Week 1 Games and Predictions

In the rule book for 2019-20, Page 12, Rule 4: it states two games for fighting, such as punching or kicking.

A. A student who is under discipline or who is suspended from school or an activity shall be ineligible until reinstated by the school principal.

B. A student who is disqualified during a game or contest because of flagrant or unsportsmanlike conduct shall be ineligible for the remainder of the contest. A disqualified student shall remain ineligible for at least one additional contest before he/she is reinstated by the principal. A student whose flagrant or unsportsmanlike conduct consists of fighting, cursing or using foul language toward a game official will be automatically suspended from participating in a minimum of the next two games or contests that his/her team plays. Fighting is defined, but is not limited to any player or non-player (bench personnel) striking an opponent with arm(s), leg(s), foot (feet), or other object(s); attempting to strike an opponent with arm(s), leg(s), foot (feet), or other object(s), regardless if there is contact with an opponent; or instigating a fight by committing an act(s) that causes an opponent to retaliate by fighting related to an OSSAA sponsored activity in which the players and non-players are participating. A player or non-player who retaliates by fighting is in violation of the fighting rule. The fighting rule will apply to pre-contest and post-contest sponsored activities. It is mandatory that all head coaches remind his/her team that fighting during the post-game hand shaking ceremonies or conducting themselves in an unsportsmanlike manner after the game will be severely penalized. The head coach and team will be subject to additional suspension penalties beyond the normal penalties imposed on fighting and unsportsmanlike acts that occur during the contest. Injuries have occurred because of fans climbing over walls and fences, being trampled, or partaking in dog-pile celebrations, etc., at the conclusion of a contest. Therefore, school administrators should be aware that if their student body and fans come onto the playing area after a contest, penalties may be imposed. Any substitute or team member, who leaves the team bench (football player leaving the team box, baseball or softball player leaving the dugout, basketball player or wrestler leaving the team bench, etc.) and enters the playing area during a fight or any other serious unsportsmanlike act, shall be ejected. Those players or team members identified by game officials, school administrators, or video tape will be suspended a minimum of one game if they were not involved in the altercation and a minimum of two games is, they were involved in the altercation. This rule applies to both regular season and play-off games. The suspension applies to individuals/teams on the same level of competition; i.e., varsity to a varsity game, junior varsity to a junior varsity game, etc. Any additional penalties by the National Federation Rule Book and OSSAA Rules and Regulations Handbook would also apply. The rule will apply to all OSSAA sponsored activities. Any student involved directly or indirectly for fighting or any other serious unsportsmanlike act a second time during a season shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.

C. Students ineligible under (A) or (B) are not eligible until reinstated by the principal after the minimum penalty is enforced.

D. A disqualified student shall be ineligible until reinstated by the principal and a written report of the details of the incident and the action taken has been filed with the Executive Director for review with the Board of Directors.

E. If a student who is ineligible under (A) or (B) transfers, the principal should notify the principal of the receiving school and the OSSAA Executive Director of the student's eligibility status.

F. Any student currently suspended from an activity or expelled from school who enrolls in another school will be ineligible for the duration of the original suspension or expulsion or until reinstated by the OSSAA Board of Directors.