Region 1 Yellow Card

[wem]

This yellow card stuff has become comical. If you want the most quite crowds in the state, look to region 1. If you want the most rumors flying around about the yellow card, its been accomplished. If this is a one year trial, get rid of it now. If its more than that, I feel sorry for region 1 basketball. This was a horrible idea that's killing the region 1 spirit.

[d_fense]

I'm guessing not many people outside region one know what WEM is talking about. Some "genius" in Region 1 decided that the region had a problem with fans intimidating players, coaches, and officials. Before every contest a statement is read. It is fairly lengthy. The jist of it is you are being watched. If administration feels you are trying to intimidate any player, coach, or official, an administrator at their discretion will issue you a yellow card. A yellow card is a "warning". If you get this "warning" your name will be sent to all of the athletic directors in the region. If you attend another game in the region and an administrator at the game feels you are "acting badly", you can be given a "red card" as a two time "offender". This can result in having your privilege to attend Region 1 activities taken away.

What has this "Yellow Card" idea resulted in? People sitting on their hands with their mouths shut. Region 1 games have never been so quiet.

I would love for fans in Region 1 to know whose idea this was, so they could give examples of why this policy was needed and have a proper public shaming.

WEM is correct, rumors are flying and their is often as much talk in the stands about this, as their is talk about the game.

[RedDirtFan]

Well, what are people being yellow carded for? If they're harassing officials I take no issue with it. If it's ticky tacky stuff, then perhaps the purpose of this "yellow card" needs to be re-examined and, if it is to continue, better explained to people in attendance at events.

If you can't explain the parameters within which it applies, that's a problem. Quite honestly, why not advise faculty at events to simply escort unruly people out? If they make a commotion and a scene, ban them for a certain amount of games with the understanding that the next incident will result in a year long ban.

[d_fense]

Well, what are people being yellow carded for? If they're harassing officials I take no issue with it. If it's ticky tacky stuff, then perhaps the purpose of this "yellow card" needs to be re-examined and, if it is to continue, better explained to people in attendance at events.

If you can't explain the parameters within which it applies, that's a problem. Quite honestly, why not advise faculty at events to simply escort unruly people out? If they make a commotion and a scene, ban them for a certain amount of games with the understanding that the next incident will result in a year long ban.

RedDirtFan, what is "harassing officials"? Please give an example of something that could be said that you would say, "That person needs to be taken out of the venue".

[Run4Fun2009]

Well, what are people being yellow carded for? If they're harassing officials I take no issue with it. If it's ticky tacky stuff, then perhaps the purpose of this "yellow card" needs to be re-examined and, if it is to continue, better explained to people in attendance at events.

If you can't explain the parameters within which it applies, that's a problem. Quite honestly, why not advise faculty at events to simply escort unruly people out? If they make a commotion and a scene, ban them for a certain amount of games with the understanding that the next incident will result in a year long ban.

RedDirtFan, what is "harassing officials"? Please give an example of something that could be said that you would say, "That person needs to be taken out of the venue".

I've heard some pretty rough stuff said to officials at non-R1 games this year that should not be repeated...and yet those certain fans never were removed. I feel some schools have really taken this 'yellow card' and made it into what is being mentioned here...there are still a few where you are still allowed to enjoy a basketball game and all that entails (to a certain extent that is).

[RedDirtFan]

Well, what are people being yellow carded for? If they're harassing officials I take no issue with it. If it's ticky tacky stuff, then perhaps the purpose of this "yellow card" needs to be re-examined and, if it is to continue, better explained to people in attendance at events.

If you can't explain the parameters within which it applies, that's a problem. Quite honestly, why not advise faculty at events to simply escort unruly people out? If they make a commotion and a scene, ban them for a certain amount of games with the understanding that the next incident will result in a year long ban.

RedDirtFan, what is "harassing officials"? Please give an example of something that could be said that you would say, "That person needs to be taken out of the venue".

I wasn't implying that it happens frequently enough to be a common occurrence but if one individual is going absolutely bananas at every whistle, in a way that makes it difficult for those around them to enjoy the game, or using officials' names repeatedly, throw them out.

After some extra thought I believe this yellow card thing is complicating an issue with an easy solution. Let school officials handle it.

[EHS1998]

There are definitely folks out there (I see R3 the most and it happens) that step over the line consistently (going after refs, players, etc). Would hope the yellow card concept effectively minimized this but it appears it has had an unexpected consequence in R1.

[d_fense]

Here is a quote from Reddirtfan that I think hits the nail on the head perfectly...

"After some extra thought I believe this yellow card thing is complicating an issue with an easy solution. Let school officials handle it."

