Berkshire High Schools Release Statement on Fan Behavior at Athletic Events
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County superintendents, principals, and athletic directors have released a statement addressing fan behavior and sportsmanship at high school athletic contests.
Ahead of the Winter Sports Season, all Berkshire County superintendents and principals met to discuss concerns regarding conduct at school sponsored athletic events. As a result of this meeting, a message was crafted as a reminder of the expectations for conduct at all sporting events.
According to the statement:
Berkshire County superintendents, principals, and athletic directors feel that there is a need to address fan behavior and sportsmanship at high school athletic contests that are not in keeping with our schools' core values and beliefs. We believe it is imperative that all participants and attendees experience a sense of belonging at these events. This means all student-athletes, coaches, and officials should be able to carry out their duties on the field of competition without fear of verbal or physical attacks. Behavior by students, coaches, fans, or other attendees that is unwelcoming or hostile will not be
tolerated. All of our schools strive to provide inclusive and family-friendly events. In an effort to maximize the value of educational athletics, we have agreed upon the following priorities as we head into the winter athletic season:
- All superintendents have committed to providing comprehensive communication to community stakeholders to ensure consistency in messages regarding conduct at sporting events.
- All superintendents have committed to providing appropriate staffing at each event to supervise and monitor participants and fans.
- All coaches, student-athletes, and administrators will model the expectations for good sportsmanship at each event.
- All schools have agreed upon a minimum 2-week suspension period for fans removed from an event.
- All schools will continue to reinforce and model MIAA guidelines.
- Finally, we appreciate our school communities for supporting our athletic programs. All fans should feel welcome in all venues. Sportsmanship is the expectation. Let the players play, let the coaches coach, and let the officials officiate.
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