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One thing we try to impart to our school athletic community is a sense of fair play. Spectators have a role that is equally important to that of the coaches, officials, and game participants. Emotions can run high when a parent sees their child injured by a late hit on the football field, intentionally fouled in basketball, or as a victim of an opponent's rough play. It is easy to become vocal in blaming the contest officials and opposing team. But parents and fans must realize they are a key ingredient in assuring a safe and level playing field. Doing so will help improve sportsmanship in the stands.

Respect is something that is a fundamental underpin of society. There would be fewer students in detention and fewer criminals incarcerated if people could understand the notion of treating others as you want to be treated. Today, the first thing out of the mouth of someone who feels slighted is “they disrespected me.”

Toward that end, we at North Hills established a code of conduct that revolves around the slogan “Respect the Game.” Through this program, we thought we would try to make a statement that made everyone aware of their part in keeping high school athletics in it proper perspective. There were five spokes to the wheel of respect:

1. Exercise appropriate behavior at all times.
2. Display respect for the opposing team, coaches, and fans.
3. Exhibit Respect for game officials and school officials.
4. Refrain from language and behavior that is offensive.
5. Represent yourself, your school, and community at a high level.

This code of conduct is displayed at entrances to our athletic venues. We, as well as the visiting schools, read it as part of a “sportsmanship message” prior to the playing of the national anthem and each contest’s starting lineup introductions. The code of conduct shows that we mean what we say, including that someone who exhibits poor behavior is subject to ejection. Examples would be profanity directed at an official, coach, or fan. Repeated outbursts by a student or fan would be another cause for removing someone from a field or gymnasium.

We were also able to expand this code of conduct to our neighboring schools. We have a 22-member association that competes against each other in a variety of sports. When our teams are on the road, they are likely to find the same code of conduct sign displayed at other association athletic venues as all member schools have been provided signs for both their indoor and outdoor sites.

The issue of poor fan behavior came up as a discussion topic at one of our monthly meetings. Each athletic director echoed that they had problems with people acting out. So we came up with the idea of adopting a code of conduct to make people aware that there are limits to what can be said and done. This gives each school some commonality for how to behave whether home or away.

This is the first year we implemented the code of conduct. We do know in our profession that taking a proactive approach is important. So while it is too early for feedback, the athletic directors I’ve talked to feel as if they have something to point to and fall back on should they eject a parent who then wants retribution.

For more information on how to get involved with National Sportsmanship Day, go to: www.internationalsport.com/nsd/.

Dan Cardone is Athletic Director at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. He is a frequent contributor to Athletic Management.