Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Policy on Sportsmanship and Ethical Behavior (Adopted May 20, 2003)

I. PREAMBLE

The PSAC is committed to developing sportsmanship and creating healthy environments for competition. We believe that part of the role of education through sports is to educate all participants in athletic contests to conduct themselves with civility, dignity and respect for opponents.

II. RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Institutional: The athletics director shall review annually with all athletics groups (coaches, student-athletes and spirit groups; cheerleaders and bands) precisely what is meant by unacceptable conduct, as set forth in this document.

B. Commissioner: The Commissioner of the PSAC is expected to monitor and enforce the Conference policy on sportsmanship and ethical conduct. Institutions and their personnel are expected to fully cooperate with the Commissioner’s effort to investigate alleged unsportsmanlike or unethical behavior.

The commissioner shall:

* monitor the assignment, education and conduct of game officials, in sports for which the conference employs a single assignor, as it relates to this policy on sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

* inform all officials’ organizations of and work with them to implement this policy.

* recommend the sanction of officials who do not adhere to the requirements of this policy.

* assess penalties, when appropriate, for improper behavior not detected or properly addressed at the contest, or subsequently by the institutions involved.

C. Athletics Administrators: It is incumbent upon institutional administrators to create a civil environment for all athletic contests and a hospitable setting for visiting teams.

Each host institution is required to designate a game manager for each home basketball and football contest and is encouraged to do so for all other contests. The host athletics administrator has the authority to suspend immediately any contest that develops into an unsafe environment for either participants or spectators.

D. Coaches: Coaches have the most significant degree of influence over whether the student-athletes in their programs are taught and follow high standards of sportsmanship.

The coach shall:

* display appropriate sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

* teach and reinforce player’s proper sportsmanship and ethical conduct.

* make every attempt to control the behavior of the coaching staff and players before, during and after the contest.

* if a fight occurs, do everything possible to keep uninvolved players out of the fight.

* report all incidents of unsportsmanlike behavior by their coaching staff or players to their AD immediately after the contest.

E. Officials: Officials in sports for which the conference employs a single assignor shall enforce this policy regarding sportsmanship and ethical conduct. Officials (or officials assignor) will be required to notify the Conference Office of all unsportsmanlike acts and misconduct penalties assessed within 24 hours of a contest. Officials may be subject to sanctions should they fail to adhere to these policies.

F. Student-Athletes: PSAC student-athletes must understand that they are perhaps the most visible representatives of their institutions. Student-athletes at PSAC institutions are expected to treat opponents with civility, dignity and respect. There will be no tolerance for taunting of opponents, fighting or other acts of aggression.

G. Spirit Groups: Like our student-athletes, these groups are visible representatives of our universities. As such, we place high expectations on them for proper conduct. Cheerleaders, band and other spirit groups are admitted to contests at the pleasure of our institutions to support their teams and assist in creating an exciting and enjoyable atmosphere. Efforts to disrupt, confront or otherwise harass opponents will not be tolerated. The host athletics administrator has the authority to eject any spirit group from a contest.

H. Spectators: The Conference hopes and believes that the establishment of the principles outlined in this policy will create an atmosphere that will attract more fans to our events and ensure their safety. The PSAC Conduct Statement shall be read prior to each contest where there is an announcer. It is expected that all spectators will behave in an appropriate manner. It is the responsibility of the host athletics administrator to monitor the behavior of spectators and when necessary, eject them from the site.

III. DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND PENALTIES

It is clear that if incidents of unsportsmanlike or unethical behavior are to be curtailed then constant, consistent and considerable penalties must be assessed. Stated below are the minimum sanctions the Conference, the Commissioner and member institutions must assess and enforce. Each institution may want to establish or assess more stringent sanctions when desired and warranted. More stringent, sport specific NCAA rules will take precedence.

A. Individual Penalties. Unsportsmanlike conduct shall subject the individual to disciplinary action. The member university with which the offending individual is associated may also be subject to disciplinary action if it is found that the member university’s policies, action, or failure to act substantially contributed to the individual’s misconduct.

Violators of acts of unsportsmanlike conduct shall be subject to the penalties specified below by the Commissioner or designee. Notwithstanding any of the penalties described herein, the Commissioner or designee, upon a finding of mitigating factors has the authority to impose a penalty that is consistent with the finding of mitigating factors.

Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. In the event that a player is removed from a game by an official for unsportsmanlike behavior or other acts of misconduct:

a. First offense: the player shall not be permitted to participate in the next contest.

b. Second offense: a second ejection (during the same season) shall result in a two game suspension.

c. Third offense: a third ejection shall result in a suspension for the remainder of the season and a career suspension from participation in the PSAC may be considered.

An appeal of these sanctions may only take place within the context allowable under the NCAA rules for the particular sport. This would apply to all post-season contests.

2. Striking or attempting to strike or otherwise physically abusing an official, opposing coach, spectator or athlete. Any person committing such an act shall be subject to the following penalties:

a. First offense: A public reprimand and suspension for up to 50% of the scheduled contests in the sport as deemed appropriate.

b.Repeat offense: A public reprimand and suspension for such number of additional contests as deemed appropriate.

