Page 55 - 2025-26 By-Laws

Rule 9 - Contests

Q. 8-6 What is the penalty when a student or a coach is ejected from a Contest for an
unsporting act for the second time during a sports season?
A. The IHSAA Unsporting and Ejection Policy provides that a coach or student who
is ejected a second time during a sport’s Contest Season must purchase and
complete the current edition of the NFHS Teaching and Modeling Behavior course,
may not return to play or coach in any sport until the completion of such course
and must fully cooperate with the IHSAA for purposes of its verification that the
coach or student has completed the course. This is in addition to rule 8-4(b) and
rule 8-4(d) which requires the principal of the student or coach to suspend the
student or coach for the next Two (2) Contests if student, or Four (4) Contests
if a coach, at that level of competition and all other Contests at any level in the
interim. (rule 8-4(b), 8-4(d).
Q. 8-7 If a student is ejected during the last junior varsity Contest of the Contest Season,
but there are several Varsity Contests left in the Contest Season (and the student
is listed on the Tournament Series sectional entry list), may the student serve the
Suspension during the next remaining Varsity Contest(s), and then be eligible to
participate in the remainder of the Varsity Contest Season and in the Tournament
Series?
A. Yes, if a student is ejected from a Contest for an unsporting act, the student will
be suspended from the next Contest in that sport at that level of competition and
at any other level in the interim. However, if there are no remaining Contests at
the junior varsity level, the student may serve the Suspension in the next higher
level Contest(s) (here, the Varsity), and be eligible to participate the rest of the
Varsity Contest season and in the Tournament Series.
Q. 8-8 During the Contest Season a student is ejected a second time during the last
regular Season Contest. When should the student’s Two (2) Contest Suspension
be served?
A. The student shall immediately serve the Two (2) Contest Suspension at the
student’s first Two (2) Tournament Series Contests in that sport. If there is only
One (1) Tournament Series Contest in that sport, then the student shall serve
the second Contest Suspension at a Contest in that sport at the same level the
following School Year, or if the student is a senior, the student shall serve the
second Contest Suspension at the first Contest of the next sport season in which
the student participates. (rule 8-4)
Q. 8-9 A Fan is ejected during a Contest. Is the Fan subject to any discipline?
A. Yes, if a Fan is ejected, the principals of the teams participating in the Contest, or
their designees, shall determine which of the participating Schools were principally
supported by the Fan and the principal(s) of those School(s) shall suspend the
Fan from attending the Fan’s next Two (2) Home Contests (see, definition), and if
the ejectment was the second, or more, ejection during a sport’s Contest Season,
the Fan shall be suspended from attending the next Four (4) Home Contests, and
the principal(s) of those School(s) principally supported by the Fan must meet
with the Commissioner or his/her designee. (rule 8-4)
RULE 9 – CONTESTS
These GENERAL RULES apply to all interschool Contests.
9-1 Contests Must be Sanctioned by Principal
No games, meets, or tourneys, shall be played by a member School without the sanction of
the principal.
9-2 Contests Subject to IHSAA rules and Policies
Interschool athletic Contests shall be subject to the rules of the Association.
9-3 Contests to be Under Supervision of Participating Schools’ Principals
All athletic games, meets, tourneys, and interschool athletic Contests participated in by
the member Schools belonging to the IHSAA must be held under the direct supervision,
management and auspices of the Schools concerned or under the direct supervision,
management and auspices of the IHSAA.
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that a licensed physician be present or on call during
all Contests.

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