caution
Winter 2025-26/2026-27 Proposed Tournament Alignments are now available. The deadline for appeals is January 1, 2025.
Summary
In pursuing its purpose, the Association aims to provide leadership that ensures interscholastic athletics are conducted within reasonable bounds, encouraging all that is honorable and sportsmanlike, as well as, providing leadership and service designed to improve interschool relations in athletics.
We believe the platform of interscholastic athletics must promote behaviors that instill respect for self, team, opponents, officials, rules and the game itself. When teacher-coaches, student athletes, and game officials choose the privilege of participating in interscholastic athletics, they assume the responsibility for right action. Together, they serve as role models to empower ALL participants in the collective power of positive influence and the process of positive decision making.
Respectful Treatment of All Members of a School Community
One of the greatest benefits of interscholastic athletics is the opportunity to meet and interact with students from other communities and backgrounds. It is essential that students and adults approach those interactions with respect and civility.
Participation in interscholastic athletics provides a significant opportunity to teach respect for self, team, opponents, officials, rules, and the game itself. We must utilize the collective power of positive influence that student-athletes and teacher coaches share as role models to empower ALL participants in the process of positive decision making. When teacher-coaches, student athletes, and game officials choose the privilege of participating in interscholastic athletics, they assume the responsibility for right action. As a result, the foundation of our existence must prioritize programmatic initiatives that promote sportsmanship.
We continue to be deeply troubled by the dis-regulated behaviors that continue to occur in interscholastic athletics, our schools and in our communities. We have taken very seriously our responsibility to help instill in student athletes a commitment to behaving with the utmost respect and dignity. We continue to support programmatic initiatives that strive to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive, beginning with a profound reckoning on race and racism. Collectively we are committed to engaging deeply in this work – so that we can make a difference in eradicating racism and all other forms of bias and hatred.
Maximizing student participation in co-curricular activities provides student athletes with a sense of belonging. In doing so, we must strive to respect diversity and encourage participation, interaction, and understanding of ALL members in our school communities.
Over and above adherence to promoting the laws that impact gender equity, collectively we strive to provide a safe, positive, respectful, and inclusive culture that ensures equity and honors diversity in identity for all students.
Collectively, it is our responsibility to provide a welcoming and respectful experience for all young people who choose to participate in interscholastic athletics. No one engaged in interscholastic athletics feels disrespected, unsafe, or unwelcome -- on or off the playing fields.
In summation, we must seize the opportunity that interscholastic athletics provides and utilize this platform to promote behaviors that support the respectful treatment of all members of a school community.
Our Pillars
NFHS Learning Center
The NFHS offers a multitude of online courses for free!
Taunting and Hazing Resources
Links to organizations, programs and resources available to your school.
Taunting Policy
Teaching our student-athletes to conduct themselves with sportsmanship and respect – respect for the game itself, respect for teammates, coaches, officials, and respect for opponents.