3. Intentionally, or with careless disregard for one’s conduct, inciting participants or spectators to violent or abusive action. Violators shall be subject to the following penalties:

a. First offense: A public reprimand and suspension for up to 20% of the scheduled contests in the sport.

b. Repeat offense: A public reprimand and suspension for such number of additional contests as deemed appropriate.

4. Using obscene gestures or profane or unduly provocative language or action toward an official, university official, student, coach or spectator. Violators shall be subject to the following penalties:

a. First offense: A public reprimand for the first offense.

b. Repeat offense: A public reprimand and suspension for up to 20% of the scheduled contests in the sport.

5. Publicly and unduly criticizing a game official, Conference personnel, another member university, or a student-athlete or personnel of another member university. Violators shall be subject to the following penalties:

1. First offense: A public reprimand.

2. Repeat offense: A public reprimand and a one-game suspension

6. Committing any act of unsportsmanlike conduct not specifically described above shall subject violators to any of the described penalties which the Commissioner or designee determines most suitably addresses the conduct involved. In addition to any penalty that may be assessed, the Commissioner or designee may take such remedial action believed to be proper to deter any future unsportsmanlike conduct.

IV. DEFINITION AND APPLICATION OF TERMS

A. Suspension – Student-Athlete: A student-athlete shall not participate and shall not be present in the playing venue in the designated number of contests, but may practice. Exceptions for multi-game events may be made in consultation with the Conference Office.

B. Carrying Penalty Over to Next Season: Whenever a penalty or suspension is imposed at or near to the end of a season of competition, the penalty may be carried over into the next season of competition.

C. Post-Season Penalties: These policies will also be in effect for post-season competition while penalties may be served during post-season competition.

D. Jurisdiction of Policies: These policies cover all acts of unsportsmanlike behavior occurring en route to, from or at the locale of the practices and competition involving member institutions of the PSAC.

V. PROCEDURE

The following procedures shall apply to acts of unsportsmanlike conduct listed in this Agreement.

A. Notification: The Commissioner or designee, shall notify the institution’s Director of Athletics relative to acts of unsportsmanlike conduct. Upon mutual agreement of the Commissioner or designee and the institution, the time limits stated herein may be waived to facilitate the review and reporting requirements of unsportsmanlike conduct.

B. Report to Commissioner. Within two business days of its becoming aware, by the Commissioner or designee or any other source, of any unsportsmanlike or possible unsportsmanlike conduct involving an individual associated with it, a member university, through its Director of Athletics, is to submit a report to the Commissioner or designee on its behalf and on behalf of the involved individual containing all information they have regarding its institutional position relative to the unsportsmanlike or possible unsportsmanlike conduct, including the identity of each individual involved in the matter, the penalty and remedial action, if any, which the member university has assessed or taken or proposes to assess or take. The University President shall receive a copy of this report simultaneous with its transmission to the PSAC Office. Within two business days of receipt of the report from the member university or, in that instance where a member university has not submitted a report, within two business days of the date on which the report was to have been submitted, the Commissioner or designee is to determine whether an act of unsportsmanlike conduct has occurred.

C. Review of Institutional Action.

1. Agreement with Institutional Action: If the Commissioner or designee determines that such conduct has not occurred or that it has and the penalty or remedial action assessed or taken or proposed by the member university appears adequate, the Commissioner or designee is to submit a report to that effect to the member university within two business days of receipt of the report from the member university. A press release announcing the findings of the report will be made by the PSAC Office.

2. Disagreement with Institutional Action: When the Commissioner or designee does not concur with the penalty assessed or remedial action taken, if any, by a member university for an act of unsportsmanlike conduct, the Commissioner or designee shall give written notice of this decision to the member university involved within two business days of receipt of the member university’s report or within two business days of the date when the report was to have been submitted. This notice is to contain a brief statement regarding the findings of fact, the penalty and remedial action to be imposed by the Commissioner or designee and reasons for the penalty and remedial action. The notice shall be sent to the Director of Athletics with a copy to the President. The penalty and remedial action are to take effect within two days following receipt by the member university unless an appeal is taken in accordance with the following provisions:

a. Appeal.

In the event that the individual or member university involved believes the penalty or remedial action set forth by the Commissioner is inappropriate because the violation did not occur, or because the penalty or remedial action is excessive, either the individual or the member university, through the member university’s President, has the right to appeal the matter to the Infractions Committee (a subcommittee of the Advisory Council). The appeal is to be submitted by the member university, giving the Commissioner or designee notice of the findings, penalty and remedial action.

b. Hearing by the Infractions Committee.
Should a majority of the members of the Infractions Committee object to the Commissioner’s or designee’s report within two business days of their receipt of the appeal, the Committee shall conduct a prompt hearing, in person or by telephone as a majority of its members determine, giving the individual and member university an opportunity to be heard. The individual may be represented by counsel. The member university is to be represented by its Athletics Director. The Commissioner or designee, the individual, and the member university may present evidence to the Committee. The Committee may reaffirm, set aside, reduce, or increase the penalty and remedial action set by the Commissioner or designee as it deems appropriate. The Committee is to give the individual and member university written notice of its decision and its reason for such within three business days of the close of the hearing. The decision, to be made by a majority of the members of the Infractions Committee, is final.