14 Del. Admin. Code § 1023-1.0 - Definitions and Sportsmanship

1.1 Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Board" means the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Directors established pursuant to 14 Del.C. Chapter 3.

"DIAA" means the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association.

"Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association.

"Member School" means a full or associate member school of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association.

"Principal" or "Headmaster" means the chief or head individual in charge of a school who is traditionally referred to or generally known as the principal or headmaster, including Head of School, Administrator, Executive Director, or Charter Head.

"School Days" shall mean actual school attendance days during the regular academic school year including a partial day that children are in attendance at school for instructional purposes as adopted by the district or governing body of the school not to include weekends, holidays, summer school, etc.

1.2 Sportsmanship

1.2.1 Member Schools are required to conduct all of their athletic affairs with other schools in a spirit of good sportsmanship. Acts which are prima facie evidence of a failure to abide by this rule are those which are noted below and others of a similar nature which transgress the usually accepted code for good sportsmanship.

1.2.1.1 Failure to provide for proper control of spectators at a contest. When the number of spectators is expected to be large in relation to the seating capacity of the facility, uniformed State, county, or local police or constables appointed in accordance with 10 Del.C. Ch. 27 shall be provided for crowd control. The host school is expected to take reasonable and proper steps to assure crowd control under any foreseeable conditions.

1.2.1.2 Failure of a team or competitor to stay in a contest until its normal end when failure to do so is related to dissatisfaction with the officiating of the contest, unless the physical safety of the team or competitor would have been endangered by continuing the contest.

1.2.1.3 Harassment of game officials by a coach. Going onto the playing surface to interrupt a contest in protest of a decision by an official; conduct by a coach, team member, or any individual in the official party which invokes a penalty against the team; continued and visible actions by a coach which indicate to the team and to the spectators that the coach believes the game is being improperly officiated; public demonstrations with game officials which indicate to others extreme dissatisfaction with the officiating; and such related actions when exhibited in aggravated form are evidence of poor sportsmanship.

1.2.1.4 Failure of a school to use every means at its disposal to impress upon its faculty, student body, team members, coaching staff, and spectators the importance of good sportsmanship before, during, and after athletic contests. The host school is encouraged to read a brief statement concerning sportsmanship prior to the start of each athletic contest.

1.2.1.5 Failure of an administrator, athletic director, coach, athlete, official, or spectator to comply with the directions stipulated in the following Code of Interscholastic Athletics:

1.2.1.5.1 The School Administrator and Athletic Director shall:

1.2.1.5.1.1 Encourage and promote friendly relations and good sportsmanship throughout the school by requiring courtesy and proper decorum at all times, by familiarizing students and others in the community with the ideals of good sportsmanship, and by publicizing these concepts and attitudes so that all members of the school community understand and appreciate their meaning.

1.2.1.5.1.2 Review the Sportsmanship Rule with all athletic staff.

1.2.1.5.1.3 Insist upon strict compliance with all DIAA rules and regulations.

1.2.1.5.1.4 Insist upon adequate safety provisions for both participants and spectators in all activities.

1.2.1.5.1.5 Encourage all to judge the success of the interscholastic athletic program based on the attitude of the participants and spectators rather than on the number of games won or lost.

1.2.1.5.1.6 Insist that all participants adhere to the highest standards of good sportsmanship as a means of ensuring desirable spectator attitudes.

1.2.1.5.1.7 Provide sanitary and attractive facilities for the dressing and housing of visiting teams and officials.

1.2.1.5.1.8 Develop and implement policies for their interscholastic athletic programs to discourage acts of bullying, hazing, and taunting.

1.2.1.5.2 Coaches: The function of coaches is to educate students through participation in interscholastic athletics. An interscholastic program shall be designed to enhance academic achievement and shall never interfere with opportunities for academic success. Each student shall be treated with the utmost respect and his welfare should be considered in decisions by the coach at all times. Therefore, coaches shall:

1.2.1.5.2.1 Demonstrate high ideals, good habits, and desirable attitudes in their personal and professional behavior and demand the same of their players. Coaches must uphold the dignity and honor of the profession of educator-coach. Their interaction with all students, officials, school staffs, athletic directors, administrators, the state association, the media and the general public (fans) shall be of the highest ethical and moral standard.

1.2.1.5.2.2 Recognize that the purpose of competition is to promote the physical, mental, social, and emotional well being of the individual players and that the most important values of competition are derived from playing the game fairly. Coaches must recognize the tremendous influence they have on their student-athletes and must never place the value of winning above the value of instilling the highest ideals of character. Coaches must never exert pressure on faculty members to give students special consideration.

1.2.1.5.2.3 Be a modest winner and a gracious loser. Sportsmanship shall be a key component of their coaching.

1.2.1.5.2.4 Maintain self control at all times and accept adverse decisions without public display of emotion or dissatisfaction with the officials. Register disagreement through proper channels. Coaches shall exert their influence to enhance sportsmanship by spectators.

1.2.1.5.2.5 Employ accepted educational methods in coaching and give players an opportunity to develop and use initiative, leadership, and judgment.

1.2.1.5.2.6 Pay close attention to the physical well-being of players, refusing to jeopardize the health of an individual for the sake of improving their team's chances to win. Coaches must be properly informed of all required national, state and local safety policies and procedures.

1.2.1.5.2.7 Teach athletes that it is better to lose fairly than to win unfairly.

1.2.1.5.2.8 Establish policies which discourage the unlawful use of drugs, medications, and non-prescribed drugs. Coaches shall set an example to athletes by not using these products in their presence. Do not allow gambling, profanity, abusive language, and similar violations of the true sportsman's or sportswoman's code.

