Page 53 - 2023-24 By-Laws

Rule 8 - Conduct, Character, Discipline

8-2 Coaches Conduct
The member School principal is responsible for initiating appropriate disciplinary measures
against coaches for improper and unethical practices. A report of such must be forwarded to
the Executive Committee if requested by the Commissioner.
8-3 Contest Administrators and School Administrators Conduct.
With respect to a Contest Administrator who works at a Contest, or a School Administrator
attending a Contest, a member School principal is responsible for (i) reporting to the IHSAA
about any Contest Administrator hired by the School, or any School Administrator, who is
ejected from the site of the Contest, or is cited for improper or unethical actions at the Contest
site, and (ii) initiating appropriate disciplinary measures against any such Contest Administrator
or School Administrator.
8-4 Contest Ejection
a. Any student-athlete who is ejected from a Contest for an unsportsmanlike act the first
time during a sports season shall be suspended from the next interschool Contest at that
level of competition and all other interschool Contests at any level in the interim, unless
an IHSAA sport-specific rule or policy provides a different protocol or penalty for ejections.
Exception: NFHS playing rules requiring ejection from the contest but NOT deemed
Unsporting (Soccer: handball in the box, Softball: illegal bat) provides for elimination from
the remainder of the current contest.
However, additional suspension from future contests will NOT be applied. Sportsmanship
point deductions will remain consistent with IHSAA Sportsmanship Policy.
b. Any student-athlete who is ejected from a Contest for an unsportsmanlike act a second
time during a sport season shall be suspended for the next Two (2) Contests at that level
of competition and all other Contests at any level in the interim, unless an IHSAA sport-
specific rule or policy provides a different protocol or penalty for a second ejection.
c. Any coach, Contest Administrator, School Administrator or Fan who is ejected from a Contest
for an unsportsmanlike act the first time during a sports season shall be suspended from
the next Two (2) interschool Contest (Home Contests for a Fan) at that level of competition
and all other interschool Contests (Home Contests for a Fan) at any level in the interim,
unless an IHSAA sport-specific rule or policy provides a different protocol or penalty for
ejection.
d. Any coach, Contest Administrator, School Administrator or Fan who is ejected from a Contest
for an unsportsmanlike act a second time during a sport season shall be suspended for
the next Four (4) Contests (Home Contests for a Fan) at that level of competition and all
other Contests (Home Contests for a Fan) at any level in the interim, unless an IHSAA
sport-specific rule or policy provides a different protocol or penalty for a second ejection.
If any coach, Contest Administrator, School Administrator or Fan who is ejected from a
Contest a second time, the principal or his/her designee must meet with the Commissioner
or his/her designee.
e. As an additional penalty, a coach who is ejected from a Contest the first time during a
sports season must complete the NFHS Teaching and Modeling Behavior course before
returning to coach at a competition, and a student-athlete who is ejected from a Contest
the first time during a sport season must successful complete the NFHS Sportsmanship
course before returning to competition.
f. This penalty shall be in addition to any other penalties assessed.

Q & A
Conduct - Generally
Q. 8-1 Can a member School file a protest regarding the ejection of a player for
unsportsmanlike conduct?
A. No. A decision of an Official during or related to a Contest is final and binding,
and an Official’s judgment call, an Official’s application or misapplication of a
game or playing rule and an Official’s ejection of a player may not be protested
or appealed. (rules 9-5, 16-2, 17-8.1)
Q. 8-2 During a Contest a coach becomes very disturbed with the officiating of the Contest
and refused to continue play after half-time. Is this a violation of an IHSAA rule?
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