New Sportsmanship Bylaw Explained

During the offseason, the New Mexico Activities Association updated the sportsmanship bylaws to include specific penalties for “egregious” acts of unsportsmanlike conduct.

The updated bylaw now specifies the possibility of suspension of a team/fan from athletic activities for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

The bylaw reads, any time an egregious act of unsportsmanlike conduct by a team participant, including a coach, occurs two or more times during the same season, at the same school, in the same activity, the team will be suspended from participation in that activity for the remainder of the season.

Also, any time an egregious act of unsportsmanlike conduct by a non-team participant (for example a parent or fan) occurs two or more times during the same season, at the same school, in the same activity, the non-team member, along with all school spectators will be suspended from attendance in that activity for the remainder of the season.

Examples of egregious unsportsmanlike conduct by participants, coaches, or spectators include but are not limited to, fans entering the playing surface to engage in acts of violence or abuse, constant verbal attacks on officials, attacking other fans, coaches physically or verbally attacking officials, players fighting other players during post-game handshakes, or student sections verbally chanting inappropriate or demeaning comments towards individuals, teams, or officials.

In the event the second act of misconduct occurs when there are no contests left in the current season, the penalty may be applied to the next season in the same activity. The NMAA will notify the school that the team and/or individual/spectator has been placed on warning after the first offense.

There are likely a lot of questions with this “Two Strikes and You’re Out” policy. We hope this video will answer those questions.