Fans who are ejected from a high school sporting event in Kentucky could face a minimal suspension in the upcoming school year. In an effort to minimize unruly behavior from spectators, the KHSAA Board of Control approved a policy that would punish those fans with at least a single-event ban.
The new policy, adopted during Wednesday’s board meeting, will go into effect for the 2019-20 school year. While there is reference to discipline of fans in the KHSAA Handbook, there is no specific punishment for an ejection.
According to the new rule: “Any adult spectator (adult who is not listed on the current roster of coaches for the school) at any KHSAA sanctioned interscholastic event (scrimmage, regular or postseason contest) who is removed by school administrators or by law enforcement (whether or not referred by an official) shall be suspended from attending, at minimum, the next contest at that level of competition and all other contests at any level in the interim.”
The policy was approved to further promote sportsmanship and support contest officials and administrators. KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett said he hopes it will help deter negative behavior up front so officials don’t have to implement the penalty.
“It is my sincere hope, and I believe that of our board, that this penalty never be implemented and this be yet another tool in the toolbox of our school administrators to address some of the concerns we see throughout the year, ” Tackett said. “Hopefully this is a deterrent that, when implemented in our schools, becomes that one last chance for people to stop short of acting in such an unsportsmanlike manner that ejection is the only option.”
In late January, the KHSAA, in a joint letter with the National Federation of State High School Associations, issued a plea for fans to calm down for the sake of the athletes.
Cases continue to surface in which fans — as well as coaches and school administrators — are not only verbally abusive, but they also physically attack officials. Just last month, an official in Paducah was attacked and knocked unconscious by a coach from Michigan.
All the issues have led to a decline in the number of officials, which has already led to cancelled games in some areas of the state. The new policy is the first step in helping back officials and temper emotions.
