Pregame Procedures

Sample Topic Outline for Pre-Game
Sportsmanship Meeting
(Attendees: Participating school's principal/administrator, athletic director, coach, team captain(s), and game officials.)
  • Welcome to all (by school, administrator, athletic director, administrative designee or game official - according to the policy of the school, league or section).
  • Operational items:
    • Location of administrators or administrative designees during the game
    • Proper conduct during warm-ups
    • Team introductions by announcer - conduct of players
  • To principals/administrators
    • Duties/responsibilities
    • Crowd control
  • To coaches
    • Thank you for your service to your student athletes and your school
    • Expectations - bench decorum
    • Demeanor pre and post game
  • To Team Captains
    • Welcome
    • Leadership role
    • Reminder…team represents school, families, community, (league, section)
    • Expectations - player demeanor on the court and on the bench
    • Taunting, trash-talking and any unsportsmanlike conduct are absolutely inappropriate and will not be tolerated
  • To Officials
    • Welcome and thank you
    • Expectations - This game will be officiated fairly and demeaning behavior will not be tolerated
  • Closing Remarks

Remember…

Only one team will emerge as winner tonight…but everyone involved in this game has an opportunity to act like a winner.

Good luck!