Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the

3-3-1   A coach, player, substitute, attendant or other bench personnel shall not:

a. leave the dugout during a live ball for an unauthorized purpose;

b. fake a tag without the ball;

c. carelessly throw a bat;

d. wear jewelry (players participating in the game) or wear bandannas;

e. hit the ball to players on defense after the game has started;

PENALTY: At the end of playing action, the umpire shall issue a warning to the coach of the team involved and the next offender on that team shall be ejected, where the coach shall be ejected. In (b), it is also obstruction (8-3-2).

f. commit any unsportsmanlike act to include, but not limited to,

    1. use of words or actions to incite or attempt to incite spectators demonstrations,
    2. use of profanity, intimidation tactics, remarks reflecting unfavorably upon any other person, or taunting or baiting. The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting.
    3. use of any language intended to intimidate,
    4. behavior in any manner not in accordance with the spirit of fair play;
    5. being in live ball territory (excluding team’s bullpen area) during the opponent’s infield practice prior to the start of the game.
    6. any member of the coaching staff who was not the head coach (or designee) in 3-2-4 leaves the vicinity of the dugout or coaching box to dispute a judgment call by an umpire.
    7. Confronting or directing unsportsmanlike conduct to the umpires after the game has concluded and until the umpires have departed the game site.

g. enter the area behind the catcher while the opposing pitcher and catcher are in their positions;

h. use of any object in the coach’s box other than a stopwatch, rule book (hard copy), scorebook;

i. be outside the designated dugout (bench) or bullpen area if not a batter, runner, on-deck batter, in the coach’s box or one of the nine players on defense;

j. charge an umpire;

k. use amplifiers or bullhorns for coaching purposes during the course of the game;

PENALTY: The umpire shall warn the offender unless the offense is judged to be major, in which case an ejection shall occur. A warning may be verbal or written. If written, the offender shall be restricted to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game. If a coach has previously received a verbal warning, he shall receive a written warning (10-2-3j) and be restricted to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game. If a coach has previously received a written warning, he shall be ejected for any subsequent offense. Any offense judged to be major in nature shall result in an immediate ejection.

For coaches who violate f(1-5)ghij, or k, the umpire may (1) issue a verbal warning to the offender, (2) issue a written warning to the offender (any offender receiving a written warning shall be restricted to the bench/dugout for the remainder of the game, or (3)eject the offender for a major offense. For violation of f(6), both the head coach and the offending coach shall receive a written warning and be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game unless the offense is so severe the umpire may eject the offender and restrict or eject the head coach. A coach may leave the bench/dugout to attend to a player who becomes ill or injured. In f(7), the state association shall determine appropriate action.

l. deliberately throw a bat, helmet, etc.;

m. initiate malicious contact on offense or defense;

n. call “Time” or use any command or commit any act for the purpose of causing a balk; or

o. use tobacco or tobacco-like products within the confines of the field;

p. leave their positions or bench area for the purpose of fighting or physical confrontation.

q. have physical contact, spit, kick dirt or engage in any other physical action directed toward an umpire.

PENALTY: The umpire shall eject the offender from the game. Failure to comply shall result in game being forfeited. In (m), the ball is immediately dead, if on offense, the player is ejected and declared out, unless he has already scored. If the defense commits the malicious contact, the player is ejected; the umpire shall rule either safe or out on the play and award the runner(s) the appropriate base(s) he felt they would have obtained if the malicious contact had not occurred. In (p), a coach who attempts to prevent a fight or restore order is not in violation of the rule.

3-3-2   A coach who is ejected shall leave the vicinity of the playing area immediately and is prohibited from further contact, direct or indirect, with the team during the remainder of the game. He may return when requested to attend to an ill or injured player.

3-3-3   Players loosening up to bat shall remain in the area of their team’s on-deck circle while the pitcher is warming up (1-2-3).

PENALTY: The umpire shall issue a team warning to the coach of the team involved. The next offender on that team shall be ejected.

