North Dakota's Governing Body On Prep Sports Adds New Rules

With tournament time upon us for high school athletics, the NDHSAA recently made some important changes to their rules for spectators at events.

The new rules crack inappropriate clothing worn by fans in both coverage and inappropriate messaging, verbal harassment, such as derogatory comments and chants towards players, coaches, officials, and other fans, and the use of artificial noise makers at events.

Here are the following rules for fans at events with the new additions italicized.

Respect the American flag and the National Anthem.

Contesting schools shall each have an authorized faculty representative present who shall be responsible for his/her school’s participants, students, and fans throughout the contest.

Spectators must wear clothing that covers the entire torso. Those who do not comply or who wear clothing that is vulgar, obscene or that in some other way inappropriate, as determined by school/tournament personnel, will be removed from the facility if they do not cooperate with this behavior expectation. - Added 2-8-23

The use of appropriate language is expected at all times. Profanity, negative chants, trash talk, name-calling, personal attacks or other acts of disrespect are unacceptable and must be immediately addressed by school/tournament administrators. Any discriminatory slur will result in immediate removal from the facility. - Added 2-8-23

Any attendee ejected from a NDHSAA tournament venue will be banned from the venue(s) for the remainder of the event.

Respect the game/contest. Under no condition shall anyone other than the members of the official squad enter the playing surface. No one may interfere with the contest in any way.

Hand held signs and flags, which do not obstruct the view of others, are permitted provided they are in good taste. Signs or other similar items contest/tournament officials deem to be in poor taste will be removed. Message or “white” boards are prohibited. The carrying of flags around the playing surface is NOT allowed.

Artificial noisemakers of any kind (i.e. megaphones, cowbells, sirens, whistles, thunder sticks, and other similar items) are not allowed at any indoor events, including outdoor sports played at indoor venues. Exception – Megaphones appropriately used by cheerleaders are permitted if allowed by contest officials. - Added 2-8-23