BUTLER HIGH SCHOOLHAROLD A. MEYER

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD2010-2011

• “One man practicing sportsmanship is better than a hundred teaching it.”

• -Knute Rockne, college football coach

Part 1-Board of Education Policy

On the next page is a copy of the board of education policy that was adopted on June 24, 2003. The policy is supported by the administration with good sportsmanship reminders to the student body on morning and afternoon announcements and pep assemblies. The administration monitors the student section (and the parent section) at sporting events. At the time, the administrators are also enforcing the policy. Our board policies are available to the public but are not distributed to the public. However, the sports programs for athletic events, the superintendent and principal both address the sportsmanship efforts in their letters to the community. (Copies of these letters are attached.) The athletic department also has a parent meeting at the beginning of each season to address the athletic policies of the district and the state. The parents of all of our student athletes are required to be at that meeting.

Board of Education PolicySportsmanship Resolution

• Sportsmanship-Conduct becoming to one who is fair, respectful to one’s • opponent, and gracious in winning or losing. (Webster’s Dictionary)• • We, the students and staff of Butler High School, not only agree with this definition, but commit ourselves to carrying out

the following guidelines. We will provide opportunities for obtaining knowledge, attitudes, experience, and skills that enable our students to incorporate these guidelines throughout their activities. We believe that promoting sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity in extra-curricular activities should be an important step of reaching and supporting our goal.

• • Promoting sportsmanship at Butler High School includes:• • Treating opponents, coaches, and officials with respect and positive criticism.• Taking victory and defeat with an appropriate attitude.• Cooperating with coaches and fellow players in trying to promote good sportsmanship. • Being positive with opponents, officials, and coaches. (ex. Refraining from swearing or making insulting remarks to

opponents before, during, or after the contests.)• Letting student audiences know that inappropriate behavior reflects poorly on the team and school.• The Board of Education recognizes the value of extra-curricular activities in the educational process and the values that

young people will develop when they take the opportunity to participate in an organized activity outside of the classroom.• • Participants involved in Board-approved extra-curricular activities are expected to demonstrate the same level of

responsibility and behavior at practices and competitions as they would in a classroom. The encouragement of sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity is promoted through administrators, participants, adult supervisors, parents, fans, and the booster’s association.

Part 2- Committee Information• At the beginning of the 2002-03 school year, the Butler High School Sportsmanship Committee was founded and organized for the sole purpose of

the implementation of a sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity program. This group is a self-standing, independent committee.• The committee is headed by athletic admininstrator Ryan Rogers and consists of twenty-one male and female student-athletes, and

two coaches. Students are drawn from a variety of sports, including football, track, basketball, volleyball, softball, bowling, baseball, soccer, tennis, wrestling, cheerleading, and cross country, as well as several non-athletes. Several of the student-athletes are also members of student government and other service committees offered at Butler High School.

• The committee has met twelve times throughout the school year. Our meeting dates are the second Wednesday (occasionally Friday) of each month at 6:45am in the SAC (Student Activity Center). We did meet twice a month in September, October, November, and January. At these meetings, students have discussed and carried out programs already in place and have brainstormed new ideas for sportsmanship. Also, the student body vice president, sportsmanship committee president, and/or athletic administrator Mr. Rogers read a motivational or sportsmanship quote on the announcements on some Friday mornings.

• The committee also has continued to develop a new scholarship opportunity sponsored by the committee. We started to develop a scholarship opportunity last year, but due to some funding issues and revisions, we were not able to offer the scholarship for the 2010-11 school year. The task of developing an annual scholarship has been bigger than the committee expected. We have discussed several fundraising ideas that will help the committee develop the resources needed to offer the scholarship annually. The committee did not want to offer the scholarship for only one year. The committee has developed the following criteria for an annual $500 scholarship to a male or female student who demonstrated the following criteria:

• An essay on what sportsmanship, integrity, and ethics means to the student; and how have you (the student) demonstrated sportsmanship, integrity, and ethics while at Butler High School

• Scholarship committee consists of two administrators, the athletic director, and two coaches.• Eligible for all students• Must maintain a 2.0 GPA• Must attend a four year college• The scholarship would be offered for the first time in the 2011-12 school year.• This has been a difficult year at Butler High. In the middle of the school year in 2010-11, the District began the renovation project

on the current high school which interrupted many clubs and activities operations and annual events. The renovation project carried through the entire 2011-12 school year with the hope of opening up the new school year with a finished product. The committee decided that during this time we would continue to develop by-laws for Butler High School’s sportsmanship committee. I have included the by-laws in this portfolio. The students did a great job of developing the by-laws and we look forward to utilizing them during the 2011-12 school year.

