SPORTSMANSHIP HOW? WHEN? WHERE? CHARITA HARDY SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

WHAT IS SPORTSMANSHIP? According to the NFHS Spirit Rules Book, sportsmanship is a commitment to ethics and integrity. It is a promise to uphold the dignity of the sport of cheerleading and honor the coaching position. As a team and as a coach we are striving for the highest ethical and moral conduct by our team and our fans.” The promotion of sportsmanship is a primary responsibility of spirit groups.

HOW CAN WE DEMONSTRATE SPORTSMANSHIP?

HOW? The GHSA Constitution and By-Laws state: “It shall be the responsibility of a member school to use every means at its disposal to impress upon faculty, students, team members, coaches and spectators the values of sportsmanship in preparation for the management of interscholastic contests…” What does this mean?

HOW TO PROMOTE SPORTSMANSHIP Treat other coaches, officials, players/team members, judges with respect at all times! Follow the rules. Be a role model. Avoid foul language and gestures. React positively when others do not. Manage emotions. Discipline yourself. Cheerleaders should educate fans to promote positive sportsmanship and behavior. It is recommended that cheer coaches be prepared to greet visiting cheer coaches and teams with a handout of the GHSA and NF rules and guidelines, in addition to specific rules enacted by their region. Provide team introductions. Provide tour of facility. Provide a contact to opponents just in case one is needed. Provide welcome goody bags or water for opponents. Provide a welcome letter to the opposing team letting them know your expectations (See next slide for example). For Basketball Cheer – Ask opposing cheerleaders to stand with you on the court during the National Anthem.

Sample Welcome Letter Welcome to our Gym! In the interest of safety and sportsmanship, the cheerleaders for tonight’s game will follow sportsmanship guidelines from the Georgia High School Association and invite your squad to do the same: Both spirit teams will cheer in a positive manner for our teams and neither squad will cheer “at” or “against” one another. There will be no aggressive motions or words (i.e. pointing at the scoreboard) directed to the opposing team or cheerleaders. All cheerleaders are asked to remain quiet when any player is on the free throw line. At the end of a game, cheerleaders will behave in a positive manner. Specifically there will be no chants or displays of poor sportsmanship. Obnoxious behavior will not be permitted under the guise of school spirit. Spirit cheerleaders should behave as role models for all fans. Cheer and dance motions performed by spirit cheerleaders should be free of vulgarity and sexual implication. The following National Federation and Georgia High School Association spirit rules will be followed at Putnam High School events per administrators. No jewelry will be worn while cheering. No mascots (small child) will be allowed; only eligible high school students should be cheering/dancing/representing their school at tonight’s contest. Uniforms will fit properly with no midriffs showing. Constant adult supervision should be available when a cheer team is warming up. Cheer coaches are responsible for ensuring that practice areas and surfaces are appropriate for warming up / practicing stunts or cheers. Constant adult supervision is necessary during warm-up and in game situations. Please see one of our administrators, coaches or cheer captains to find out where the visiting cheerleaders should cheer. Please know that we welcome you to our gym. Please do not hesitate to let tonight’s game administrator, cheer coach, or athletic director know if you need assistance of any kind. Cheers, (Sample Letter provided by April Smith, Putnam County High School, Head Cheer Coach)

WHEN SHOULD WE DEMONSTRATE SPORTSMANSHIP?

WHEN? AT ALL TIMES! Every cheer team has the right to a safe environment in which to cheer without harassment from opposing fans.

WHEN TO PROMOTE SPORTSMANSHIP When: Players and fans of opposing team are being negative such as: yelling inappropriate chants or comments etc. The opposing team is taunting (exp. yelling “Miss It”, kicking bleachers during a free throw). Unusual gestures with hands are witnessed. Inappropriate comments are made. There is an injury on the field. Cheering for both basketball and football as well as competition. NOTE: The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under any circumstances including on the basis of race, religion, gender or national origin. Spirit teams should always cheer in a positive manner. It is inappropriate to cheer against the other team or to cheer in response to an opposing player's mistake. Initiating response cheers between home and opposing spirit teams or fans is strongly discouraged. Cheerleaders should work to shift negative crowd attention caused by a disturbance in a positive manner, thus allowing a school administrator or security personnel to address the issue. If harassment from opposing team occurs, spirit cheer coaches should seek the game manager or security personnel if the situation becomes volatile or dangerous. REMINDER: As a coach, when unsportsmanlike conduct is witnessed, you must NOT let your reaction and responses get the best of you or your team causing a negative reaction..

WHERE SHOULD WE DEMONSTRATE SPORTSMANSHIP?

WHERE? Sportsmanship should be demonstrated at ALL GHSA events.

REMEMBER

REMINDERS AS CHEERLEADERS Spirit teams should always cheer in a positive manner. It is inappropriate to cheer against the other team or to cheer in response to an opposing player's mistake. Initiating response cheers between home and opposing spirit teams or fans is strongly discouraged. Cheers and chants with suggestive words and/or motions (ex. pointing at opposing teams or fans) shall not be used because in many situations they bring about an inappropriate response. Examples:  You walked!  Over rated!  You fouled our man…  Instant replay

REMINDERS Spirit leaders should call attention to the importance of sportsmanship at all pep rallies. When permitted, placing sportsmanship posters promoting good sportsmanship on the wall of the gym or throughout the school is helpful. Spirit leaders should discourage their followers from yelling or cheering while an opponent is shooting free throws. Intimidation of opponents has no place in high school athletics.

REMINDERS Spirit leaders are in a position to preview spirit signs that will be posted for their school's contests (when permitted). Prohibiting inappropriate signs from ever being posted can greatly assist the administration and helps ­students or school personnel understand the importance for positive signage which is to create and maintain a positive crowd atmosphere. Obnoxious behavior should not be encouraged nor permitted under the guise of school spirit. Opposing players, officials and fans should be ­treated with respect and dignity. If inappropriate crowd behavior exists, assistance should be obtained from a school administrator or game ­management. Examples:  Your fans bring newspapers and hold them up while the other team is being introduced.  Your fans yell “push it”  Your fans yelling “ you can’t do that!”

Questions?? “WE ARE FAMILY!”