Sportsmanship

The MIAA is committed to encouraging and promoting the high ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and ethics, as well as developing a positive environment for athletic events at all levels of interscholastic competition. The goal of interscholastic athletics is to give young people the opportunity to expand their educational horizons by experiencing fair and friendly competition with their peers. Ingrained in this competition is respect for rules, regulations, opponents and officials.

The MIAA is committed to encouraging and promoting the high ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and ethics, as well as developing a positive environment for athletic events at all levels of interscholastic competition. The goal of interscholastic athletics is to give young people the opportunity to expand their educational horizons by experiencing fair and friendly competition with their peers. Ingrained in this competition is respect for rules, regulations, opponents and officials.

Sportsmanship permeates virtually every aspect of our culture as ethics and fair play apply in all facets of life. It is a measure of each school and individual’s understanding of their commitment to the educational nature of interscholastic athletics. Good sportsmanship is conduct which imposes self-control involving honest rivalry, courteous relations and graceful acceptance of results. It should be evident in all school functions and demonstrated by the ability to accept defeat without complaint, victory without bragging and the treatment of opponents with fairness and courtesy.

Sportsmanship needs to play a primary role of interscholastic athletics in an educational perspective. Athletic competition is an extension of the classroom and an educational activity which provides lessons difficult to teach in another environment. The need for improvement to sportsmanship in society is evident and will require a maximum effort by everyone involved in athletics. A major part of the role of education through sports is to teach student-athletes to exude sportsmanship and respect for teammates, coaches, officials, opponents and the game itself.

Awards

The following awards are presented to member schools, districts, teams and student-athletes:

Programs

The MIAA offers programs to help develop sportsmanship skills among student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.

A game plan for Life

The 22nd Annual Sportsmanship Essay/Multimedia Contest is closed for the 2022-2023 year.  Winners will be announced soon.

Committee and Important Information

Committee Members

District 1
Jesse Carpenter, Principal, Mount Everett Regional High School
Wesley Jackson, Athletic Director, Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School

District 2
Derek Atherton, Principal, Hopedale Jr./Sr. High School
Kevin May, Athletic Director, Oxford High School

District 3
Matt Biggs, Assistant Principal, Nashoba Regional High School
Steve Kendall, Athletic Director, Ayer-Shirley Regional High School

District 4
Meghan Patrissi, Assistant Principal, Woburn Memorial High School
Steve LaForest, Athletic Director, Waltham High School

District 5

Daniel Thorton, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director, Pentucket Reg. HS
Dave Johnson, Athletic Director, North Reading

District 6

Maura Spignesi, Head of School, Fontbonne Academy
Kristen Kelly, Athletic Director, Notre Dame Academy (Hingham)

District 7

Kelley St. Coeur, Principal, Ashland High School
Joseph Cusack, Athletic Director, Foxborough High School

District 8

Kathryn Rezendes, Assistant Principal, New Bedford High School
John Moran, Athletic Director, Seekonk High School

District 9

Jeff Sylvia, Principal, East Bridgewater High School
Peter Serino, Athletic Director, Abington High School

MASS
Sheila M. Hoffman, Superintendent, Agawam Public Schools

MASC
William Haggerty

At-Large
Patricia Gonzalez, Athletic Director, Newton South High School

Ryan Conway, Athletic Director, Boston English High School

VACANCY, Coaches Rep
Michelle Hopkinson, Coaches Rep

Ric Beaudoin, Official Rep
Rachel Hutchinson, Official Rep

Meeting Dates
  • September 21, 2022