The price of ejection
Ohio High School Athletic Association's new policy aims to promote sportsmanship
Do you think the fine is too harsh?
Sunday, May 11, 2008
SPRINGFIELD — Prep coaches may have to think twice before getting in an official's face over a perceived bad call.
Last week, the Ohio High School Athletic Association instituted a new policy to help slow down the number of ejections throughout the state.
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Catholic Central High School football coach Steve DeWitt got fired up after a call in the Division VI regional championship game last season. If he were to go too far this year and get kicked out of a game, he'll pay $100, take an online course and be suspended for a game. 
Get latest headlines via RSS feedsBeginning August 1, high school and middle school coaches ejected from games in Ohio will be fined $100 and ordered to take an online course through the National Federation of State High School Associations designed to prevent sportsmanship issues.
Coaches will still be suspended for two games after an ejection, or one game in the case of football coaches — a rule which has been in effect since 1994.
"We're hopeful that the spectre of an additional penalty and a sportsmanship course will be enough for a coach to think about the impact of their behavior," said OHSAA Assistant Commissioner Deborah Moore.
There were about 200 ejections throughout the state in the 2006-2007 school year.
Moore said the OHSAA has not seen the decline in ejections it would like, despite several initiatives aimed at slowing the trend.
The money from fines will go toward the OHSAA's "Respect The Game" sportsmanship program. Moore said the online course takes about six hours and must be completed within 30 days of the ejection.
"We don't like to penalize people," Moore said, "but it's a good way to get people's attention."
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365 or mcooper@coxohio.com.
Comments
By no call
May 12, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
This is probably a good move, although I believe that the 2 game suspension is a little over zealous. One thought comes to my mind, is at what point in time is an official(s) action going to be penalized (i.e. loss of money or suspended from officiating games) and mandated to attend officiating classes? I think if the OHSAA is going to look at this, it should be looked at from both sides.
By Bull
May 12, 2008 6:57 AM | Link to this
The last person you want to ask about this new rule is a ref! If an umpire does his job properly, you don’t even notice them. There are enough bad umps out there with a grudge, believe me. This affords the umpire an opportunity for a little payback. Why are there no checks and balances for these jokers? So now, a coach has to just sit there and take it, regardless of the situation. Lord knows that coaches can’t afford to drop $100 from those huge salaries!
By observer
May 11, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
I think that there should be a penalty for some of the idiotic parents I have witnessed. Im not sure if they are trying to compete through the children. They might feel embarrased when their kids make a bad play. It does not matter what the reason is, I am sick of of this behavior! It is time to penalize the team whose kids’ parents are acting up. After a game is forfeited, you will see the other parents and coaches keep the offending moron in check. This should go for all children’s sports.
By scott
May 11, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
Very harsh penalty if you are in a sport that doesn’t have warnings such as a flag or technical foul before the coach is even close to getting ejected. In baseball/softball it could be the first questioning of a call that game and if the coach yells too load or tha umpire came to the field after a bad day at work, that is all that is needed for an ejection. No first technical, no first unsportsmanlike flag on the bench just a quick “yer outta here”! Very unfair situation for baseball/softball
By Maureen
May 11, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
I full heartedly agree that the Ohio High School Athletic Association and the respective High Schools need to address the issue of declining good sportsmanship, and I appreciated the articles in today’s paper. However, I was shocked that the paper chose to feature a picture(and an exceptionally large picture) of a single coach. The photo unnecessarily and unfairly focused on Coach Dewitt. What was the thinking, or lack of thinking, behind this decision? An apology is owed to Coach Dewitt.
By Christa
May 11, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
I do not think this is too harsh. Maybe the fine will encourage the coaches to think before they act. My son’s 5th grade football team and the ref’s had to be escorted from the field after the other team’s coach was ejected by the ref’s. The ejected coach was so irate and irrational that our coach almost called in the police. This is not the type of behavior that I want my son to learn or even see as acceptable. Middle and High school Sports are for learning. Part of that learning includes being a good winner AND a good loser.