Action by the UHSAA Board of Directors

1. The UHSAA Board of Directors will recommend a By-Laws addition (Article XIII) to the Legislative Council May 5, 1989. This addition if approved by the Council will go to the member schools for vote in April of 1990. The Addition is:
Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Other Drugs

The UHSAA supports the U.S. Supreme Court rulings regarding education. First, to prepare students to be good citizens and second, to teach them to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. Activities of the UHSAA contribute to both of these goals. The use of alcohol, tobacco products or other drugs in almost every instance deters the realization of these two goals. Every effort shall be made at the local, region and state levels of participation to eradicate the promotion, use or abuse of alcohol, drugs and tobacco with regard to participation in high school sports and other student activities. Limitations for participation of students in Utah High School Activities regarding the use of alcohol, tobacco products and other drugs are:
A. First offense: Two week suspension from practice and competition in any UHSAA sponsored activity.
B. Second offense: Six week suspension from practice and competition in any UHSAA sponsored activity.
C. Third offense: One semester suspension from practice and competition in any UHSAA sponsored activity (carried into the next school year where applicable). In all of the above offenses local district or school requirements for discipline, suspension, corrective measures, parental/guardian involvement, rehabilitation, etc. must also be met. However, local district suspensions may not be less than those outlined above. The problems arising from the infusion of alcohol, tobacco products and other drugs into the arena of high school activities makes this policy necessary and local school districts, for the good of students, are encouraged to make enforcement a reality.

2. The UHSAA Office will bulk order the handbook, “A GUIDE FOR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENT-ATHLETES AND THEIR PARENTS”; schools wishing to use this guide may contact the office by letter or by phone and they will be sent to you at the special bulk price. The order has been placed and will be available in the near future.

3. All Regions were reminded that in music as in other activities, “A contract is formed when participant entries are submitted to the state and “no shows” will be fined according to the By-Laws, Breach of Contract Section 10.

4. A sportsmanship general regulation and enforcement procedure will be submitted to the Legislative Council for approval at the May 5th Meeting.

Introduction: The effective Utah secondary school should support both an academic program and an activities program. These programs should do more than merely coexist-- they should be integrated and support each other in “different” arenas. The concept of “sportsmanship” should by taught, modeled, expected and reinforced in the classroom and in all competitive activities.

Philosophy: Activities are an important aspect of the total education process in the Utah schools. They provide an arena for participants to grow, to excel, to understand and to value the concepts of SPORTSMANSHIP and teamwork. They are an opportunity for coaches and school staff to teach and model SPORTSMANSHIP, to build school pride, and to increase student/community involvement; this ultimately translates into improved academic performance. Activities are also an opportunity for the community to demonstrate its support for the participants and the school, and to model the concepts of SPORTSMANSHIP for our youth as respected representatives of society. Sportsmanship is good citizenship in action!

General Regulations:
1. SPORTSMANSHIP is a general way of thinking and behaving. The following sportsmanship policy items are listed below for clarification:
a. Be courteous to all. (participants, coaches, officials, staff and fans)
b. Know the rules, abide by and respect the official’s decisions.
c. Win with character and lose with dignity.
d. Display appreciation for good performance regardless of the team.
e. Exercise self-control and reflect positively upon yourself, team, and school.
f. Permit only positive sportsmanlike behavior to reflect on your school or its activities.
2. Enforcement Procedure:
a. It is recommended that local boards of education adopt these regulations.
b. It is recommended that schools be required to enforce these regulations at the local school level.

****FIGHTING DEFINITION AND PENALTY****

The Head Coach may leave the confines of the bench if a fight may break out or has broken out. Bench personnel other than the head coach who leave the confines of the bench during a fight are disqualified from the game and must go to the locker room or leave the field or arena.

A squad member or team personnel who leaves the bench area during a fight or who participates in a fight during the season or tournament play, will be ejected from that game and suspended from the team’s next regularly scheduled game at that level of play (i.e. varsity, JV, etc.). If that squad member participates in a second fight, he will be suspended for the remainder of the season including tournament competition.

UHSSA, 1989