Statement of Administrative Responsibility:

Member schools are expected to conduct their relations with each other at all levels of competition in a spirit of good sportsmanship in keeping with the objectives of the MHSAA. Everyone involved has an obligation to clearly use his/her influence and act accordingly.

This Association acknowledges that the school administration is responsible for the athletic program, including the making of the broad and specific policies relating to sportsmanship and the conduct of activities in the schools. The school principal, for example, as the administrative head of his/her school, has the responsibility for establishing the principles of good sportsmanship in the minds of the entire school family. The principal realizes that the kind of sportsmanship that is practiced or displayed by the representatives of the school will reflect to its credit or otherwise.

The principal, therefore, is the authority responsible for all the athletic activities of his/her school at whatever level of competition they are engaged in. In recognition of this authority and responsibility, the following general recommendations are suggested by the Association as a guide to school administrators with respect to sportsmanship policy.

General Guidelines/Recommendations:

Each school board should outline specific policies pertaining to sportsmanship, and ensure that the school personnel in their division are aware of the responsibility to observe the policies and proper conduct.

Each school administration should insist that personnel set good examples of deportment and sportsmanship and to correct those individuals at fault, at a time convenient, in a manner adequate for the situation.

Each school administration should utilize all appropriate occasions and means to emphasize desirable deportment and sportsmanship to all students and school personnel.

The supervision of trips and away contests should be such as to assure that the conduct of school representatives bring credit to themselves, their school and their sport. To this end, the Association advocates the full promotion of co-operative host-guest relationships between and among schools entering into athletic competition.

Each Administrator should ensure that all coaches are familiar with entry deadlines, eligibility sheet requirements, sanction and registration deadlines and procedures, as well as: sportsmanship and behavior expectations and consequences.

MHSAA Responsibility:

The Association recognizes and appreciates that the influence and responsibility of the school administration with regard to good sportsmanship extends to all levels of competition. However, it must also be seen that the Association has been vested with the responsibility to ensure that all contests under it’s jurisdiction are conducted satisfactorily. In exercising it’s responsibility as it applies to the principles of good sportsmanship, the MHSAA will be guided by the following rule.

Sportsmanship Rule:

HIGH STANDARDS OF COURTESY, FAIR PLAY, AND SPORTSMANSHIP MUST FEATURE ALL ASSOCIATION COMPETITIONS. (While this rule is a general statement and one which may be difficult to reduce to objective standards in terms of enforcement, it is the heart of the entire Association program. Good sportsmanship, respect for rules, respect for others, and fair play are basically the motives through which an interscholastic athletic program is justified and defended.)

A CODE OF ETHICS FOR COACHES

The school expects the coaches to:

• be an integral part of the school system with its educational contribution
• remember that the athletic arena is a classroom with moral and educational obligations required at all times
• insist upon high scholarship and enforcement of all rules of eligibility

The athletes expect the coach to:

• maintain a genuine and up-to-date knowledge of that which he/she proposes to teach
• maintain fair, unprejudiced relationships with all squad members
• pay careful attention to the physical condition of players
• inspire a love of the game and a desire to compete fairly

Sportsmanship demands that coaches:

• take a strong stand against profanity, unfair play and unsportsmanlike behavior of their teams
• maintain self-control at all times, accepting decisions of officials without outward appearance of vexation
• teach athletes to win by use of legitimate means only
• believe in the honesty and integrity of opponents and officials
• teach that to win is always desirable, but to win at any cost defeats the purpose of the game

A CODE OF ETHICS FOR ATHLETES

The school requires the athlete to:

• conduct themselves at all times with honor and dignity
• treat visiting team(s), spectators, and officials as honored guests
• faithfully complete school work as practical evidence of their loyalty to school and team
• show that it is a privilege to represent your school
• remember that there is no place in school athletics before, during or after competition for the use of drugs or alcohol of any kind

The game requires the athlete to:

• maintain a high degree of physical fitness
• be fair at all times no matter what the cost
• believe in the honesty and integrity of opponents and officials
• play the game for the game’s sake
• accept peacefully and without question the decision of the officials

Sportsmanship demands that the athlete:

• recognize and applaud honestly and wholeheartedly the efforts of their team or opponents regardless of skill, score, colour, creed or race
• give opponents full credit when they win and learn to correct their faults through failures
• play hard and to the limit of their abilities regardless of discouragement. True athletes do not give up, nor do they quarrel, cheat, bet or show off
• accept both victory and defeat with pride and compassion, never being boastful nor bitter

A CODE OF ETHICS FOR OFFICIALS

The contest expects the official to:

• maintain a professional relationship toward the event, the players, the coaches and spectators at the venue and away from the venue
• be thorough in his/her preparation
• be on time for duty and appear in appropriate uniform and professional manner
• be rested and alert

The rules expect the official to:

• adhere to right decisions despite disapproval of spectators, coaches, and players
• control his/her temper at all times in dealing with players, coaches, and crowds
• respect and aid companion officials in making decisions
• make interpretations and announcements clear to both teams

Sportsmanship demands that officials:

• maintain a pleasant, impartial attitude toward all players and coaches
• carry out their duties so as not to distract from the players or the game
• discourage any acts of poor sportsmanship