Landmark Conference 2007-08 Fan Sportsmanship Program

THE

2007-08 DIVISION III

FAN SPORTSMANSHIP PROGRAM

As adopted by the Landmark Conference

Ø    Cheer for your team, not against the visitors

Ø    Don't get personal in your comments about players, coaches

     or officials

Ø    No profanity, vulgarity, racist or sexist comments

The program focuses on three key areas:

Fan Education; Game Management Policy; Policy Enforcement

SECTION I - FAN EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM - FAN CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT

To be read before and during all athletic contests

as well as posted in game programs/flyers and signage on-site.

The NCAA, the Landmark Conference and (Insert Host Institution Name) promote good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial or sexist comments or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives - as well as public intoxication, the consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are grounds for removal from the site of competition and other disciplinary actions.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM continued -

LETTER TO PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S) OF STUDENT-ATHLETES

Dear (Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Name),

We are very pleased to have a member of your family as a student-athlete representing (institution) and the newly formed Landmark Conference.  The Landmark Conference was formed by a group of like minded chief executive officers and athletics directors who are committed to the centrality of the academic mission at their institutions. They believe strongly that athletics are an integral and educational part of every student-athlete's college experience. The members of our conference are Drew University, Goucher College, Juniata College, Moravian College, Susquehanna University, The Catholic University of America, The University of Scranton and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Parents are an important part of our athletics family. In the interest of helping our student-athletes make the most of their college experience and manage their adult responsibilities, we do ask that parents not become involved in sport specific matters, such as playing time and strategy, with the coaches. Rather we strongly recommend that such discussions, if necessary, take place between the coach and the student-athlete.

I would also like to make you aware of the Landmark Conference fan sportsmanship initiative that is being implemented this year. The chief executive officers and the athletics directors of the conference encourage your support of "Be Loud, Be Proud, Be Positive", a campaign to raise the level of sportsmanship among our spectators. 

"Be Loud, Be Proud, Be Positive" asks fans to respect the following principles of good sportsmanship:

Ø      Cheer for your team, not against the visitors

Ø      Don't get personal in your comments about players, coaches or officials

Ø      No profanity, vulgarity, racist or sexist comments

Ø      Give players, coaches and officials their space by keeping away from the playing and team bench areas

We hope we can count on your support and if you experience a fan violating the spirit of this program, please inform one of the on-site administrators so it can be addressed. I look forward to an exciting season together.

Sincerely,

John A. Reeves

Commissioner of the Landmark Conference

SECTION II - GAME MANAGEMENT POLICY

Game Management Policy

1.      All athletic events must be staffed by a professional athletic department member. The responsibilities of this individual are as follows:

a.       Make sure someone is available to greet the visiting team and show them to their locker room.

b.      Introduce themselves to officials and visiting coaches as the on-site athletics department representative.

c.       Notify officials, visiting coach, security personnel, if any, where they can be found during the contest should problems arise.

d.      Assure safe passage of officials before, during and after the contest.

e.       Help to maintain crowd control before, during and after the contest.

f.       Enforce all Landmark Conference (institutional name) rules of conduct and sportsmanship including enforcing the crowd control statement.

g.      Report significant problems to the respective athletics directors (host and visiting) and the conference office.

h.      This individual must know all procedures for contacting emergency personnel or security.

2.      The host institution must designate an individual other than the coach of the sport in play for the following events:  field hockey, soccer (m/w), volleyball, basketball (m/w), lacrosse (m/w), baseball and softball.

3.      The following events must be staffed by a department staff member, who may be the coach: tennis (m/w), golf, cross country (m/w), swimming and diving (m/w), track and field (m/w).

4.      An institution's athletic schedule may require an individual to cover multiple events at once. When this occurs the individual must make sure they can be reached when moving from site to site.

5.      Security staff: It is the host institution's responsibility to determine when and where security staff is necessary.  Security staff, when assigned, should vigilantly monitor the crowd and be strategically placed on site to provide maximum coverage. If a visiting athletic director has concern about potential staffing for a particular event they must contact the host athletic director in advance and request staffing if desired. Members should also report any incidents that occur to their AD. If deemed serious the AD may report the incident to the conference commissioner, who may convene the "dispute resolution committee" to determine if further action is necessary. 

6.      The host institution must not permit organized groups of students from sitting directly behind the visiting team bench to harass, intimidate or otherwise verbally or physically abuse visiting team personnel.

7.      The following Crowd Control Disclaimer should be read before the start of all athletic contests as well as during halftime/intermission and during the contest as needed.  The host institution must strictly enforce its contents and warn/remove violators of the policy. The statement should also be included in game programs/flyers:

"The NCAA, Landmark Conference and (host institution name) promote good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial or sexist comments or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives - as well as public intoxication, the consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are grounds for removal from the site of competition and other disciplinary actions."

-

SECTION III - POLICY ENFORCEMENT

The Landmark Conference/Institution Policy Statements on Enforcement

□       The Landmark Conference/institution> views participation in intercollegiate athletics and attendance at campus athletics events as privileges that can and will be revoked when such action is deemed appropriate.

□       Intercede and (if necessary) eject fans displaying unacceptable forms of behavior.  Serious or chronic violations should result in a temporary loss of ticket privileges or even a permanent banishment from all athletics events. Serious violations should also be reported to the conference commissioner. Each report to the commissioner may be reviewed by the "Dispute Resolution Committee" and additional sanctions may be considered 

□       Train gate and security personnel to deny admission or eject fans exhibiting behaviors attributable to alcohol use.

2007-08 ENDORSEMENT/ADOPTION PAGE

By signing this document I hereby pledge our commitment to the principles of the Division III Fan Sportsmanship Program and will adopt or create at least one program in each of the three areas (education, event management, and policy enforcement) in an effort to build positive fan sportsmanship within Division III.

Name of Institution OR Conference as Applicable John A. Reeves, Landmark Conference Commissioner            

Name of Individual Submitting Form  - AD or CEO (Print)                        Title

______________________________________                    ___________________

Signature                                                                                                               Date

Drew University

Goucher College

Juniata College

Moravian College

Susquehanna University

The Catholic University of America

The University of Scranton

United States Merchant Marine Academy