
| SEPTEMBER 2019: RIIL Communication Regarding SPORTSMANSHIP
Attention RIIL Official's Associations: In response to issues that have been brought to our attention, please be aware that during the course of a game (before, during or after) game officials have the authority to identify inappropriate unsportsmanlike behavior, bring this to the attention to the home or visiting team representative, and request that such behavior stop immediately, and or have those spectators who are responsible for this behavior removed. In addition, if the unsportsmanlike behavior continues and is not corrected the game official has the authority to stop the game and forward the report to the RIIL. Therefore, we are asking the home school to provide a welcoming and respectful environment for visiting teams, coaches, officials and fans.
Section 2: TAUNTING - The Principals Committee on Athletics passed a recommendation of the Sportsmanship Committee to broaden the definition of TAUNTING and make it a disqualifying foul in all sports. As a result, officials will be expected to eject players and bench personnel (including coaches) for taunting; and the Rhode Island Interscholastic League tournament supervisors will be expected to eject from the premises any spectator who engages in taunting.
The definition of taunting is this: "Any actions or comments by coaches, players, or spectators which are intended to bait, anger, embarrass, ridicule, or demean others, whether or not the deeds or words are vulgar or racist. Included is conduct that berates, needles, intimidates or threatens based on race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, or background, and conduct that attacks religious beliefs, size, economic status, speech, family, special needs or personal matters."
Examples of taunting by coaches, players or spectators include: Any form of "Trash Talk", Ethnic or racial slurs, Physical intimidation outside the spirit of the game, References to sexual orientation, "In the face" confrontation by one player to another, Standing over or straddling a tackled or fallen player. PLEASE REFER TO THE RIIL TAUNTING POLICY.
Noticeable improvement in school sportsmanship will require concerted effort. Good sports don't need to wait for other's actions. Good sports already know what is offensive, and what has no more place in school sports than it would have in a school classroom. This is educational athletics. We must maintain the highest education standards in all facets of the athletic arena.
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