Booing Ban at High School Games??
 

Officials Weigh Booing Ban at High School Games

Some High School Sporting Officials in Washington State Want to Throw Unsportsmanlike Behavior Off the Field

March 4, 2007 — - From brawls on professional basketball courts to out-of-control parents at Little League games, unsportsmanlike behavior can be a problem.

Now, some high school sporting officials in Washington state are considering tough new rules -- including a ban on booing.

Those who support the ban say that too often, spectators are cruel.
"It's the organized effort to try to intimidate or try to make fun of someone that becomes personal in nature that can escalate then into other concerns that we might have," said Mike Colbrese, executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Colbrese and his colleagues said they have trouble hiring coaches and referees because of the abuse they take. By banning booing from the stands, they believe they can create a more welcoming environment on the court and field.

Experts agree that behavior at school sports events is not what it used to be.

"Parents are more intense, family members are more intense, siblings are more intense," said Christine Brennan, a USA Today sports columnist and ABC News consultant. "Everything is ratcheted up."

The Interscholastic Association claims it just wants to reinforce good sportsmanship.

"I'm trying to figure out why people think booing is acceptable in the first place," Colbrese said.

The Boo Police?

At the Washington state high school basketball championships Saturday night, the fans were on their best behavior. But some weren't pleased that their right to boo might be taken away.

"The crowd should be able to say what they want to say," said one woman. "They pay their money. They should be able to boo if they want to.

Another fan was skeptical about how officials could police booing.
"What are they going to do, put everybody out of the stadium?" she asked.

Even Brennan can't picture a stadium free of negative commentary from the stands.

"I wouldn't know what to do if I were at a sporting event and no one booed," she said.

For now, spectators of high school sports can heckle and holler with the best of them. But if officials have their way in Washington state, fan behavior will improve -- no ifs, ands or boos.

Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures

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BOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Why don't they just make everyone wear dresses to school on the west coast.

The pussification of America continues. :rolleyes:

It's an unfortunate result of out of control parents.
I see it all the time at little league games. I instruct my parents to not yell at umpires or respond to taunts or comments directed at their son from opposing teams.


There are physical altercations every year.

:lame:

Kids at games can booooo the kids playing the games. parents should justSTFU. Adults can booo adults playing professional sports and in both cases the ones on the field/court should worry only about doing thier job in the game, and think about the fans just getting involved with the game, good or bad, not to take is personally.

Bob Dole has only attended high school football games around here, and the only booing has been aimed at the officials.

WTF boos little kids and high school kids? I have never seen that happen ever.

yup, it's a shame. :shake:

I played soccer throughout high school at a school that was pretty passionate about the sport, and booing was a regular occurence. Some of my favorite games ever were on the hostile turf of our rivals'.

I have, once.

At the Chiefs-Colts playoffs game a few years back, they had the Punt Pass & Kick finalists do their thing, and each child had a jersey representing a team.

The children wearing the Colts, Broncos and Raiders jersies all got bood.

I fell bad for you then....none of the kids probably had on a Chiefs jersey. You probably didn't get to cheer for any of them. :)

Why don't we just give everyone a trophy for showing up and not play the game at all. Jesus Christ....

Thats bc those kids were dumb a$$es. :)

Now I have never seen people really boo in a game, yeah I have seen them do it at the ref and coaches but they are grown men who should be able to take punishment.