3-3-4   Whenever team members are loosening up in an area which is not protected by a fence or other structure, another member of the team with a glove must be positioned between them and the batter to protect them from a batted or thrown ball within the confines of the playing field. No one is to interfere with a live ball.

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Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the
Mission

The Founders League consists of highly selective private college preparatory schools. Its members are committed first and foremost to academic excellence and believe that our athletic programs must always support our educational missions. The League stands for educational excellence, sportsmanship, and outstanding competition. Heads of school at the member institutions exercise control of athletics at both the institutional and league level to ensure that we remain true to our guiding principles. The primary mission of the Founders League is to organize, facilitate, support, and regulate interscholastic athletic competition in a manner consistent with its member schools' shared commitment to academic excellence, integrity, well-being, and the personal growth of student-athletes. In pursuing and supporting our collective purpose, member schools strive to adhere to the same guiding principles within the League that ensure and promote our individual institutions' missions. If the athletic programs at our schools are to support our educational mission, it is essential that our interscholastic teams reflect the character of the student bodies within the League. We expect our student-athletes to grow from their athletic experiences to become national and community leaders across the spectrum of 21st century life.

One goal of our athletic programs is to identify and field the most competitive teams possible from our respective student bodies. How that task is defined and accomplished will depend on the diverse needs of each school and the climate in which it operates. However, as a basic principle, we agree that the lessons learned from fairly played athletics are of benefit to our students and serve the essential educational mission of our schools. We believe that school athletics are not a goal in themselves, but exist as an important part of each student's education.

Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the

Guiding Principles

 
  • ​Athletics should teach and promote life skills including fair play, respect, preparation, teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship.
     

  • Student athletes and our athletic programs should be representative of our student bodies as a whole, both at the point of admission and in their academic performance, preferences and educational outcomes.
     

  • We are committed to diversity and to gender equity, in our athletic programs and throughout our institutions.
     

  • Athletic programs should be integrated into the broader life and fabric of our campuses.
     

  • Our institutions should provide a comprehensive athletic program available to the entire student body, not just varsity athletes, which emphasizes participation and the educational values of athletics.
     

  • We are committed to observing the highest ethical standards in the conduct of Founders League business and in the interactions among member institutions.
     

  • We are committed to providing need-based financial aid for athletes.

Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the

Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the
Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the
Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the
Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the
Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the
Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the
Players and spectators who engage in heckling and taunting opposing players are operating at the

Spectator Guidelines

The Founders League is an association of excellent schools with similar educational missions and educational philosophies. As a league, it aspires to hold students and teachers to standards of behavior that reflect the very highest values in society. Athletic competition should exemplify these standards and serve the broader purposes of education within our schools. We are committed to providing students with a full, rich and balanced athletic program. Important lessons are taught through athletics. Like the classroom setting, games and practices are forums for our teachers to teach.

We acknowledge that students, coaches, parents, and other spectators can, on occasion, be caught up in the intensity of a particularly heated athletic contest. This, however, is no excuse for irresponsible behavior. Just as we expect civility and self-control in the classroom and in the dormitory, we must demand it on the athletic field. Sportsmanship and healthy competition must prevail.


Accordingly, the following guidelines have been established by the heads and athletic directors of the Founders League Schools:
 

  • It is the responsibility of the head of school to insure adequate faculty supervision at athletic contests.
     

  • The head of each school (or his/her delegate) will speak to the full faculty and student bodies about sportsmanship and spectator responsibilities at the start of each athletic season.
     

  • Spectators will watch games only from those areas defined by each school as spectator areas.
     

  • Spectators must not:
  • Run up and down sidelines;

  • Call to players, coaches or officials in an unsportsmanlike manner;

  • Go onto the field of play;

  • Stand near opposing teams for the purpose of taunting or heckling;

  • Engage in cheers that are profane or mocking;

  • Deface, destroy or remove property.
     

  • Use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs at athletic contests will not be tolerated.
     

  • Spectator buses will have faculty chaperones who will be responsible for the behavior of students both on the bus and at the athletic contest. 
     

  • Spectators who abuse the above guidelines will be subject to school action.  Violations should be reported to the athletic director of the appropriate school.