• Finally, the sportsmanship committee has worked hard to promote sportsmanship through example. Every member has continually been positive and supportive of Butler High School athletics throughout the year.

Butler High School Sportsmanship Committee By-Laws As Sportsmanship Committee members we strive to promote the following:

Sportsmanship: Conduct and attitude considered as befitting participants in sports, especially fair play, courtesy, striving spirit, and grace in losing.

Ethics: A theory or a system of moral values.Integrity: Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral

character, honesty.

The Sportsmanship Committee is a student-led organization dedicated to the ideas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. In order to be a member and remain a member in good standing, you must meet the criteria in each of the four areas, which are explained in each section below.

Scholarship

All Students participating in Sportsmanship Committee must have a cumulative grade point average at or above 2.0. Sportsmanship Committee members must maintain this cumulative grade point average to remain a member. If a member drops below a 2.0, they are placed on probation for 1 quarter of the school year. This being one warning, after that quarter, if their GPA is not raised to 2.0, this member is revoked.

Leadership

Leadership in Sportsmanship Committee is defined as being an active member. For this each member has to be active in at least one sport or an active spectator to multiple sporting events. Each member has to represent good sportsmanship as an athlete and/or fan and encourage others to follow.

Service

Service is defined as a volunteer action undertaken by the student in behalf of sportsmanship without any direct financial or material compensation to the student performing the service.

There will be a minimum of at least one service project a year which each member is required to participate in as long as it doesn’t hinder sporting events that they are in. The committee has the decision on what service project to participate in.

Character

Sportsmanship Committee members are expected to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship on or off the field. Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated and the member will be put on probation for the duration of 1 quarter. If after 1 quarter the member’s sportsmanlike behavior does not improve the member will be removed.

Probation and RemovalProbation: In the event that a member is placed on probation for

any reason, he/she will be given a letter to sign indication the reason(s) for the probation. The president and the advisor will also meet with the member and discuss why they have been put on probation as well.

Removed: In the event that a member is removed from the Sportsmanship Committee for any reason, he/she will be given a letter of removal to indicating the reason(s) of the removal. The president and the advisor will also meet with the member and discuss why they have been removed as well. He/She may they reapply for membership at the start of the following year.

Butler Sportsmanship Committee 2010-11

Lauren Jackson 10th grade TennisHeidi Kazee 10th grade Volleyball, Bowling, SoftballEmily Hinkle 12th grade Tennis, TrackNick Peiffer 12th grade TennisCasey Hinkle 11th grade NoneNatalie Bickley 12th grade VolleyballEmily Brumfield 12th grade Soccer, Basketball, SoftballMarcel Tibbs 12th grade Football, TrackGina Warmouth 12th grade BasketballSami Baker 12th grade Volleyball, BasketballAbby Owen 12th grade Cheerleading, SoftballMarah Charbel 12th grade Soccer, TrackChris Marshall 12th grade Soccer, SwimmingMegan Pillsbury 12th grade Basketball

Sportsmanship CommitteeMeeting Reminder

• When: Wednesday September 8th, 2010 at 6:45am• Where: SAC• • Please attend if at all possible. Come with plenty of ideas. Hope to see you there!• • See me if you cannot attend.• • Thanks,• Mr. Rogers• • • Sportsmanship Committee• Meeting Reminder• • When: Wednesday September 8th, 2010 at 6:45am• Where: SAC• • Please attend if at all possible. Come with plenty of ideas. Hope to see you there!• • See me if you cannot attend.• • Thanks,• Mr. Rogers• • • Sportsmanship Committee• Meeting Reminder• • When: Wednesday September 8th, 2010 at 6:45am• Where: SAC• • Please attend if at all possible. Come with plenty of ideas. Hope to see you there!• • See me if you cannot attend.• • Thanks,• Mr. Rogers

Sportsmanship Committee Meeting Agendas

• Sportsmanship Meeting• Wednesday September 8th, 2010• 6:45 SAC• • Discussion Items:• Welcome and definition of the committee.• Present the 8 criteria of the Harold A. Meyer Sportsmanship, Ethics,

and Integrity Award.• Vote for President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer• Begin watching for sportsman of the month (bring to next meeting to

vote)• Committee picture will be at 6:45am on September 10th in the SAC.

