
· Profanity
· Fighting
· Threatening behavior
· Inappropriate team names
· Slide Tackling
Sports Activities upholds a no-swearing/verbal abuse policy. Any participant found to be violating policy will be given an immediate Red Card.
If a player receives a red card he will be suspended from all Sports Activities until he meets with the Sports disciplinary council. Players are responsible for arranging their own misconduct meetings with Sports administration. After the player has met with the Sports disciplinary council a decision regarding the length of suspension will be made. If a player receives three sportsmanship points during a semester in one or more sports, his Sports Activities privileges will be suspended for the remainder of that semester.
Individuals that receive 6 sportsmanship points are sent a letter indicating that they will be on probation with the Sports Program for a period of 2 years. Points begin to be dropped from an individual's record after 2 years. An individual on probation may continue to participate. If they choose to continue to participate they are made aware that any more sportsmanship problems will result in a one-year suspension of Sports privileges.
Players meeting with Sports administration to resolve a Red Card can expect the following as minimum consequences:
· Swearing- 1 week (or one game for tournaments) suspension from all Sports activities
· Use of extremely vulgar language including the F-word, taking the Lord's name in vain, etc.- 2 week suspension from all Sports activities
· Verbal abuse- 1 week suspension from all Sports activities
· Flagrant fouls, intentionally endangering an opponent, or threatening behavior- 2 week suspension from all Sports Activities
· Impersonation of another player- Full semester suspension from all Sports activities
· Striking or fighting- Full-semester suspension from all Sports activities and a referral to the Dean's Office.
NOTE: Sports Activities reserves the right to consider any suspension on a case by case scenario. The above situations are guidelines but do not restrict the department from applying stricter or more flexible suspensions if necessary.
Article 5: Team Sportsmanship Rating System
Recreational Sports has developed the Sportsmanship Rating System with the purpose of holding each individual participant responsible for his or her actions while participating in any Recreational Sports event. The following is the Sportsmanship Rating System:
· "4" - Excellent Conduct and Sportsmanship: Players cooperate fully with the officials and opposing team members. If necessary, the captain converses calmly with officials about rule interpretations and calls.
· "3" - Good Conduct and Sportsmanship: Team members verbally complain about some decisions made by the officials and/or show minor dissension which may or may not merit a conduct warning. Teams receiving no cards can receive a score no lower than 3 points.
· "2" - Average Conduct and Sportsmanship: Team constantly comments to the officials and/or the opposing team from the field/court and/or sidelines. The team captain exhibits little or no control over teammates or him/herself. Teams that receive a Yellow Card will receive no higher than a 2.
· "1" - Below Average Conduct and Sportsmanship: Team constantly comments to the officials and/or the opposing team from the field/court and/or sidelines. The team captain exhibits little or no control over teammates or him/herself. Teams that receive multiple (2 or more) Yellow Cards will receive no higher than a 1.
· "0" - Poor Conduct and Sportsmanship: Team is completely uncooperative. Captain has no control over teammates and/or him/herself. Any team causing a game to be forfeited due to sportsmanship or any team that receives one Red Card or two Yellow Cards resulting in a red will receive no higher than a 0.
If a team accumulates 6 points it will be dropped from further league play. However, during tournament play, a team will be dropped if it receives 4 sportsmanship points or a total of 6 throughout the entire season, whichever comes first.
Each individual participating on a team should choose his or her team members carefully, as all team members will suffer the consequences of any disciplinary action taken by Recreational Sports against a team or individual for violation of the rules. The team captain is responsible for actions by an individual member of the team as well as for spectators directly related to that team. This includes conduct of all players and spectators before, during, and after a game. If a team does not maintain a "3.5" average throughout the regular season, that team will not be eligible for the playoffs at the end of the season.
NOTE: Failure to provide a scorekeeper for your team will result in a loss of 1 sportsmanship point. The Recreational Sports staff also reserves the right to lower a team's sportsmanship rating based on the severity of the conduct warning or ejection.
Article 6: Accumulation of Conduct Warnings in One Contest
A team that receives three Yellow Cards or two Red Cards in the same contest will automatically forfeit the game and receive a "0" sportsmanship rating regardless of the time and score to the game.
Failure of ejected players/spectators to leave the facility within two minutes will also result the forfeiture of the game by the team of the offender(s). Ejected players/spectators who return to the facility will also result in a forfeit by the team of the offender(s).