Independent School League

Sportsmanship Creed

The ISL is proud of the behavior and sportsmanship displayed by its players, coaches and fans. The 16 member schools support spirited and fair play, as well as positive support for our players and teams. To ensure that our expected level of decorum continues each season and each game, all members of the ISL community continually renew their efforts to abide by the ideals of our league.

Athletic competition in the ISL is guided by the following ideals: Players shall at all times represent themselves and their school with honor, proper conduct, and good sportsmanship. They shall understand that competitive rivalries are encouraged but that disrespect for opponents is unsportsmanlike and lessens the value of the rivalries. They shall confine the competitiveness of the game to the field, and in particular behave properly on the sidelines and in the locker rooms both before and after games.

Players shall comply fully with the rulings of the officials. In no way—either by voice, action, or gesture—shall they demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the decisions made. Players must never forget that they represent their school.

ISL schools will not tolerate at their athletic contests any spectator, either student or adult, whose behavior is disrespectful toward players, officials, coaches, or other spectators. Nor will ISL schools permit any type of spectator behavior that either detracts from the proper conduct of the game or disadvantages a player or team.

The following list identifies some examples of unacceptable behavior during competition under guidelines of a committee formed by ISL heads and athletic directors:

• the use of profanity or displays of anger that draws attention away from the game;
• booing or heckling an official’s decisions, criticizing officials in any way, or displaying temper with an official’s call;
• trash-talk or yells that antagonize opponents;
• verbal abuse or intimidation tactics;
• disrespectful or derogatory yells, chants, songs, gestures, signs, posters, or banners.
• any distracting activity such as yelling, waving arms, or feet-stomping during an opponent’s free-throw attempts; and
• the use of artificial noise-makers of any kind. (Legitimate pep bands, however, are encouraged.)

These guidelines apply equally to players, coaches, and fans. The ISL asks officials to apply these guidelines strictly, especially with regard to players and coaches.