1. Sportsmanship

2. Goal Promote sportsmanship
Communicate with players, coaches and game administration
Communicate with the IHSA in appropriate manner

3. Communication Pre-contest conference with captain(s) and head coach
Emphasize sportsmanship
Negative actions will not be tolerated
Review procedures for handling unsportsmanlike acts
Review procedures for captains and coaches to approach officials

4. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Inappropriate behavior is not always directed at the official it could be:
coach to player
coach to opponent
player to opponent
spectator to team
spectator to official

5. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Don’t just focus on the playing field, mat or court
Give proper verbal warning for prevention
Defuse rather than abuse
Administer proper penalty
use yellow, 15 yd penalty, technical, ect. If at all possible before an ejection is made

6. Communication to IHSA
Use special report form to communicate any inappropriate behavior to the IHSA
With any ejection it is mandatory that the official file a special report form describing the reason for the ejection and contact the school verbally or in writing about the incident.
Make sure that an ejection is warranted. It is not acceptable to tell a coach or school after the fact that “I guess it wasn’t that bad” If possible use your partner(s).

7. Trouble with a spectator
Your communication obligation is with the schools, players and coaches
Do not get into confrontation with a spectator.
If you need to have a spectator ejected, it is the host school’s responsibility to have that spectator removed. The official should never deal with the removal of that spectator or try to stop a spectator from leaving.

8. Key Components For Promoting Sportsmanship
Accept your role in an unassuming manner
Showboating and over-officiating are not acceptable
Maintain confidence, poise and control
Know the rules thoroughly and abide by the established code of ethics
Publicly shake hands with both coaches prior to the contest

9. Key Components For Promoting Sportsmanship
Never exhibit emotions or argue with participants and coaches
When watching a contest as a spectator, give the officials the same respect you expect to receive when working a contest.

10. REMEMBER
The day you stop learning as an official is the day you start to deteriorate. High school programs are improving every year, it is the job of the official to grow with the game or sport.
To grow and improve as an official, you must be open to constructive criticism from others. Use each contest as a learning experience.
Even the best officials make mistakes