(1)
reprimanded; or
(2)
on probation for a period not to exceed 365 days; or
(3)
suspended from participation in a sport or sports for a period up to 365 days.
(d)
Spectators - A spectator engaged in conduct inconsistent with a wholesome athletic program may:
(1)
be placed on spectator probation; or
(2)
be banned from attending school contests for a period of time not to exceed 365 days from the
date of the infraction; or
(3)
cause the school to be penalized. In incidents involving criminal misconduct such as assaults,
school officials in conjunction with the victims assaulted are instructed to press charges in
a court of law. If charges are not filed, the school is still responsible for handling the miscon
duct.
(4)
not approach or contact game officials in any way to question the judgment or decision of an
official.
NOTE: Schools are responsible and may be disciplined for the conduct of their spectators. Any as
sault upon, or intimidation of, a game official by a spectator is per se unsportsmanlike con
duct by the school and may be dealt with as such.
3.3
PENALTY CODE, PENALTIES, and RESTITUTION RULE
3.3.1
Penalty Code - The NCHSAA has the power to penalize the school, officials, the coach, parents/guardians,
spectators, and the individual student-athletes for violation of State Board Rules or NCHSAA rules. Some spe
cific penalties will be found below; however, the NCHSAA may take any action it deems justified as it relates
to the infraction involved.
3.3.2
Cooperation in Investigations - The NCHSAA expects and requires all member schools and their personnel to
cooperate fully in the NCHSAA's investigation of any suspected rule violation, waiver request, or other matter
related to the administration of high school athletics.
(a)
Upon request from the NCHSAA, member schools and their personnel must provide accurate and
complete information to aid an investigation. If the member school or its personnel are aware of
other relevant information in addition to what the NCHSAA specifically requested, they must
also offer to provide that information to the NCHSAA.
(b)
When questioned or interviewed by the NCHSAA, member schools and their personnel must be
honest, forthright, complete, and non-evasive in their answers. Member schools and their person-
nel should respond to questions in the spirit of candor, transparency, fair play, and self-reflection.
(c)
It is a violation of this rule for a member school or its personnel to knowingly make false statements
to the NCHSAA, to refuse or fail to provide information requested by the NCHSAA in an investi-
gation, to alter, falsify, or destroy such information, to provide the NCHSAA with misleading, in-
complete, inaccurate, or fabricated information, or to otherwise respond to requests or inquiries
from the NCHSAA in a way that is false, deceitful, or evasive. The NCHSAA considers such
conduct unsportsmanlike. The NCHSAA may penalize a member school and its personnel for
engaging in or condoning such behavior, even if the NCHSAA finds no underlying rule violation in its
investigation. Such penalties for conduct during an investigation shall be in addition to any penalty
the NCHSAA may impose if it finds an underlying rule violation.
3.3.3
Sanctions - Any prescribed remedy for a violation of Association rules as defined below:
(a)
Remediation – any action(s) required with the intent of correcting individual behavior or athletic
program deficiencies (e.g., NFHS coursework, trainings, etc.)
(b)
Reprimand – a formal, written warning outlining a finding of infraction(s) and detailing the pre
scribed sanctions for such incident. The number of accumulated reprimands for a school or individu
al will reset to zero on August 1.
(c)
Probation – a sanction placed by the Association in response to a violation or incident in which an i
ndividual, team, or school that has been found in violation of Association rules. The period of proba
tion shall not exceed 365 days.
(d)
Forfeiture (Team) – an official action taken when the violation of a rule requires the offending team
to receive automatic losses for all contests played during the period indicated.
(e)
Forfeiture (Individual) – an official action taken when the violation of a rule requires the offending
individual(s) to lose any individual matches or points earned in all contests played during the period
indicated.
(f)
Suspension – a sanction constituting a temporary withholding of the privilege of participation in
interscholastic athletic activities (practices or games) and NCHSAA programs for a student-athlete,
coach, administrator, official, or school. A suspension may carry over from one academic year to the
next.
3.3.4
Unreconciled Payments and Sanctions
(a)
Payments - Schools that fail to reconcile outstanding balances to the NCHSAA or other member
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