Florida High School Athletic Association
Board of Directors Meeting – Agenda Item
Site:
Robert W. Hughes FHSAA Building Date:
Check One:
Action:
XX
January 27-28, 2008
Discussion/Information:
Topic (brief descriptive statement):
Action on proposed amendment to “Policy on Unsportsmanlike Conduct,” clarifying that a
student-athlete and coach who is found to have committed an unsportsmanlike act is to be
penalized regardless of whether the unsportsmanlike act resulted in his/her disqualification
(ejection) from a contest, and establishing the guidelines for appealing unsportsmanlike conduct
findings and penalties.
Detailed Information (background, observations, etc.):
Through Week 10 of the football regular season, 7 major brawls and 2 lesser incidents between
member school football teams had taken place. This is a dramatic and disturbing increase in
these types of events. Currently, the FHSAA Office has been penalizing schools with significant
fines and suspensions of student-athletes. Obviously, these penalties are doing little to deter this
type of unsportsmanlike activity. The staff wishes to engage board members in a discussion
about what, if any, different or additional penalties may be imposed as a deterrent.
Recommendation(s):
Modify current Policy 32 clarify:
Penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct may be assessed regardless if they resulted in ejections /
disqualification;
Rationale:
These incidents are negatively impacting the image of high school sports as an educational
experience. Each and every time such an incident occurs there is a risk of significant injury to a
participant.
Alternative(s) to Recommendation(s):
Data Source:
FHSAA staff
Impact (to be completed by FHSAA staff):
M. Denarvise Thornton, Associate Executive Director
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Name of Individual Submitting Item
Signature
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the FHSAA Board of Directors
FROM:
Denarvise Thornton, Associate Executive Director
Jack Watford, Associate Executive Director
DATE:
January 14, 2008
RE:
Proposed Revisions to “Policy on Unsportsmanlike Conduct”
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Following are specific points for discussion relative to proposed revisions to the “Policy on
Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
1.
Clarify that the prescribed penalties are assessed for unsportsmanlike acts (general or
gross) rather than for disqualifications (ejections) that occur as a result of such
unsportsmanlike acts.
2.
State that second or subsequent acts of a gross unsportsmanlike nature may result in the
student/coach’s ineligibility for a period of one calendar year and/or, in the case of a
student-athlete, the possibility of a permanent loss of eligibility for the duration of the
student-athlete’s high school career.
3.
State that the decision to disqualify (eject) a student-athlete or coach from a contest is a
decision of the contest official and, per Bylaw 9.1.2, not subject to review by the
Association, but that penalties in excess of the minimums prescribed may be appealed to
the Executive Director and, from there, through the normal appeals structure; providing,
however, that the ineligibility (suspensions) remain in effect until modified or reversed.
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