Post by The Admin on Feb 6, 2024 8:25:33 GMT -6
Schools could face OSSAA consequences - KSWO
www.kswo.com/2024/02/06/schools-could-face-ossaa-consequences/
www.kswo.com/2024/02/06/schools-could-face-ossaa-consequences/
LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - An “egregious policy” has been implemented across the state by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, the organization that oversees most school sports programs.
The policy was implemented due to an increase in the number of egregious incidents happening at schools.
”It’s something that is so far outside the rules of the game. It’s two strikes, so on the first one, if there’s a situation that particular team would be on warning and if there is another one that would occur during that same school year then they would not be eligible for the payoffs,” Grant Dower, Director of Officials for OSSAA, said.
According to the OSSAA, not only students can prompt investigations. Anyone connected to the school in any way can bring a school into question and that includes fans.
”Interestingly enough, some were game related, whether that was with players, coaches, something along those lines, but what we saw last year, and even a few this year, it has been from fan behavior,” Dower said.
Lawton Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Hime says the recent incident at a MacArthur High school game is still under investigation by the OSSAA, but the school also has additional consequences that students could face.
”You watch the video anybody in the altercations is automatic two games minimum. Some people think well it’s two games, no it’s two games minimum. Anybody who left the bench and got close to it but didn’t join the altercation is one game. So, those things you can see on the video,” Hime said.
Hime also says there could be consequences for adults that attend games and contribute to aggressive situations in the future.
”You know we’re going to have to start doing the same thing with our adults. you know the first thing we’re going to have to do is if the adults who are not school personnel enter the court, we’re going to have to issue stay away letters,” Hime said.
The OSSAA investigated 12 egregious incidents last year, however, they say to keep in mind that thousands of high school games are played each year throughout the state and the majority do not see any violence.
Copyright 2024 KSWO. All rights reserved.
The policy was implemented due to an increase in the number of egregious incidents happening at schools.
”It’s something that is so far outside the rules of the game. It’s two strikes, so on the first one, if there’s a situation that particular team would be on warning and if there is another one that would occur during that same school year then they would not be eligible for the payoffs,” Grant Dower, Director of Officials for OSSAA, said.
According to the OSSAA, not only students can prompt investigations. Anyone connected to the school in any way can bring a school into question and that includes fans.
”Interestingly enough, some were game related, whether that was with players, coaches, something along those lines, but what we saw last year, and even a few this year, it has been from fan behavior,” Dower said.
Lawton Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Hime says the recent incident at a MacArthur High school game is still under investigation by the OSSAA, but the school also has additional consequences that students could face.
”You watch the video anybody in the altercations is automatic two games minimum. Some people think well it’s two games, no it’s two games minimum. Anybody who left the bench and got close to it but didn’t join the altercation is one game. So, those things you can see on the video,” Hime said.
Hime also says there could be consequences for adults that attend games and contribute to aggressive situations in the future.
”You know we’re going to have to start doing the same thing with our adults. you know the first thing we’re going to have to do is if the adults who are not school personnel enter the court, we’re going to have to issue stay away letters,” Hime said.
The OSSAA investigated 12 egregious incidents last year, however, they say to keep in mind that thousands of high school games are played each year throughout the state and the majority do not see any violence.
Copyright 2024 KSWO. All rights reserved.
