24 • The Beacon November 23 , 2023
OHSAA relaunches Respect the Game program
The Ohio High School Athletic Association launched the Respect the Game program in 2004 , and the phrase and logo have become synonymous with interscholastic athletics in Ohio from public address announcers , publications , social media and public service announcements . This fall the OHSAA has been working on new resources and collecting ideas from member schools to announce an expanded Respect the Game program as the 2023-24 winter sports season is about to get underway .
At the top of the list is a recommendation that schools have members of both schools ’ student sections stand together and take the microphone to read a sportsmanship message to the fans before contests this winter .
“ Bad fan behavior can ruin a game , and we need to do something about it ,” said Doug Ute , OHSAA executive director and the OHSAA ’ s basketball administrator . “ We have met with studentathletes , and the message we received is ‘ it ’ s our game ,’ and we need to try to get poor sportsmanship from the bleachers out of the game . We have an officiating shortage in Ohio , and the No . 1 reason that officials get out of officiating is the abuse they take from the bleachers . We must create a more positive environment at our athletic contests .”
The Respect the Game website is at www . ohsaa . org / Respect-the-Game and contains many new
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items such as resources for school administrators , public address scripts , updated content for preseason parent meetings , examples of positive behavior as observed by contest officials , responsibilities for various groups , public service announcements and more . Videos also will be added containing interviews with school administrators sharing ideas that work at their schools in promoting positive sporting behavior .
“ When a student takes the microphone and addresses the gym , everybody listens ,” Ute said . “ It ’ s powerful . We hope that adults will listen to what the kids are saying and cheer for their team , not against the officials or the other team . Some schools are doing this already , but we have to do this across the state to make sure high school sports stay strong for years to come .”
The shortage of officials is a nationwide issue that the National Federation of High School Associations has identified and addressed in the last several years .
“ If we don ’ t have officials , there are no games ,” Ute said . “ The NFHSA identified this as the top concern for high school sports . The student-athletes we met with said that bad behavior from the fans is embarrassing and sometimes can lead to them not wanting to play . All of us have a role to play in creating positive environments at our schools . This isn ’ t college or professional athletics . We must do better for our kids .”
Each week the OHSAA will highlight a new resource , with the goal that all resources become standard operating procedures at athletic events . The OHSAA also is collecting stories and examples of sportsmanship and positive environments for the website and to share with other schools .
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