Sportsmanship Update
As the fall sports season kicks off for the 2024-2025 school year, the Groton CSD wants to make all spectators aware of a new regulation put in place by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) in an effort to make public school sporting events a safe, family-friendly environment for all. Commencing with the fall sports season, the state has instituted updated rules for spectators. Any spectator displaying unsportsmanlike conduct towards another fan, an official, a coach, or a student athlete will be given a warning by the school administrator on-site (unless the act is egregious, at which point they will be removed from the premises immediately). Continued unsportsmanlike conduct will result in removal from the contest AND a requirement the spectator complete a NYS-approved spectator conduct training before being allowed to return to public high school sporting events at any high school in New York.
As has been the case in previous years, we ask all spectators to remember that these events are high school events. As such, “we should recognize the purpose of athletics is to promote physical, mental, social and emotional well-being of individual players and their fans,” and that the games are “between high school students, not professionals.” We encourage everyone in attendance to display proper ideals of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and fair play.