Sportsmanship Committee Meeting Agendas Cont…

• Sportsmanship Meeting• Wednesday September 20, 2006• 6:45 Lecture Hall• • Committee Picture to be on postcard to other schools at 6:40 in the SAC.• • Discussion Items:• • Application Process- divide into groups for each item• Sportsman of the Month• Presentation of the Harold A. Meyers Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award will be at

the last home football game prior to the start of the game. Nick Peiffer (Pres), Sami Baker (Vice Pres), Natalie Bickley (sec/treas) will hold the banner at the 50 yard line while the award is announced by Mr Amlin. The rest of the committte will circle around the banner.

• Old Ideas• New Ideas

Part 3 – Presentation

• At the beginning of the school year the assistant principal, Mr. Rogers, discussed sportsmanship and it’s importance on the announcements to the entire school. Also, preceding one of the home football games in the fall and one of the home basketball games in the winter, the 2009-2010 Harold A. Meyer Sportsmanship award was presented to the public by the members of the committee and details of the award was read over the loudspeaker. Another presentation of sportsmanship was made at every GWOC basketball contest this winter. Before each game our public address announcer read a statement over the loudspeaker on the topic of sportsmanship.

• Due to building construction (the high school is being renovated), we were not able to host a sportsmanship luncheon with another rival school district. Instead, we decided to create and maintain a bulletin board outside the main office to display sport schedules and pictures of students who won the sportsmanship fan of the month and the sportsmanship players of the season. The bulletin board received positive feedback from our varsity coaches, student/athletes, and teaching staff. We will continue to maintain the bulletin board in the future. We also announced the award winners on the school’s morning announcements.

• • Basketball Announcement• Details of the award

Harold A. Meyer Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award

I would like to direct your attention to the field near the fifty yard line where the administration of Butler High School and members of the sportsmanship committee are standing with the school’s Harold A. Meyer Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award banner. For the eighth year in a row, Butler High School is the proud recipient of the Harold A. Meyer Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award by the Ohio High School Athletic Association Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Committee. Congratulations to the sportsmanship committee, the students, the staff, the administration, the Board of Education, and the community members of the city of Vandalia and Butler Township. Thank you.

Pre-Game Basketball AnnouncementOn behalf of the Greater Western Ohio Conference we would like to welcome

you to today’s game.The Greater Western Ohio Conference prides itself in displaying proper

sportsmanship at all times. As a conference we are continually promoting and encouraging sportsmanship to the fullest degree in all athletic competitions.

Fair play, ethical conduct and respect for opponents are actions to be demonstrated before, during, and after all sporting events and activities.

Remember, athletic events are learning experiences for student-athletes.We ask that you be a role model by positively supporting the game’s

participants. Sportsmanship is everyone’s responsibility so please do your part.

We hope you enjoy the game.

Part 4- Campaign• A few activities involved in this year’s sportsmanship program include:• Every month the committee chose a sportsman of the month. The students, who won were

announced over the PA, received a purple t-shirt, and a free home game pass for that month.• The committee provided sportsmanship materials to the sports’ program to be included in the fall

and winter sports game programs.• The Sportsman of the Month is a desirable award by the student body. Many students who have

won in the past wear their purple t-shirts with pride. Some students even make it a goal to be named the Sportsman of the Month.

• The sportsmanship committee, the advisor, the athletic director, and other school officials are the people who are the most directly involved in the execution of the campaign. The coaches also help out with making the campaign successful. They focus on displaying sportsmanship with their athletes. The entire student body has been very considerate these last few years at sporting events. Three years ago the administration banned all negative cheering or chanting in the student section. The principals and athletic directors will even ask people to leave who are demonstrating poor sportsmanship, which sends a clear message to the rest of the people in the stands.

• Anyone who represents our school is part of our campaign. This starts with the administration, which makes sure the coaches are demonstrating proper sportsmanship. The coaches pass on the act of being a good sport to their athletes.

