Recreational Sports
Don't Get Left Out!
UNG Intramural Sports Handbook
Last Updated: April 24, 2013
VII. Sportsmanship
Any student whose conduct is unbecoming or unacceptable for sportsmanship principles may be prohibited form participation in the Intramural Sports Program. Suspension from participation may be for a single sport, for a season, for an academic year, or indefinitely. Teams or organizations may also be put on probation or suspended for major sportsmanship violations by their members or fans. The Intramural Director reserves the right for final decisions concerning conduct. The Student Life Committee may review appealed rulings based on this principle.
- The Sportsmanship Rating System is intended to be an objective scale by which teams' attitude and behavior can be assessed throughout the Intramural Sports league and playoff seasons. Behavior before, during, and after an Intramural Sports contest is included in the rating. The team captain is responsible for educating and informing all players and spectators affiliated with his/her team about the system.
- A team is responsible for the actions of the individual team members and spectators related to it. The team captain's efforts in assisting officials/staff to calm difficult situations and to restrain troubled teammates are key to controlling team conduct. An individual's behavior can have a dramatic effect on a team's rating score.
- Sportsmanship is vital to the conduct of every Intramural contest. In order to encourage proper conduct during games, officials, administrative personnel, and supervisors shall make decisions on whether to warn, penalize, or eject players or teams for poor sportsmanship. These decisions are final. The Intramural Sports administrative staff will rule on further penalties as a result of unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Each team should choose its members carefully, as all team members will suffer the consequences of any disciplinary action against that team for violation of the Intramural rules and sportsmanship guidelines.
Sportsmanship Rating Scale Explanation
- The Sportsmanship Rating Scale will be used for each Intramural contest including regular season games, playoffs, and tournaments.
- Sportsmanship Infractions (S.I.) are unsportsmanlike penalties as defined by each sport’s rules (an unsportsmanlike penalty in flag football, a technical foul in basketball, and a yellow card in soccer, etc.).
- Officials will start in the appropriate range based on S.I.’s and adjust the rating according to other sportsmanship issues that did not warrant an infraction. Player behavior, coach behavior, fan behavior, attitude towards opponents, cooperation with officials, trash left behind, and other relevant issues will be taken into consideration when assigning a sportsmanship rating. Any team with an ejected player cannot receive above a “2.4” sportsmanship rating.
- Teams having a sportsmanship average below a "2.8” or a single game rating of "1.4" or below will not be considered for league standings at the end of the regular season and will not be eligible for playoffs.
- Teams competing in minor sports (double-elimination brackets) must maintain a “2.8” average after 3 games and may not receive a rating of “1.4“ or below. If a team has won their game but is removed from the bracket due to sportsmanship, their next opponent will receive a forfeit win.
- During the playoffs, teams are expected to show proper sportsmanship and will be held to the same standards as they are during the regular season. Therefore, if a team receives a sportsmanship score of “1.4“ or lower in any game, they will be removed from the playoff bracket. In addition, if a team receives a sportsmanship score of less than a “2.8,” they will be placed on probation for the duration of the playoffs. A second sportsmanship score of less than a “2.8” will remove them from the bracket. If a team has won their game but is removed from the bracket due to sportsmanship, their next opponent will receive a forfeit win. Playoffs include both pool play and the All-Campus Championship.
- In all cases, Intramural Supervisors and the Intramural Sports administrative staff may provide input which may raise or lower the rating. Intramural Supervisors may amend any rating for inappropriate conduct by a team or its spectators before, during, or after a contest. Intramural Sports administrative staff members may amend a rating at any time for inappropriate conduct, use of an ineligible player, use of a suspended player, and/or inaccuracy in reporting.
- Officials have been instructed not to comment to teams about ratings. Teams may inquire with an Intramural Supervisor at the game site to view their sportsmanship ratings. Teams may also view their sportsmanship ratings in the Recreational Sports Office during normal business hours. A team captain may appeal his or her team's sportsmanship rating by submitting a written appeal to the Recreational Sports Office by 12 Noon of the next business day following the game or match. Appeals after this time will not be accepted.
- **ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNICALS AND UNSPORTSMANLIKE PENALTIES DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS SPORTSMANSHIP**
Sportsmanship Rating Scale
3.5-4.0 Excellent
Attitude impeccable. No confrontations among players and officials. Conduct exhibits utmost respect for opponents, officials, and the intramural program. Fans exhibit the same positive sportsmanship as their team. Team areas/benches kept clean with no trash.
3.0-3.4 Good
Team shows good sportsmanship and full cooperation with officials. Opponents are treated with respect. Team mostly in control of fans. No warnings, ejections, red/yellow cards, technicals, or unsportsmanlike penalties. Team areas/benches kept mostly clean.
2.5-2.9 Average
Shows cooperation with opponents and officials; however, some complaints are present. Team has some issues controlling fans. Maximum of one unsportsmanlike penalty, technical, or yellow card. No red cards or ejections. Some trash left in team areas.
1.5-2.4 Below Average
Continuous complaints to officials about calls and interpretations. Clear bad attitude displayed by one or more players. Captain has little control of team or fans. Teams may receive 1-2 unsportsmanlike penalties, technicals, or yellow cards. No more than one ejection. Team makes little effort to clean team areas/benches.
<1.4 Poor
Blatant disregard for officials, opponents, and the intramural program as a whole. Play is dangerous and team shows no willingness to follow the rules of the game. Captain has no control of team or fans. Team receives multiple unsportsmanlike penalties, technicals, red cards, and ejections. No effort made to clean team areas/benches.