California Interscholastic Federation

Central Section

P.O. Box 1567 Porterville, CA 93258

Phone (559) 781-7586   Fax (559) 781-7033

ETHICS IN SPORTS

I.                   Policy Statement

The Central Section, CIF is committed to the exhibition of sportsmanlike and ethical behaviors in and around all athletic contests.  All contests must be safe, courteous, fair, controlled and orderly for all athletes and fans alike.

It is the intent of the CIF that violence, in any form, not be tolerated.  In order to enforce this policy, the Central Section has established rules and regulations which set forth the manner of enforcement and of this policy and the penalties incurred when violation of the policy occurs.  The rules and regulations shall focus upon the responsibility of the coach to teach and demand high standards of conduct and to enforce the rules and regulations set forth by CIF.

The Central Section requires the following Code of Ethics be issued each year and requires signing by student athletes, parent/guardian and coaches prior to participation as a guide to govern their behavior.

II.                Code of Ethics  

A.      To emphasize the proper ideas of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play.

B.      To eliminate all possibilities which tend to destroy the best values of the game.

C.      To stress the values derived from playing the game fairly.

D.      To show cordial courtesy to visiting teams and officials.

E.       To establish a happy relationship between visitors and hosts.

F.       To respect the integrity and judgment of sports officials.

G.      To achieve a thorough understanding and acceptance of the rules of the game and the standards of eligibility.

H.      To encourage leadership, use of initiative and good judgment by the players on a team.

I.        To recognize that the purpose of athletics to promote the physical, mental, moral, social and emotional well-being of the individual players.

J.        To remember that an athletic contest is only a game, not a matter of life and death for player, coach, school, official, fan or nation.

I have read and I understand the Policy Statement, the Code of Ethics and the violations and Minimum Penalties of the “Ethics in Sports” policy.  I agree to abide by the policy and related consequences while participation in interscholastic athletics, regardless of context, site or jurisdiction. I also agree not to use drugs, alcohol, steroids or other performance enhancing drugs while I am in high school.

ATHLETE

__________________________________________     _____________________________________     ____________

                 Student Signature                                                                 Printed Name                                          Date

_________________________________________     ______________________________________     ____________

                  Parent Signature                                                                        High School                                      Date

 

COACHING STAFF

_______________________________________________________            ___________________________________

                              Coach                                                                                   Site Administrator  

 

III.             Violations and Minimum Penalties

 


Act                                                                                                     Penalties

 

1.  First ejection of player or coach from a contest                        Ineligible for the next CIF contest (league, non-league, tournament,                 

or SCRIMMAGE for unsportsmanlike conduct.                            Invitational, playoff, etc., scrimmages excluded).  The next contest could be the

                                                                                                        second game of a double header or even the next season of sport.  Athletes

                                                                                                        competing in concurrent sports would be ineligible for both sports.

2.  Second ejection of a player or coach from a                             Ineligibility for next two CIF contests as above will carry over the next season

contest during the same season of sport for                                   of sport.

unsportsmanlike conduct.

3.  Third ejection of a player or coach from a                               Ineligibility for all CIF contests for one calendar year (365 days).  Any appeal

contest during the same season of sport for                                  must go through the CIF Eligibility Committee.

unsportsmanlike conduct.

4.  Any players that leave the “bench” area to begin                    Ejection from the contest for those players designated by officials.  The contest

a confrontation or leave these areas during an                              may be terminated by the officials.  One or both teams may forfeit the contest.

altercation.

5.  When players leave the bench area to begin a                           Contest stopped, ejection from the contest for those players designated by the

a confrontation or leave the bench area during an                        officials.  The team (s) that left the bench area must forfeit contest, record a loss,

altercation and in the opinion of the officials, the                        and the team (s) and players will be put on probationary status for the balance

situation is out of control.                                                             of the season.  A second similar infraction during the season of sport will result

                                                                                                      in cessation of the sport for the team (s) and/or players. If the act occurs at the

                                                                                                      end of the season, the probationary period will extend to the next year’s season

                                                                                                      of sport.  Any appeal would have to be made to the CIF Executive Committee.

6.  Illegal participation in next contest by player                         Ineligibility for remainder of season for player.  Forfeiture of contest.

ejected in previous contest.

7.  Illegal placement of ejected player or illegal                          Constitution and sport governing rules and procedures for a coach who

participation by coach ejected in previous                                   knowingly violates CIF or Section Rules.  (See Bylaw 1100C).

contest.

8.  Any acts of a more serious nature by individuals                   Area Commissioner may determine and implement penalties for individuals

or teams or situations not specifically covered by                       and teams not otherwise specified by CIF Central Section Constitution and

this policy or the Constitution or Governing                                Bylaws.

Rules.

9.  If act occurs in CIF Section Finals and both                           After deliberation by the CIF and a double forfeit is in order, there will be no

teams are charged with a forfeit.                                                  Champion.

10.  An ejected coach must leave the site of the contest.  The coach may have no contact with his/her team from that point on.  If there is no certified replacement for the coach, the contest is halted and the game is forfeited.  The coach must also sit out the next contest and cannot attend the contest or have any contact with the team during the contest.  The coach may be allowed to participate in practices on days other than the day of the contest.

11.  An ejected player may stay on the bench for the remainder of the contest for supervision reasons.  Further disruption by ejected players may force them to be removed grom the site.  This could lead to a forfeit.  Players ejected must sit out the next contest, but may sit on the bench in street clothes.

APPEALS PROCEDURE-First and Second Ejection

Unless otherwise specified, an appeal of an ineligibility of a player or coach may be made, in writing, through the player or coach’s site administrator, to the Central Section Commissioner or his or her designees for consideration of reinstatement. The Section Commissioner and or his or her designee will convey results to all schools involved.

PHYSICAL ASSAULT

CIF State Constitution, Article 5, Section 522.  Any student who physically assaults the person of a game or event official shall be banned from interscholastic athletics for the remainder of the student’s eligibility.  A game or event official is defined as a referee, umpire or any other official assigned to interpret or enforce rules competition at an event.  A student may, after a lapse of 18 calendar months from the date of the incident, apply for reinstatement of eligibility to the State CIF Commissioner.

For this document, the Central Section also includes coaches, administrators or other school personnel assigned to the contest or games as a game official.