The governing body of middle and high school athletics is cracking down on unruly fans by punishing their schools.
Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) approved new bylaws that fine schools a minimum of $250 when fans are ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct during a sporting event.
The council chose to penalize schools instead of the fans themselves, because fans are not part of the TSSAA and thus not under its jurisdiction,
“As we’ve talked about the possibility of having a penalty for fans in terms of (a) number of games that they would have to sit out, and etcetera. Because fans are not members of the association, schools are, we generally don’t have jurisdiction over those individuals. We certainly felt like that would be problematic, but we have heard from a number of our schools, ‘we want some help,’ to have something when they do have a fan ejected and they receive a letter from us with a request to tell us what they plan on doing,” said TSSAA Executive Director Mark Reeves.
Maury County Public Schools Director of Athletics and Arts Chris Poynter submitted the proposal that updates prior TSSAA rules that only fined schools for fans and substitute players coming onto the field or floor. Schools will still face a minimum of $250 for that infraction.
The changes also include the possibility of other non-monetary disciplinary actions such as probation for the entire athletic program.
Schools will be able to appeal the ejection if they feel the fan has been removed in poor judgment.
“Our officials don’t need to be in the business of ejecting those folks as soon as they hear the first word, unless, obviously, it’s something that’s especially egregious,” said Reeves. “So that’s where we’ve landed. We feel like if this body wants to take action to have something standardized, we feel like this is the best way to do it.”
