10/08/2013 – COMMISSIONER’S DIRECTIVE ON POSTGAME ACTIVITY

 

Several sports have “traditions” regarding postgame handshakes, etc. by team members (both en masse and as individuals), but none of them have such action dictated by playing rules. While it is an obvious sign of sportsmanship and civility, many incidents have occurred both in Kentucky (more than two dozen in the last three years in Kentucky alone) and throughout the country, where fights and physical conflicts have broken out. And this is not restricted to specific sports. In our state alone, incidents in soccer, football and volleyball have occurred this fall.

 

Unfortunately, the adrenaline and effort required to participate in the sport sometimes seems to deplete the supply of judgement available to participants. And this can be particularly problematic when there is a lack of an appropriate level of adult supervision, or counterproductive actions by the adults involved with the team. After consultation with the Board of Control at its last meeting, the Commissioner is issuing the following directives and recommendations to the schools and officials regarding post game in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling:

 

• Following the contests, officials are to quickly and efficiently leave the playing facility following all rules mandated duties and ensure that the rules book mandated jurisdiction ends promptly. There is no need for officials to secure the game balls, shake hands with the coaches or players, or stick around the playing area for any other reason.
  
• Officials have no role in what goes on in postgame, including handshakes, etc. after jurisdiction has ended. Officials also have NO role in administering this policy. Officials choosing to involve themselves in postgame activities will be penalized appropriately;
  
• Game management and the administration of the participating team(s) are solely responsible for what happens after the contest is concluded.
  
• It is directed that teams and individuals do not participate in organized post game handshake lines/ceremonies beyond that interaction that is required by the NFHS playing rules (i.e. the awarding of a bout winner in wrestling) and the individual unorchestrated actions by individual competitirs;
  
• The coaches and administration of the teams are responsible for the individual conduct of the members of the team following the contest and shall be held accountable for such; and
  
• If the decision is made to ignore this directive and participate in some form of organized postgame handshake line/handshake against this recommendation, it is the expressed responsibility of game management and the coaches and administration of the teams to supervise the activity, to report to the KHSAA any incidents that occur.
  

Henceforth, any incidents by an individual squad member (including coaches) or group of squad members that results in unsporting acts immediately following the contest will result in a fine against the member school athletic program, and additional penalties against the individuals or schools as deemed appropriate following investigation.

 

It is disappointing that this action has become necessary, but enough incidents have occurred both in our state and in others, that the necessity has arrived.

 

Volleyball Fight?

 

I don't think this is so much a KY thing (while there have been instances and are apparently on the rise) but more of a national level things with instances happening across the nation.

 

I think this is nothing more than the KHSAA trying to absolve themselves for when the national level ugly events happens.

Is a handshake afterwards really needed to demonstrate sportsmanship between competitors? Shouldn't that have been done during the game?

 

Frankly, I could give a hoot less if they continue to shake hands or they don't continue to shake hands after a game. A dirty player that shook hands after a game was still a dirty player. And a clean player was going to still be a clean player regardless of whether he shook hands afterwards.

 

 

Or stated differently: players have the entire game to demonstrate sportsmanship. A handshake afterwards really doesn't mean much.

I have zero problems with the handshake going away. Never liked it in the first place.:angrybird12: Really liking these little angry bird thingy's.

Is a handshake afterwards really needed to demonstrate sportsmanship between competitors? Shouldn't that have been done during the game?

 

Frankly, I could give a hoot less if they continue to shake hands or they don't continue to shake hands after a game. A dirty player that shook hands after a game was still a dirty player. And a clean player was going to still be a clean player regardless of whether he shook hands afterwards.

 

 

Or stated differently: players have the entire game to demonstrate sportsmanship. A handshake afterwards really doesn't mean much.

 

I'm with you!!

The postgame handshake is such an empty gesture. It isn't needed and it is a waste of time. The KHSAA got this one right.

Is a handshake afterwards really needed to demonstrate sportsmanship between competitors? Shouldn't that have been done during the game?

 

Frankly, I could give a hoot less if they continue to shake hands or they don't continue to shake hands after a game. A dirty player that shook hands after a game was still a dirty player. And a clean player was going to still be a clean player regardless of whether he shook hands afterwards.

 

 

Or stated differently: players have the entire game to demonstrate sportsmanship. A handshake afterwards really doesn't mean much.

:eyeonyou:Always thought you liked the friendly handshake.

Maybe they could force both teams to meet at the 50 for a Harlem shake

I have heard both cusswords and the racial epithets during handshake lines, not to mention seeing players put stuff on their hands to slap on their opponents during the line. Not everyone is out there saying "good game" and I'm not speaking only about players.

 

Pretty sorry, I know, but I knew it was just a matter of time before the KHSAA did something about it. Of course, about all the KHSAA did was say "we're not responsible" but it did at least address the issue.

Rather than hold a school/team/coach/player responsible, we are going to teach a generation to play without sportsmanship. If you can't control your emotions after a game, then the postgame handshake isn't the problem.

 

If the KHSAA wants to get rid of something, get rid of that paragraph that refs have to read to coaches and captains that nobody enforces anyway.

Rather than hold a school/team/coach/player responsible, we are going to teach a generation to play without sportsmanship. If you can't control your emotions after a game, then the postgame handshake isn't the problem.

 

If the KHSAA wants to get rid of something, get rid of that paragraph that refs have to read to coaches and captains that nobody enforces anyway.

 

 

Post game handshakes have absolutely nothing to do with sportsmanship. Helping an opponent up during a game is sportsmanship. Not an empty handshake after the game. Not one single kid in our world will not turn into a decent adult as a result of not shaking hands after the game.

Post game handshakes have absolutely nothing to do with sportsmanship. Helping an opponent up during a game is sportsmanship. Not an empty handshake after the game. Not one single kid in our world will not turn into a decent adult as a result of not shaking hands after the game.

 

This is just a game, if kids can't shake hands afterwards without fighting to the point that the KHSAA disapproves of it, then yes we do have a problem with sportsmanship.

Handshake is a waste of time. Where else in life is a forced handshake done to show sportsmanship.

Kids need to learn how to win/lose with sportsmanship. That's what's wrong with sports nowadays, kids do not know how to win and they do not know how to lose with class. What they do know is how to run their mouths nonstop to one another.

Handshake is a waste of time. Where else in life is a forced handshake done to show sportsmanship.

 

Outside of what? High school sports?

This is just a game, if kids can't shake hands afterwards without fighting to the point that the KHSAA disapproves of it, then yes we do have a problem with sportsmanship.

 

 

Or maybe KHSAA doesn't want to be sued because they are telling athletes to participate in a hollow gesture after each sporting event. Either way, a meaningless exercise is no longer mandated and IMO it is for the best.