University of Tennessee Athletics
SEC Sportsmanship Statement
Oct. 10, 2003
The institutions of the Southeastern Conference have enacted proposals this season that will promote and demonstrate the positive aspects of sportsmanship at future SEC sporting events.
The SEC adopted a general sportsmanship statement that will serve as the principle for its institutions to follow. It states, "Coaches and student-athletes of a member institution, as well as individuals employed by or associated with that institution, including alumni, fans, patrons and boosters, shall conduct themselves with honesty and good sportsmanship. Their behavior shall at all times reflect the high standards of honor and dignity that characterize participation in the collegiate setting.
For intercollegiate athletics to promote the character development of participants, to enhance the integrity of higher education and to promote civility in society, coaches, student-athletes and all others associated with these athletics programs and events should adhere to such fundamental values as respect, fairness, civility, honesty and responsibility. These values should be manifest not only in athletics participation but also in the broad spectrum of activities affecting the athletics program.
"It is the responsibility of each member institution to establish policies for sportsmanship and ethical conduct in intercollegiate athletics consistent with the educational mission and goals of the institution. Furthermore, member institutions are responsible for educating on a continuing basis all constituencies about these policies."
Each institution will participate in the promotion of proper sportsmanship at its home games, by featuring public address announcements, video spots and game program advertisements. The SEC and its institutions also will place radio, television and print advertisements in its media inventories.
Also, the league has developed a formal policy on items being thrown onto the playing field/court. Each school in the SEC has adopted the "zero-tolerance" policy for such behavior, which will result in the violators being ejected from the stadium.
In the sport of football, visiting teams will not be allowed to come back out onto the stadium turf to celebrate a victory, and the visiting team's band will be allowed to play no more than two songs following the conclusion of the game.
Also, in football, cheerleaders and mascots will be restricted to designated sideline areas between the bench boundary and the end line, as well as behind the respective end zone to the goal post, and behind the photographer zone. At no time, may cheerleaders or mascots enter the playing field (defined as any area beyond the 6-foot limit lines surrounded the playing field) while the game is in progress. Home team cheerleaders and mascots shall not enter any visiting team area. Any type of physical contact between team mascots and cheerleaders is strictly prohibited.
The SEC has had a history of addressing the issues of sportsmanship and fan behavior in recent years. Prior to these proposals being passed, the league has adopted policies pertaining to the placement of student sections and bands as related to visiting bench areas, prohibition of artificial noisemakers, elimination of "pass outs" during games, restrictions on "huddles" or "dances" on the field or court, pregame warmup "buffer zone" in football and pregame sportsmanship announcements on video boards and public address systems.
