NMAA clamps down on conduct

The New Mexico Activities Association’s membership recently voted in changes that significantly increase sanctions against unsportsmanlike conduct to the NMAA bylaws.

According to the association, NMAA high schools voted nearly 80% in favor of the bylaw, entitled “Crowd Control & Unsportsmanlike Conduct.” The new policy goes into effect at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

The updated bylaws now specify the possibility of suspension of a team or fan, or both, from athletic activities if they engage in unsportsmanlike conduct.

The bylaws now include the following:

• When there is an egregious act of unsportsmanlike conduct by a team participant, including a coach, that occurs two or more times during the same season, at the same school and in the same activity, the team will be suspended from participation in that activity for the remainder of the season.

• When there is an egregious act of unsportsmanlike conduct by a non-team participant that occurs two or more times during the same season, at the same school and in the same activity, the non-team member, along with all school spectators, will be suspended from attendance in that activity for the remainder of the season.

“Unsportsmanlike conduct” is defined in the NMAA Handbook as noncompliance with sport-specific rules and NMAA policies, including behaviors incompatible with “Compete with Class” and the interscholastic educational objective.