Saturday, December 14, 2013

Worth County Adopts Policy Against Technical Fouls

The Worth County School administration adopted a new policy Wednesday against technical fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct by athletes. Under the new policy, any athlete who receives a technical foul is out for the rest of the game as well as the next game automatically. An athlete who receives three technical fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during the course of the year is ineligible for any further athletics competition for the remainder of the year.

The policy was put in place following two ugly losses by the Tigers at North Nodaway Tuesday night. The girls had two players suspended for one half by Coach Bryce Shafar for disciplinary reasons. The girls lost 53-21 to North Nodaway. The boys had two players receive technical fouls during the boys game for something they said in separate incidents. The boys dug themselves into an 18-point hole against North Nodaway, a team that had won only four games the previous year and had not won a game this year before Tuesday night. Finally, they cut it to as little as four, but it was too late as they lost 53-47.

The policy took effect Wednesday. The policy does not affect the two technical fouls assessed in the North Nodaway game, but it will apply to any such incidents in the future.

Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Chuck Borey said that he had talked to the Mound City and North Andrew school districts, which have similar policies, and that it worked well for them in curbing inappropriate behavior. Northeast Nodaway has a similar policy; players who receive technical fouls are out for the rest of the game and the next game as well. Players must also write a letter of apology to the officials and the opposing player if applicable.

When officials assess technical fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against athletes or coaches, they file a special report with the Missouri State High School Activities Association. The school must then file a response detailing the actions and policies that they have taken in response to the incident.

The football team had received four unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during the course of the season in addition to the two technical fouls assessed Tuesday night to the boys basketball team.

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