I really haven't seen a problem that would call for the "Yellow Card Policy". We have all heard someone direct a comment toward an official. Typically something like "Call the foul!", "Open your eyes!", or "Call it both ways!". I have no problem with anything like this, and officials don't either. I have never head someone threaten an official. Maybe it has happened in the area, but haven't personally heard anything along those lines.

Comments directed towards coaches typically come from parents or close friends of a player who isn't playing much because they haven't put the time in to deserve playing time. Coaches are usually pretty good and not hearing "noise" from the crowd. Nobody wants to win more than the coach and most are very confident in the fact that nobody knows more about the team than they do.

In all the games I have attended, I have only heard one person get after a player in what I felt was an inappropriate manner. It happened last school year and it wasn't from a region 1 fan. I shut him up by letting him know that he was yelling at a high school kid who just made a mistake while trying his best while playing a game. No Yellow Card or administrator needed.

Like anything subjective their will be various opinions. Some people think that no comment should ever be directed to an official. I disagree, but that is alright. Where this policy IMO really screwed up is not having anything in black and white explaining what is not considered alright. There is way to much grey area. People like to know the rules and where boarders are. The policy doesn't give clear boarders for clear consequences. That's IMO a major fail.

[sportsphenom]

Not from Region 1 but have had our team play a couple of Region 1 teams this year and I must say those games were awkward. As fans, we didn't know what to do, felt like we really couldn't say anything. If I wanted silence I would go to church. This is what is currently wrong with America, everyone is offended by anything and everything. LIke in Wisconsin where they can't even say airball anymore. Granted I don't like that either but its part of the game isn't it?!?! I do agree that some fans do get carried away but isn't that up to the Administrator of that school or I've even seen where a ref has thrown a fan out of the game. I know where I'm from there is an administrator on hand at every home game to take care of things as such. I think its a major fail as well and its just going with the trend of "everyone gets a trophy" mentality that is going on.

[EHS1998]

I think it is a reasonable expectation that school administration police this behavior.

[stir the pot]

I think it is a reasonable expectation that school administration should police this behavior.
Hypothetical - What happens if a school board member is an offender?

School administration should not have to be put in that position.
If a school board members thinks he needs to act in a manner that he/she has to be asked to leave a high school basketball game he/she has no business being on the school board!

[The Schwab]

I'm sorry, but the fact that the Region had to put in this policy tells me that the AD's (or whoever is in charge of the contest that night) are afraid to "police" their gyms. If you have a fan who is "verbally attacking" a ref/coach/player there is no place for that in high school sports. If you have a fan who is complaining about a call, that is not verbally attacking. The way I look at it is they paid their admission, if they want to spend their evening yelling "travel", "over the back" or "foul" that's their choice.

[wan2bqb]

Here's the deal...well my $.02 but I'll give it anyway. It was said best already, we have come to a place in society where nobody wants to offend anyone and everyone wants to walk away all happy feeling good...wrong.... a loss should always sting, and its how you recover from those losses that defines you. We all lose, every stinking one of us, and not everyone can get a trophy just for showing up. It has created mediocrity and apathy, people don't strive to be the greatest, because being good enough is accepted. This policy is exactly why our society has the issues it has, now am I saying everyone has the right to belittle, or chastise, or degraded a referee, coach or player? heck no...But chants will happen, emotions will spill over, and things sometimes can get out of hand. Handle those situationes as they come up. It's those times where the leaders(ie. administrators, athletic directors, coaches, referees) need to stand up and take charge. Not legislate out of existence all emotion for fear of handling the problems at hand. It's like taking away all the cookies because one kid ate too many and got sick. Take charge and responsibility for the power you have been given, and manage issues as they arise because there is no good way to legislate morality without taking all emotion out of the game. That why we love class B ball because everyone feels like they have something at stake. Pride in a community and pride in the kids you have watched grow up into fine young men and women. I agree that something needs to be done about the few bad eggs but you don't have to throw all the eggs into one basket because you fear dealing with the situation face to face. I have heard rumors, and they are just that only rumors, that some administrators couldn't stop the problems in their own school so they asked for help from the outside and this plan was enacted.
http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/head ... 98101.html

[EHS1998]

I tend to agree that in general, as a society, we have become much more sensitive.

[Mighty-Mouse]

I guess everyone will get a state trophy at the end of the year too...

I understand the intent but what happened to escorting the individual(s) out of the game days... I'm really surprise sections haven't showed up with yellow poster board yet to the games. And besides I thought this was basketball and hockey

[Class B #1]

Been to a basketball game where the School Board President was ASKED to leave!!

[Class B #1]

Check that - AND - the Head Coach who was also the Supt. - was ASKED to tell the President to LEAVE the GYM - as HE was still standing in the Corner - Game was delayed until this was done!!