STEVENS POINT, Wis., Jan. 12 (UPI) — In an email sent to state officials, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association outlined restrictions on the use of certain crowd chants during high school basketball games.
The email, obtained by The Post-Crescent following the controversial suspension of a star student-athlete, details the effort to eliminate chants directed at opposing teams or fans.
“Any action directed at opposing teams or their spectators with the intent to taunt, disrespect, distract or entice an unsporting behavior in response is not acceptable sportsmanship,” the December email from WIAA director of communications Todd Clark said.
The email detailed certain phrases it considers unacceptable, including: “You can’t do that,” “Fun-da-men-tals,” “Air ball,” “There’s a net there,” “Sieve,” and “We can’t hear you” — as well as “scoreboard” and “Season’s over” jeers during tournament play.
The policy was brought to public attention after three-sport high school star April Gehl received a five-game suspension for a profane tweet criticizing the WIAA.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I was like, ‘Really? For tweeting my opinion?’ I thought it was ridiculous.”
Gehl has not deleted the tweet and her family has no plans to appeal the suspension, but the retroactive release of the WIAA’s sportsmanship policy has drawn criticism.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas tweeted in response to the policy: “How ridiculous. The ‘adults’ making these decisions have too much time on their hands, and too little sense.”
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