Philadelphia Catholic League Code of Conduct
ATHLETIC COURTESY
Athletics should foster sportsmanship. It is the privilege of each one of us associated with athletics to bear witness to our principles in our own actions.
- Visiting teams and spectators are guests of the home team and should be treated as we would like to be treated.
- The rules of the game are to be regarded as mutual agreements, the spirit or the letter of which no honorable person should break.
ETHICS PERTAINING TO CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS
This code of ethics is to be regarded not simply as recommendations but as rules governing the conduct of student-spectators, student-athletes, coaches, and athletic directors.
The student-spectator should:
- Realize that he represents his school just as an athlete does.
- Appreciate and give suitable recognition to the good in others.
- Cheer positively and avoid “booing”; abusive language or vulgarity are clearly a lack of charity that breed the same in opponents.
- Avoid the use of musical instruments, noisemakers, signs, and streamers as these are annoying to some and inflammatory to others.
- Regard officials and opponents as honest; officials’ decisions should be accepted even when they seem unfair.
- Be aware that if he continually evidences poor sportsmanship, he will be requested not to attend future contests.
- Realize that a contest ends with the final whistle or other signal; post-game injury to others or damage to property is un-Christian and irresponsible behavior.
The student-athlete should:
- Develop a deeply ingrained conviction that he represents a long tradition of fairness and competition.
- Develop the self-control necessary for best performance in competition and life; losing his temper and consequent fighting or abusive language are failures in this regard.
- The student-athlete who flagrantly abuses these rules, even one, may be dropped by his school from the team as he is unworthy to represent this League or his school.
STUDENT-ATHLETE TRANSFERS
Students transferring into Roman Catholic High School will become eligible for participation in varsity sports when the Principal of his previous school agrees in writing that the student did not transfer for athletic reasons. If the Principal from the previous school does not agree to do this, the student will be ineligible for varsity sports for one year from the date of transfer.