Rev: 7/28/20

A student-athlete who is ejected from a contest for unsportsmanlike conduct or a flagrant foul will be ineligible to compete for the remainder of that contest and in any inter-scholastic athletic contest for the next seven (7) calendar days at the same level, or any level of participation in which the student-athlete was ejected. If less than two (2) contests are scheduled during this seven-day period of time at the same level of ejection, the student will be ineligible for the next football game or a minimum of the next two (2) contests in all other sports. If the ejection occurs in the last contest of a season, the student will be ineligible for the same period of time stated above in the next sport in which the student-athlete participates. A student-athlete who is ejected for a second or subsequent act of general unsportsmanlike conduct or a flagrant foul, will be ineligible to compete in any interscholastic athletic contest for a period of up to six (6) weeks. In addition to being ineligible for the next seven (7) calendar days by FHSAA rules, any Highlands County public school student-athlete ejected will be assessed a financial penalty payable to the school before he/she is permitted to compete in another athletic contest. The principal has the authority to impose additional penalties due to this general unsportsmanlike conduct which can include removal of the student-athlete from the athletic team for the remainder of the season. The superintendent and/or principal may also suspend or terminate an athletic program due to excessive and continuous unsportsmanlike conduct.

A student-athlete who is ejected from a contest for any act of gross unsportsmanlike conduct will be ineligible to compete in any interscholastic athletic contest for a period of up to six (6) weeks. In addition to being ineligible for up to six (6) weeks by FHSAA rules, any Highlands County student-athlete ejected will be assessed a financial penalty payable to the school before he/she is permitted to compete in another athletic contest. The principal has the authority to impose additional penalties due to this gross unsportsmanlike conduct which can include removal of the student-athlete from the athletic team for the remainder of the season. The superintendent and/or principal may also suspend or terminate an athletic program due to excessive and continuous unsportsmanlike conduct. The FHSAA defines gross unsportsmanlike conduct as: An act of a malicious and hateful nature toward a contest official or an opponent. Such malicious acts shall include, but not limited to, cursing, striking or threatening a contest official during a contest or at any other time because of resentment over occurrences or decisions during a contest; physical contact with an opponent that is beyond the normal scope of competition and which appears to be with the intent of inflicting bodily harm on the opponent; spitting on a contest official or opponent; directing gender, racial or ethnic slurs toward a contest official or opponent; or other such acts which may be deemed as unacceptable conduct by the FHSAA.

It is the responsibility of the high school principal to ensure this policy is enforced. When an ineligible student-athlete is allowed to participate, forfeiture of the contest is mandatory. This policy applies to all regular season and State series contests.