Sportsmanship: Taunting and Hazing

Taunting includes any actions or comments by coaches, players, or spectators which are intended to bait, anger, embarrass, ridicule, or demean others, whether or not the deeds or words are vulgar or racist. Included is conduct that berates, needles, intimidates, or threatens, based on race, gender identity, ethnic origin or background, and conduct that attacks religious beliefs, size, economic status, speech, family, special needs, or personal characteristics.

Examples of taunting include but are not limited to: "trash talk", defined as verbal communication of a personal nature directed by a competitor to an opponent by ridiculing skills, efforts, sexual orientation, or lack of success, which is likely to provoke an altercation or physical response; and physical intimidation outside the spirit of the game, including "in the face" confrontation by one player to another, standing over/straddling a tackled or fallen player, etc.

In addition to being in violation of Massachusetts General Laws, hazing is a most flagrant example of lack of respect for both self and others. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269, section 17-19 was enacted in 1988. The law requires that secondary schools provide all school groups (e.g., athletic teams) a copy of the law.