Sportsmanship
The Intramural Sports Program's goal is participant
recreation and enjoyment. It is expected that all participants will conduct
themselves in a manner that will not impair the enjoyment of other participants.
All actions and comments, whether directed at game Officials, opponents,
teammates or spectators should be constructive and conducive to fulfilling this
goal.
The Intramural Sports Program insists on good
sportsmanship. To foster a positive atmosphere and attitude for recreation and
competition and encourage teams and individuals to take responsibility for their
actions and comments, Intramural Sports Staff will review each contest to
determine whether actions that are detrimental to the goal of the Program were
exhibited.
Actions that are dangerous and/or conduct that is
detrimental to the goal of the Program are not tolerated and are grounds for
suspension from further participation in Intramural Sports.
Examples of un-sportsmanlike behavior and conduct
detrimental to the goal of the Program include, but are not limited to:
A. Ejections
Any coach, participant or spectator ejected from an
Intramural Sports contest for any form of un-sportsmanlike conduct is suspended
indefinitely. In most instances, the suspension is for a minimum of one game*.
Based on information from the individual's behavior,
reinstatement meeting, game Officials, Program policies, and precedent cases, a
decision is generally rendered within 48 hours. Written notice and/or a phone
call regarding the decision rendered is made to the individual at the address or
phone number provided.
To be reinstated for participation in Intramural Sports,
the ejected individual must meet with the Intramural Supervisor or the
Coordinator of Intramural Sports. Meetings take place at the availability of
Intramural Sport Staff and must be scheduled appointments. Call (970) 247-7575
to schedule an appointment. Failure to meet with one of the above individuals
maintains the suspension in full effect.
*Note: If an ejected individual plays more than one
Intramural Sport, the suspension is in effect until after the individuals’
next game for the team he was playing when he was ejected. For example, Joe
Participant plays Soccer in a Comp league. Joe also plays Basketball on
Wednesday and Volleyball on Thursday. If Joe is ejected during Soccer, he must
sit out his next Basketball, Volleyball, and Soccer games. If he meets with an
Intramural Sports Staff member to be reinstated, he may participate in
Basketball the second week pending reinstatement.
Penalty: A team using a suspended player
forfeits all games that the suspended player participates in. Teams knowingly
using such a player may face additional sanctions.
B. Probation
Participants ejected from a contest are placed on probation
for 365 days from the date of the incident. Any further un-sportsmanlike
behavior during this probationary period results in a minimum 365-day suspension
from all Intramural Sports and Special Events activities.
C. Fighting
Any coach, participant or spectator who, in the judgment of
Intramural Sports Staff, engages in an attempt to fight immediately before,
during or after an Intramural Sports contest is suspended indefinitely from
further participation in Intramural Sports activities.
The minimum suspension for fighting is 365 days.
Based on information from the individual's behavior,
reinstatement meeting, game Officials, Program policies, and precedent cases, a
decision is generally rendered within 48 hours. Written notice and/or a phone
call regarding the decision rendered is made to the individual at the address or
phone number provided.
Behavior classified as fighting includes, but is not
limited to:
- striking
or attempting to strike an individual.
- engaging
an individual in a combative manner.
- throwing
a punch at an individual.
- spitting
at an individual.
- kicking
or attempting to kick an individual.
- brandishing
a foreign object or weapon with intent to harm, injure, or intimidate an
individual.
- retaliating
against an aggressive act.
Penalty: A team using a suspended player
forfeits all games that the suspended player participates in. Teams knowingly
using such a player may face additional sanctions.
D. Fighting with Intramural Sports and Recreational
Services Staff
Any coach, participant or spectator that fights or attempts
to fight with or attempts an aggressive act toward an Intramural Sports or
Recreational Services staff member is suspended from participation in Intramural
Sports activities for a minimum of five years.
Penalty: A team using a suspended player
forfeits all games that the suspended player participates in. Teams knowingly
using such a player may face additional sanctions.
E. Leaving the Bench Area to Participate in an
Altercation
Any bench personnel, coach, participant or spectator that
leaves the bench or coaching area to participate in an altercation is
automatically ejected. The suspension is a mandatory one game suspension* (see
note on one game suspensions above). In all instances, the Intramural Sports
Handbook's policies on "Fighting" and "Fighting with Intramural
Sports and Campus Recreation Staff" take precedence.
F. Office of Student Conduct
In some instances, the Intramural Sports Office will
forward copies of Incident Reports to the campus' Judicial Affairs Office.
Intramural Sports participants involved in threats or acts of verbal assault or
physical violence are subject to possible Student Conduct proceedings and
investigation from Fort Lewis College law enforcement. Incidents where violence
or the threat of violence is demonstrated are referred to the Judicial
Affairs Office and the Fort Lewis College Police Department.
G. Sportsmanship Ratings
In order for a team to advance into the playoffs, it must
receive an average or better sportsmanship rating during the regular season.
Over the course of a four-game season, teams must accumulate sixteen (16)
Sportsmanship Points. In games that are forfeited the teams that forfeit shall
receive three sportsmanship points.
Following each contest the game Officials rate team
conduct. For sports officiated by more than one individual, the rating is a
consensus reached by all game Officials.
Sportsmanship Ratings are based on, but not limited to, the
following guidelines and are given after each Intramural Sports contest:
Your team displays excellent sportsmanship and treats the
opponent with respect throughout the game. The team respects Intramural Sports
Officials and Staff and accepts all their decisions without dissent, gestures or
arguments. The Team Manager exhibits control over members of his team. Team
members maintain an attitude of complete cooperation with staff and display
self-control at all times. Your team arrives early enough to allow Intramural
Sports Officials to complete administrative tasks and start the contest on time.
Your team displays good sportsmanship. The team plays hard
but within the spirit of the rules. Team members show respect for Intramural
Sports Officials and Staff, and generally, accept their decisions without
dissent. Your team is mostly cooperative with game Officials and opponents. The
Team Manager is able to control his players.
Your team keeps complaints regarding game Official's
judgment to a minimum. The team competes without incident, wins without
boasting, loses without excuses, and does not display any poor sportsmanship.
The Team Manager is able to control most of the members of his team.
The team has a coach or player that may have been ejected
for abusive language or remarks. There is persistent questioning of game
Officials' judgment and/or repeated arguing. Spectators, clearly related to the
team, fail to cooperate with the Intramural Sports Officials and Staff. The Team
Manager is disinterested in keeping members of his team under control.
This team may have one or more coaches and/or players
ejected for abusive language and/or remarks or fighting. There may have been an
altercation where several team members left their positions or the bench area to
become involved in the disturbance. Players are so antagonistic that the contest
cannot be played with proper order and control. The Team Manager provides little
or no cooperation with Intramural Sports Officials and Staff during the contest.
Players disregard warnings of unnecessary roughness by game Officials and/or
continue to engage in misconduct after warnings by the game Officials.
Note: Teams that do not receive a minimum of two
Sportsmanship Points during a playoff game do not advance into the following
round of playoffs.
Note: As deemed necessary, all incidents of severe
Un-sportsmanlike behavior are reviewed by the Coordinator of Intramural Sports
and may carry individual and team penalties and/or suspensions even if penalties
such as ejection and low Sportsmanship Ratings have already been imposed by
Intramural Sports Officials and Staff.
H. Game Card Signatures
After the conclusion of every officiated game, it is the
responsibility of both Team Managers to confirm the final score as well as
Sportsmanship points received. Team Managers will be asked by the Officials to
initial game cards indicating that they agree with the total score and
acknowledge the Sportsmanship rating received.
