No Spectators At All - Empty Gym - This means exactly what it says. The game is played in front of no fans. This usually happens when the fans are out of control. Usually, the community reacts poorly when this occurs and many schools will create an exemption for family members or people accompanied by family members. An example of the exemption for immediate family members occurred in Florida where community pressure led a school to change from an empty gym to a ban on all but immediate family members.
See Palatka Softens Ban On Basketball Spectators by Justin Barney, St. Augustine Record, January 16, 2008.
Also, see No Arrests Expected in Football Game Fight, NBC 4, Frederick, MD, September 9, 2008. Spectator brawls at a high school contest between Frederick and Tuscarora high schools leads to game being played in an empty stadium.
Also, see Citing Safety Concerns, Taft, Woodward Limit Fans For Friday's Varsity Basketball Game, reported by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 31, 2023.
The Chaperone Policy: Under this plan, no student could attend a contest unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. This plan clearly intends to limit student disciplinary problems. It is not so much a plan designed to teach or promote sportsmanship as it is is a plan to quash the problems created by unruly, poorly supervised youth. The plan was not well received when enacted at Rich South High School in Rich Township, Illinois as it was perceived as punishing innocent parties and restricting student access to extracurricular activities. Click here for Rich South High School's decision to back away from this plan.
Silent Sidelines: Many national youth programs use silent sidelines days. On a silent sidelines day, spectators can come to the game, and they can applaud, but they can't make comments to players, coaches or referees. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association uses this concept. They have silent sidelines weekends. Andrea Duffy, the CJSA President, has been quoted as saying, "The object of the weekends are to provide each player with one weekend free from all the distractions caused by parents or coaches screaming or yelling directions at them."
Spectator Conduct Codes: An excellent idea: Tell the parents and spectators what you expect from them in advance. You can do this in a pre-season parents' meeting, and you can supplement it by handing out conduct cards at the game sites. Click here for a sample spectator conduct code from the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation.
Spectator Education: Click here for information on Sioux Falls's spectator education efforts. Crossing The Line: Administrators Struggle To Keep Cheers From Turning Personal, Sioux Falls Argus, Feb. 22, 2004 by Brenda Wade Schmidt.
Spectator Education: Click here for the Wake County, North Carolina Public School System's Sportsmanship Education Brochure
See Palatka Softens Ban On Basketball Spectators by Justin Barney, St. Augustine Record, January 16, 2008.
Also, see No Arrests Expected in Football Game Fight, NBC 4, Frederick, MD, September 9, 2008. Spectator brawls at a high school contest between Frederick and Tuscarora high schools leads to game being played in an empty stadium.
Also, see Citing Safety Concerns, Taft, Woodward Limit Fans For Friday's Varsity Basketball Game, reported by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 31, 2023.
The Chaperone Policy: Under this plan, no student could attend a contest unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. This plan clearly intends to limit student disciplinary problems. It is not so much a plan designed to teach or promote sportsmanship as it is is a plan to quash the problems created by unruly, poorly supervised youth. The plan was not well received when enacted at Rich South High School in Rich Township, Illinois as it was perceived as punishing innocent parties and restricting student access to extracurricular activities. Click here for Rich South High School's decision to back away from this plan.
Silent Sidelines: Many national youth programs use silent sidelines days. On a silent sidelines day, spectators can come to the game, and they can applaud, but they can't make comments to players, coaches or referees. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association uses this concept. They have silent sidelines weekends. Andrea Duffy, the CJSA President, has been quoted as saying, "The object of the weekends are to provide each player with one weekend free from all the distractions caused by parents or coaches screaming or yelling directions at them."
Spectator Conduct Codes: An excellent idea: Tell the parents and spectators what you expect from them in advance. You can do this in a pre-season parents' meeting, and you can supplement it by handing out conduct cards at the game sites. Click here for a sample spectator conduct code from the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation.
Spectator Education: Click here for information on Sioux Falls's spectator education efforts. Crossing The Line: Administrators Struggle To Keep Cheers From Turning Personal, Sioux Falls Argus, Feb. 22, 2004 by Brenda Wade Schmidt.
Spectator Education: Click here for the Wake County, North Carolina Public School System's Sportsmanship Education Brochure
