FARGO – There has always been a minimum penalty for a player or coach ejected from a game, but never for a fan.
This year, that has changed, and officials with the North Dakota High School Activities Association hope it will be a game changer. The association has agreed to a recommendation from the Class A Review to establish a minimum penalty for spectators who are excluded from competition during the regular season.
“When we notice that something is brewing, for example when a fan is upset about an official, a coach or a player, we try to establish proximity,” says Ned Clooten, superintendent of Devils Lake Public Schools.
In the past, each school set its own penalties for undisciplined fans.
“We call another administrator to come to the game. Maybe we sit next to the fan during the game and talk to him,” Clooten said.
After several incidents during the past high school sports season, including one involving racist abuse, the NDHSAA decided to step in and take further action.
“Schools and administrations came together, visited the schools and said it would be nice if there was a minimum standard nationwide,” said Matt Fetsch, executive director of the NDHSAA.
Now, if a fan is ejected from a game for disorderly conduct, they are automatically suspended for three games. And if the incident happens less than three games before the end of the season, that suspension will carry over to the next school year. If a fan is ejected from a game for a second time, they are automatically banned from all games and events that school year.
A database will document violations and each school can increase the minimum penalties.
“There’s still that local control where you know that schools still have the ability to correct something if something happens, if someone is misidentified,” Fetsch said.
Fans have no opportunity to appeal.
Clooten said the new rules are designed to build and retain a larger fan base.
“We hope to see sportsmanship at all levels and create an atmosphere where our athletes can compete and learn the lesson we provide through our extracurricular activities,” said Clooten, who added that the new rules will also hopefully help recruit more coaches and officials.
Fetch said NDHSAA officials will meet throughout the season to evaluate the new policy as needed.
My name is Anne Sara, better known as Sara.
I was born an only child in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and moved to the United States at age 2.
I grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
After completing my bachelor’s degree at Albright College, I moved to Florida to continue my studies.
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