Pop quiz time. Which of the following items are prohibited at state high school playoff basketball games:
* Preprinted mini pompoms with school slogans
* Giant foam fingers
* Hand-lettered spirit posters
* Artificial noise-makers
* All of the above
If you said the all of the above, you win. Sadly, negative and inappropriate fan conduct has folks at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association discussing the possibility of expanding the guidelines even further for attendees of school-sponsored events. To help promote sportsmanship, a 15-person committee of school administrators is considering adding a new no-no to the list: booing.
While we agree that sportsmanship is important, and that setting a good example is in everyone’s best interest – a ban on booing takes things too far. Besides being silly, how in the world would referees and school officials take on the task of monitoring fan behavior and enforcing such a rule? Would we have to add the boo police to high school games and activities? Would you penalize coaches or teams for their fans’ naughty behavior?
Would cheering for a player named Lou or Drew be cause for ejection? How about shouting “two” when someone drains a jump shot or a ball rattles around the rim and drops in?
We appreciate the challenges faced by the WIAA that led to this discussion. Heckling by abusive fans has made it tough to recruit coaches and referees. However, we’re at a loss to figure out how adding responsibility for fan behavior to a referee’s job will make the position any more attractive to potential candidates.
We agree with the coaches who believe a boo ban is just too extreme. There must be better ways to encourage positive behavior at athletic events that don’t completely stifle individual expression. This proposal merits a resounding boo.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
