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1.
Sportsmanship:
Taunting and baiting an opponent
is contrary to the basic concept of fair play and honorable
competition. Profane language and taunting is exactly the
opposite of the type of conduct and behavior which
participation is intended to teach.
The game provides countless
opportunities for players to show good sportsmanship.
Profane language, taunting and
baiting simply cannot be tolerated as part of an educational
program and educational experience.
Officials must strictly enforce
the rules which prohibit such unsportsmanlike conduct. If
everyone involved in the game does their job, these
undesirable acts will no longer be part of interscholastic
sports.
Sometimes, we blame this negative
aspect of interscholastic sports on what is being seen at
other levels. In reality we all have the power and obligation
to stand up and say “this isn’t going to happen at our level”,
and unfortunately we don’t do that often enough.
Interscholastic athletes may be the last stronghold or
discipline in our society and we cannot accept any acts that
would diminish the role of athletics.
Too often, officials allow
profane language, taunting and baiting to occur without
penalty. Too often, officials will repeatedly warn players to
stop verbal exchanges, but they never penalize. The rules have
no provisions for warning players concerning profane language,
taunting or baiting. Any warning, as such, should be
communicated to the captains and coaches during the pre-game
meeting.
Tolerating this behavior, or
looking the other way, is not going to help solve the problem.
Officials simply cannot allow profane language, taunting and
baiting to become an accepted part of the game. In many
states, officials are required to report unsportsmanlike
incidences. This should be done without hesitation.
Coaches must take a visible
leadership role in this issue. Since the coaches are the most
influential persons in teaching good sportsmanship, one of
their fundamental responsibilities is to inspire players to
conduct themselves in a manner which best represents the
values of high school sports. Coaches must stress respect for
opposing players and tolerate no conduct which demeans or
embarrasses the opponent.
2.
Mouth Guards
Anyone who participates in a
sport that requires a significant risk of injury should wear a
mouth guard.
An athlete is 60 times more
likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a
protective mouth guard. Every athlete involved in contact
sports has about a 10% chance per season of an orofacial
injury, or a 33% to 56% chance during and athletic career.
(Facts from the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety).
Typically, the mouth guard protects the upper teeth. It can
cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken
teeth and especially injuries to the soft tissue of the mouth,
tongue and lips. It also protects the opponent. If orthodontic
braces or any other dental appliance is needed on the lower
jaw, the dentist or orthodontist may suggest a mouth guard for
the entire mouth.
A properly fitted mouth guard
will stay in place while it is being worn. It will be easy to
talk and breathing will not be impaired. There are three types
of mouth guards: stock, boil and bite, and custom fitted.
Stock mouth guards are inexpensive and come preformed. They
may not be the best choice for athletes because they are bulky
and can make it slightly difficult to talk but has little
affect on breathing. Boil and bite are also inexpensive and
are the most common found in high school sports. Directions
for forming the mouth guard should be followed step by step.
Custom fitted mouth protectors are the best type to consider,
but are the most expensive. A dentist or an orthodontist
should make them as a mold is taken of the mouth and then the
mouth guard is formed from the mold using different
techniques.
When players trim mouth guards so
as to give the appearance of being worn so coaches and
officials will not penalize is not to be tolerated. It is not
worth the potential risk of injury to negate the designed
purpose of the mouth guard. It is the responsibility of
administrators, coaches and officials to see that the rule is
complied with. Parents are the key to compliance. If they will
convey the importance to their son or daughter of wearing this
minimally priced equipment item, all parties, particularly the
player will see less down time.
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Playing Field Specifications:
The first criteria in providing
equitable conditions is to provide proper field conditions.
Concerns have been raised regarding improper field size and/or
markings. It is the responsibility of the home administration
to provide a legal size playing field that is marked
correctly. That includes, but is not limited to:
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Proper length and
width
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Complete and
correct field markings
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Coaches area
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Bench area
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Penalty area
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Limit lines
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Proper placement of
pylons/cones
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