School districts across Vermont, in coordination with the Vermont Principals’ Association, want make sure rowdy – and even racist – behavior at high school games doesn’t happen as frequently as it did in previous years.Multiple incidents last season sparked this concern.Enosburg Falls players and fans allegedly directed racist comments at the Winooski boys’ soccer team during a game. South Burlington girls volleyball players were accused of “racial and transphoic slurs” during a match with Burlington. Hartford High School’s girls’ soccer team walked off the field during a game against Fair Haven after they claimed sexual harassment comments were coming from the opposing stands. “The Vermont Principals’ Association takes behavior at games and activities very seriously,” said Jay Nichols, executive director of the VPA. “Each athletic director and administrator has the authority to stop a game and remove any spectator at any time who is not behaving appropriately. Schools can also ban spectators from school property if fans can’t behave in a respectful manner.”The VPA requires schools to read a pregame statement before the start of every event. It explains the consequences of inappropriate behavior including ejection, ending the game, forfeiting, kicking out all fans, and redistricting future games. There is also a new reporting form for anyone who witnesses this behavior at a game. The VPA said this will help them keep track of incidents and identify patterns. They said people still need to report any situations to their school administration as well.Mount Mansfield Union High School has put up signs with the VPA’s pregame statement in all of their athletic facilities. They don’t have a public announcement system, so this is an accessible way for them to get the statement out to everyone attending or participating in the game. “I’d like to say it’s never happened here, but like in any setting, of course it’s happened,” said David Marlow, MMU Director of Student Activities. “These are high school kids, I think the education-based athletics piece that we try to portray here with our student athletes and the lessons being learned and taught are important and they also need to be accepted by those who come to watch the event.”More recommendations and resources for districts, players and fans can be found on the VPA’s website.
School districts across Vermont, in coordination with the Vermont Principals’ Association, want make sure rowdy – and even racist – behavior at high school games doesn’t happen as frequently as it did in previous years.
Multiple incidents last season sparked this concern.
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Enosburg Falls players and fans allegedly directed racist comments at the Winooski boys’ soccer team during a game. South Burlington girls volleyball players were accused of “racial and transphoic slurs” during a match with Burlington. Hartford High School’s girls’ soccer team walked off the field during a game against Fair Haven after they claimed sexual harassment comments were coming from the opposing stands.
“The Vermont Principals’ Association takes behavior at games and activities very seriously,” said Jay Nichols, executive director of the VPA. “Each athletic director and administrator has the authority to stop a game and remove any spectator at any time who is not behaving appropriately. Schools can also ban spectators from school property if fans can’t behave in a respectful manner.”
The VPA requires schools to read a pregame statement before the start of every event. It explains the consequences of inappropriate behavior including ejection, ending the game, forfeiting, kicking out all fans, and redistricting future games.
There is also a new reporting form for anyone who witnesses this behavior at a game. The VPA said this will help them keep track of incidents and identify patterns. They said people still need to report any situations to their school administration as well.
Mount Mansfield Union High School has put up signs with the VPA’s pregame statement in all of their athletic facilities. They don’t have a public announcement system, so this is an accessible way for them to get the statement out to everyone attending or participating in the game.
“I’d like to say it’s never happened here, but like in any setting, of course it’s happened,” said David Marlow, MMU Director of Student Activities. “These are high school kids, I think the education-based athletics piece that we try to portray here with our student athletes and the lessons being learned and taught are important and they also need to be accepted by those who come to watch the event.”
More recommendations and resources for districts, players and fans can be found on the VPA’s website.
