Editor’s Note: This story by Benjamin Rosenberg was first published by the Valley News on August 17.
MONTPELIER – After several incidents last year involving fans verbally harassing student-athletes and referees, the Vermont Principals’ Association is working to encourage positive fan behavior as the need for more officials increases.
Last October, the Hartford High girls soccer team walked off the field during a game in Fair Haven after people in the home student section reportedly sexually harassed Hurricanes’ players during the second half. At the VPA Division III boys basketball championship game between Hazen and Winooski, announcer Brent Curtis said he had to turn off the crowd’s microphone because of insults hurled at officials. And the boys soccer playoff game between Winooski and Enosburg Falls was played on a neutral field without spectators because of allegations of racial abuse when the teams met earlier in the season.
“We don’t have control over other people’s behavior. All we can do is respond to it and try to be proactive in front of it,” VPA executive director Jay Nichols said at the organization’s annual media day on Wednesday. “We have to take strong action against people when they are involved in that behavior.”
Before each VPA-sanctioned sporting event, a public address announcer reads a statement emphasizing good sportsmanship and reminding players, coaches and fans that all competitions must be “free from hazing, harassment and bullying of any kind.” The VPA also released an online reporting form last year to collect information and identify patterns for government agencies to focus on.
With no longer Covid-19 restrictions on spectators and masking mandates, all events have the potential for full capacity crowds until further notice, so the VPA will continue to be on the lookout for unruly behaviour.
“Another way we want to look at this, too, is to have an opportunity for the school’s cheering section to be celebrated for their creativity and their work,” said Lauren Thomas, VPA’s new assistant executive director. “Some of our reports come from the sound part of a group of students. If you’re sitting next to your 5-year-old, you feel good about bringing your family to the show – I’m not saying it’s not good, but it really makes sure we have a show which is family-friendly.”
Next up: Esports?
Nichols and Thomas discussed the possibility of adding esports — competitive video games — to the VPA’s jurisdiction. Connecticut became the first state to sponsor high school esports in 2017. In the Upper Valley, Hartford and New Hampshire’s Mascoma both have club teams.
Many athletic directors in Vermont also oversee other activities, including the visual and performing arts, so esports will fall under that umbrella as well. Read also : Stillwater native wins world title in martial arts – The Daily Gazette.
Thomas said esports meet four criteria to qualify as sports: they are human, physical, skill-based and institutional. The VPA will limit esports offerings to non-violent games such as Rocket League, Madden NFL and NBA 2K.
“We want to plan rather than react to esports,” Thomas said. “I know that for people who think about sports, starting an esports league can feel uncomfortable because it goes against the beliefs of some who want to stay away from the computer, but there is a lot of value in esports (with) the connections that students can make with people who usually they don’t talk or interact during the school day. There are opportunities to collaborate and solve problems.”
New athletic directors galore
This school year will see 17 Vermont athletic directors start new positions. To see also : Maine high school sports have no COVID protocols for the first time since the pandemic began.
Athletic directors who had not previously worked in that role attended a training session hosted by Thomas and Mount Mansfield AD David Marlow, where they took a Leadership Training Institute course from the National Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association. The VPA will also hold weekly drop-in meetings for ADs to voice concerns and share future plans for their school.
“Athletic directors are the backbone of many athletic programs, and supporting athletic directors for the longevity of creating great and great programs for kids,” Thomas said. “We really need to start looking at what our feeder programs are and building that foundation in order to matriculate into our high school sports programs.”
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What division is West Chester field hockey?
OPEN SECTION: Dates: June 2 – August 4, 2022.
What sports division does West Chester University have? West Chester University’s Athletics program has a rich and successful history in competitive athletics. We are members of the NCAA, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC).
Is West Chester University Division 3?
Intercollegiate athletes have the opportunity to compete in regional and national championships as a member of Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and conference championships as a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The West Chester University women’s rugby team …
Is West Chester a Division 1 school?
West Chester University sponsors one of the largest varsity programs in NCAA Division II with 24 intercollegiate men’s and women’s sports. Students participate in NCAA Division II athletics in the PSAC and ECAC. In the 2019-2020 school year, there are 557 WCU student-athletes.
How many d3 Field Hockey teams are there?
There are 158 Division 3 field hockey teams, which makes this the largest number of programs in any division of the NCAA.
How many d2 field hockey teams? How many division 2 field hockey teams are there? Division 2 field hockey teams have a total of 26, the lowest of any division. Because of this, proactive recruitment by athletes and parents is a necessity with the limited number of schools that have field hockey programs.
What is the best d3 hockey team?
| power | team | CONFERENCE |
|---|---|---|
| power | team | CONFERENCE |
| 1 | Adrian | Cha |
| 2 | Utica | UCHC |
| 3 | Augsburg | IAC |
How many d3 divisions are there?
Complete List of NCAA Division III Colleges. Below, we provide you with a complete list of NCAA Division III colleges for the 2021-2022 school year. Today, there are more than 430 schools in Division III.
How many D1 Field Hockey teams are there?
There are 78 field hockey programs at the NCAA D1 level.
Is field hockey a good sport?
Field hockey is a great sport to challenge to improve our skill level. The more skill the player has, the more chance he can lead the team to glory, and ultimately win. Perhaps by scoring a winning goal, or dramatically saving a goal-bound attack.
Is field hockey such a good sport? There is a High Level of Skill A large amount of skill is required to be successful in any sport, but field hockey is one of the most skill-based sports, as using a stick to move the ball requires a high level of coordination – especially since you are constantly moving.
Why is field hockey not popular?
Field hockey is not usually billed as a âtraditional sportâ and is not nearly as ubiquitous as football, baseball or basketball. As a result, the rules and the game are not well understood, giving people less of an incentive to quit the game.
Is field hockey a tough sport?
2. physical strength. Hockey is one of the most demanding sports on the body. Players cover greater distances in less time than most other team sports.
Is field hockey harder than soccer?
Soccer is a longer game, almost twice as long as a field hockey game but the bending and movement of field hockey can make it more difficult to play for long periods of time. Field hockey has different hits, skills like aerial dibbling, maneuvers, and more â so for the champion for the most often said field hockey skills.