• Program page

Part 5- Evaluation• Part 5- Evaluation• Every Butler High School coach is evaluated by the athletic direction, and the varsity coach of his/her

sport evaluates assistant coaches. A sample of the evaluation form is included. Also included is information from the coach’s handbook, as well as material from the coach’s and athletic director’s Code of Ethics.

• Coaches are encouraged to promote sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity by displaying to their athletes why it is important to have each of these qualities. The coach’s handbook states such phrases as “to always strive for playing excellence that will produce winning teams within the bounds of good sportsmanship and mental health of the student/athlete” and “excellence and the ideals of good sportsmanship that make for winning and losing graciously.” The athletic director evaluates the coaches on a regular basis. In addition, the athletic director holds meeting periodically with our coaches to discuss matters of sportsmanship, ethics, and integrity. Each meeting is positive and is used to encourage the coaches to continue to promote to their athletes positive sportsmanship and to be good role models for them.

• It is stated in the athletic directors code of ethics that he “is committed to high standards of ethics, sportsmanship, and personal conduct on the part of the administrator, members of the coaching staff, and the athletes representing their school.”

• There are guidelines for every athlete. The first guideline is that no athlete shall disrespect another verbally of physically. Next, all athletes shall not be permitted to show disrespect or be unsportsmanlike to another team or coach. Last all athletes should use good decision making skills (a.k.a. ethics, integrity) to avoid any kind of inappropriate behavior.

•• Evaluation form

Part 6-Complaints• There is no written procedure for acting upon complaints at this time, but

there is an unwritten procedure. The athletic director and the administrative staff are responsible for dealing with complaints. The athletic director will listen to the person filing the complaint and take down many details about the incident. If the incident is minor, he will call down the student (or coach) into his office and discuss the matter and deal with it as a strong warning. However, if the incident is major, he may choose to involve the administration, and consequences would be issued. If necessary he may call in all parties associated with the complaint, for example coaches, athletes, and parents to try to resolve the situation.

• Once again this year, we had few incidents. The students and parent sections at our sporting events handled themselves in a very sportsmanlike manner throughout the year. We believe this is due to the persistence and consistency of the administration and the sportsmanship committee throughout the school year. We are very proud of how the student body responded to our requests throughout the school year.

Part 7- Critical Situation

• A plan for dealing with critical situations such as heated rivalries, overflow crowds or unruly spectators: • A. The plan executed by our school and administration is to continuously watch the stands at any

event and make sure that the stands are not overflowing. If they feel the stands are too crowded, they will not permit anyone else in the stands.

• • B. The Principal and Vice-Principals are responsible for implementing the plans that deal with

overflowing crowds and critical situations. • • C. There are no administrators or members of visiting schools who are involved in formulating and

implementing the plan. All implementing is done by our administration. • • D. One example of a potentially critical situation is “freshman push back.” This is when the entire

student section forces the freshman up to the very top of the stands. Sometimes, leaving the freshman piled on top of one another because there is simply not enough room for all of them in the bleachers. When the administrators see this happening, they are always very quick to react and put a stop to the “push back.”

• Another example of discipline problems in the stands is the harmless yet disrespectful cheers that are yelled towards the opposing team. Sometimes our student section can get carried away and begin to chant negative cheers at the opposing team rather than positive cheers for their home team. At Butler High School, these cheers have become very minimal thanks to our administrators. When they hear these cheers, they stop them immediately. Over time, this has taught our students to keep all cheers respectful and supportive of the athletes.

Part 8- Acknowledging Good Sportsmanship

• Each month the committee selected a sportsman of the month. This award is given to a student or student-athlete who has shown school spirit and has attended many of the athletic events. Most importantly, this fan must be one who is positive and supportive—in other words, a good sport to our team, the opposing teams, and the referees. The students who won were announced over the PA, awarded and purple t-shirt, and a free home game pass for that month. This program has been very successful and we plan to continue it in future years.

• One other manner in which athletes are recognized for good sportsmanship involves awards presented at the end of the season in most of our sports. Almost every sport has a Coach’s award (or an Aviator award). This award typically goes to the athlete who is a leader and a role model on and off the court. Often, it may not be the most talented athlete, but instead a good sport who never complains and always lifts others up.