1.2.1.5.2.9 Refuse to disparage an opponent, an official, or others associated with interscholastic athletics and discourage gossip and rumors about them. Actively set an example of respect and support for contest officials and opponents. Coaches must be highly ethical in all forums, chat rooms and all forms of social media and communication regarding the sport and participants.

1.2.1.5.2.10 Properly supervise the athletes under their immediate care.

1.2.1.5.2.11 Enforce school policies regarding bullying, hazing, and taunting and never tolerate any of these actions by team members or others.

1.2.1.5.2.12 Know the playing rules and procedures of their sport and teach them to team members. Coaches shall insist upon strict compliance with all DIAA rules and regulations and never seek an advantage by circumvention of the spirit or letter of the rules.

1.2.1.5.2.13 Never illegally recruit athletes.

1.2.1.5.3 Participants (athletes and cheerleaders) shall:

1.2.1.5.3.1 Be responsible for the perpetuation of interscholastic athletics. Strive to enhance the image of athletics not only as a member of a team but also as a member of their school and community.

1.2.1.5.3.2 Be courteous to the visiting team. The opponent wants to excel as much as the home team. Respect their efforts.

1.2.1.5.3.3 Play hard to the limit of personal ability regardless of discouragement. The true athlete does not give up, quarrel, cheat, bet, or grandstand.

1.2.1.5.3.4 Be modest when successful and be gracious in defeat. A true sportsman or sportswoman does not offer excuses for failure.

1.2.1.5.3.5 Understand and observe the playing rules of the game and the standards of eligibility.

1.2.1.5.3.6 Respect the integrity and judgment of the officials and accept their decisions without complaint.

1.2.1.5.3.7 Respect the facilities of the host school and do not violate the trust entailed in being a guest.

1.2.1.5.3.8 Refrain from participating in or encouraging the acts of bullying, hazing, and taunting.

1.2.1.5.3.9 Respect others including fellow students, athletes, opponents, coaches, officials in all areas including public forums and social media. Display highly ethical conduct in all forums, chat rooms and all forms of social media and communication.

1.2.1.5.4 Officials: Officials at an interscholastic athletic event are participants in the educational development of high school students. As such, they must exercise a high level of self-discipline, independence and responsibility. Therefore, officials shall:

1.2.1.5.4.1 Know the rules and interpretations and mechanics of their sport and be thoroughly trained to administer them. Be prepared and qualified both mentally and physically for the contest they are officiating, dress neatly and appropriately, and comport themselves in a manner consistent with the high standards of the profession.

1.2.1.5.4.2 Maintain self control in all situations and with all persons.

1.2.1.5.4.3 When enforcing the rules, do not make gestures or comments that will embarrass the players or coaches. Be mindful that their conduct influences the respect and conduct of students, coaches and the public. Remember the field, court, pool or mat is a classroom.

1.2.1.5.4.4 Be impartial and fair, yet firm, in all decisions. A good official will not attempt to compensate later for an unpopular decision.

1.2.1.5.4.5 Refrain from commenting upon or discussing a team, player, or game situation with those not immediately concerned. This shall include all forms of public communication and social media. The official must be highly ethical in all forums, chat rooms and all forms of social media and communication regarding the sport and participants.

1.2.1.5.4.6 Conduct the game so as to enlist the cooperation of the players, coaches, and spectators in promoting good sportsmanship. Set a professional example by being punctual and under control at all times. Uphold the honor and dignity of the profession in all interaction with student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, school administrators, colleagues and the public.

1.2.1.5.4.7 Refrain from participating in or encouraging the acts of bullying, hazing, and taunting. Do not tolerate nor let go unpenalized any of these actions.

1.2.1.5.4.8 Be educated in all national, state and local safety procedures that are required of them. Work with event management and the state association to eliminate unsafe conditions or situations.

1.2.1.5.5 Spectators shall:

1.2.1.5.5.1 Realize that they represent the school just as definitely as does a member of the team, and that they have an obligation to be a true sportsman or sportswoman and to encourage through their behavior the practice of good sportsmanship by others.

1.2.1.5.5.2 Recognize that good sportsmanship is more important than victory by approving and applauding good team play, individual skill, and outstanding examples of sportsmanship and fair play exhibited by either team. The following are some examples of poor sportsmanship which shall not be tolerated:

1.2.1.5.5.2.1 Profanity, vulgarity, obscene gestures, abusive language, or derogatory remarks.

1.2.1.5.5.2.2 Throwing objects.

1.2.1.5.5.2.3 Going onto the playing surface and interrupting a contest.

1.2.1.5.5.2.4 Use of alcohol or other controlled substances.

1.2.1.5.5.3 Respect the judgment and integrity of the officials, recognizing that their decisions are based upon game conditions as they observe them.

1.2.1.5.5.4 Treat visiting teams and officials as guests extending to them every courtesy.

1.2.1.5.5.5 Be modest in victory and gracious in defeat.

1.2.1.5.5.6 Refrain from participating in or encouraging the acts of bullying, hazing, and taunting.

Notes

14 Del. Admin. Code § 1023-1.0

11 DE Reg. 1635 (06/01/08)
15 DE Reg. 72 (07/01/11)
19 DE Reg. 493 (12/1/2015)
22 DE Reg. 162 (8/1/2018)
23 DE Reg. 114 (8/1/2019) (Final)