Spectator Sportsmanship

Spectator Sportsmanship Agreement

The Kyrene Athletic Program (KAP) is an extension of the school experience. KAP promotes participation, teamwork, cooperation, healthy competition, skill development and good sportsmanship for middle school students.

Spectator attendance at KAP events is a privilege. All spectators are expected to help maintain a safe, respectful, and student-centered environment for student athletes, coaches, officials, staff members and families.

As a spectator at a KAP event, I agree to:

• Support student athletes, coaches, officials, staff members, and other spectators in a positive and appropriate manner.
• Remember that KAP events are for students and that adult behavior should support the student athletic experience.
• Model good sportsmanship and encourage my student athlete to treat teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, and spectators with respect.
• Follow all venue rules, safety protocols, and directions from school administrators, athletic directors, coaches, officials, event staff, District staff, and law enforcement.
• Address concerns with coaches or school staff at an appropriate time and in a professional manner, not during a contest, immediately before or after a contest, or in a way that disrupts the event.

The following conduct is prohibited at KAP events:

• Threats, intimidation, or physical aggression toward any student athlete, coach, official, staff member, event worker, or spectator.
• Verbal abuse, hostile comments, profanity, obscene gestures, or other conduct directed at any individual or group in a way that disrupts the event or creates a safety concern.
• Harassment or targeting of a student athlete, coach, official, staff member, event worker, or spectator based on performance, playing time, officiating, coaching decisions, disability, race, ethnicity, sex, or any other protected status.
• Entering the playing area, bench area, locker room area, team area, bus loading area, scorer’s table area, or any other restricted area without permission.
• Confronting, following, approaching, or attempting to intimidate a student athlete, coach, official, staff member, event worker, or spectator before, during, or immediately after a contest.
• Interfering with play, delaying the event, causing the event to be stopped, refusing to comply with lawful directions, or otherwise disrupting the safe and orderly operation of the event.
• Possessing, using, distributing, or being under the influence of alcohol, marijuana/cannabis, illegal drugs, tobacco, nicotine, vapor products, or related paraphernalia on school property, at school-sponsored events, or in any area where KAP participants are present. 

Depending on the nature and severity of the conduct, the District may take one or more of the following actions: 

• Provide a verbal reminder or warning.
• Direct the spectator to move to another location at the venue.
• Remove the spectator from the current event.
• Stop or pause the event until the concern is addressed.
• Contact law enforcement.
• Restrict the spectator from attending future KAP events for a specified period of time.

A warning is not required before removal or further action when conduct involves threats, intimidation, physical aggression, verbal abuse, refusal to comply with directions, disruption of the event, or a safety concern.

I understand that KAP athletic events are school-sponsored activities and that spectator attendance is conditioned on following District expectations, venue rules, and lawful directions from District staff, school administrators, athletic directors, coaches, officials, event workers, and law enforcement.

I understand that failure to follow this agreement may result in removal from the event, law enforcement involvement, and/or restriction from future KAP athletic events.