Department of Athletics Sportsmanship Policy and Fan Code of Conduct

The Robert Morris University (RMU) Department of Athletics subscribes to the highest level of sportsmanship for student-athletes, coaches, staff, officials, support groups, spirit squads, donors and patrons. This begins at alignment with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which states its mission on sportsmanship as follows:

It is not by accident that the pursuit of the highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship is a core value of the NCAA, as the Association was founded in an attempt to address unsportsmanlike acts and other issues that cost the lives of student-athletes.
Today, values such as respect, caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity and responsibility are key to creating a positive competitive environment for student-athletes across the country.
To foster this kind of culture, the NCAA RESPECT Campaign offers resources to schools and conferences for use in their sportsmanship programs.
Individual schools and conferences are responsible for creating and maintaining positive competitive environments for student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans at their sponsored events. During NCAA-sponsored events, the NCAA works with host schools and venues to do the same.

Horizon League Fan Code of Conduct
Robert Morris University (RMU) is committed to promoting good sportsmanship and developing and maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all attendees during Colonial competition to ensure a pinnacle experience. By gaining admittance to RMU athletic events, fans agree to abide by the following expectations and code of conduct at all times:

Fans will conduct themselves in a manner positively representing RMU at all times to ensure the enjoyment of other guests.
Fans will be in control of their behaviors at all times.
- There will be no fighting, taunting or threatening behaviors or remarks permitted.
- Anyone showing signs of intoxication or any other form of impairment may be denied entry to the athletic event.
Clothing or signs with obscene, discriminatory, or negative or indecent language or images are not permitted at RMU athletic events.
Verbal support, cheering, and physical demeanor by and towards all fans in attendance at RMU athletic events must be positive.
- Language or gestures that are foul, abusive, obscene or discriminatory (on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identification, race, national origin, religion, military status, disability status or any other characteristic) in any form will not be tolerated.
Fans may not possess any of the prohibited items which include, but are not limited to, the following: weapons of any type, illegal substances, fireworks, laser pointers, food or drink where concessions are available, glass cans and containers or coolers. Bags may be subject to search.
Fans must stay in designated areas to ensure a safe and equitable experience for all. Fans should refrain from entering the field/court/ice of play and must remain in designated areas throughout the duration of the athletic event.
In order to create a positive experience for all in attendance, fans are required to follow the directions and instructions of Horizon League and the RMU athletic event staff as it relates to their safety and/or conduct. Fans who do not abide by all of the above codes of conduct may be subject to removal from the athletic event for the full duration of the event without refund, at a minimum. Attendance at future athletic events could also be limited depending on the severity or frequency of any Fan Code of Conduct violations. Ticket holders are responsible for their own fan conduct as well as any guests they may have occupying their seats.

At all times, RMU will promote student-athlete well-being, integrity, stewardship and respect. RMU seeks to promote ethical conduct and sportsmanship amongst student-athletes, coaches, officials/umpires and fans as a core component of intercollegiate competition.

Specific to the Horizon League, the conference office requires each institution’s head coach to communicate the Horizon League sportsmanship expectation to all individuals associated with the program towards opponents, officials/umpires and fans.

An enhanced sportsmanship read has been added to the public address announcer script for all RMU home events. Additionally, a Fan Code of Conduct has been created and posted to the HL website for use at Championships.
The Horizon League sportsmanship expectation will be discussed, reviewed and reiterated at all annual head coach meetings.
The League office staff will facilitate a sportsmanship conversation with the Horizon League Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) during the annual summer meeting and during campus visits.
League staff will create a sportsmanship social media campaign in collaboration with SAAC.
If a sportsmanship issue occurs before, during or after a contest, the Horizon League Game Management expectation document should be consulted, as needed. Sportsmanship issues on-site will be managed by the host institution game management contact, which includes communication and resolution of the situation to the involved parties and League office.
Each institution will identify a primary game management contact and an early August videoconference will be conducted annually to review Horizon League Experience and Game Management Expectation documents.
As part of the Horizon League Board of Directors’ emphasis on sportsmanship, the Council will distribute “Horizon League SportsmanCHIPS” annually. Each institution will be provided fifty (50) SportsmanCHIPS to be distributed by head coaches and administrators to opposing student-athletes and coaches when acts of good sportsmanship are witnessed. Administrators and head coaches are permitted to distribute the SportsmanCHIPS to members of their own institution in extraordinary circumstances.
Sport-specific sportsmanship awards for all nineteen (19) League-sponsored sports and a League-wide sportsmanship award have been implemented to further recognize those who demonstrate good sportsmanship.

Game Management

A game management official is designated for each RMU home athletics event. Responsibilities include:

Introduce themselves to the visiting team and officials/umpires in advance and communicate game information regarding parking, entrance, locker room, athletics trainer and medical personnel, etc.
- Officials should receive reserved parking close to the competition facility.
- Officials should work with the game management official to request ice, hydro collator (for heat packs) and other medical needs upon arrival to the site.
Serve as the liaison for the visiting team and officials.
Greet and introduce themselves to the visiting team and officials upon visiting team arrival to the site for practice or competition.
- Identify locker room location, bench area and location of game management official during the contest.
- Locker rooms should be spacious, secure, clean and set out towels, soap and chairs prior to the visiting team and official’s arrival to the site. Shower accommodations should be requested by the visiting team and available for use after the contest.
- Visiting team and officials should be provided water for practice and competition. The game management official should ensure officials have light refreshments prior to and after the contest, if possible.
- Officiating crews comprised of both genders will be provided separate locker rooms.
  - Introduce officials to institutional contact who is responsible for monitoring weather prior to and during the contest. Officials should know where this individual will be stationed prior to and after the contest so they can convene, if needed.
  - The game management official should remain available and has the authority to manage situations that arise prior to, during and after the contest.
  - Officials should expect timely electronic payment after each contest.

Security

The RMU Public Safety Department (i.e. Campus Police) maintains a plan that addresses security for each facility.
The RMU Department of Athletics will provide adequate security and game management personnel around the court/field/ice for the visiting team travel party and officials for practice and competition.
The visiting team travel party entrance into and from the facility, locker room, court/field/ice is sectioned off and adequate security/game personnel provide backup support.
Officials have an escort when they arrive at the facility, to/from the locker room to the court/field/ice and, if requested, after the game to their vehicles.
If it becomes necessary for the RMU Public Safety Department to intervene in a situation, the following philosophy and arrest procedures will be followed:

The goal is to ensure that students and visitors to campus enjoy themselves, in a safe, secure environment. The on-duty supervisor will review all arrest paperwork before anyone in custody is released. If it becomes necessary to physically remove/arrest an individual, the following procedure will be utilized:
The responding officer will notify dispatch and the on-duty supervisor about the incident and their location. The on-duty supervisor will respond to the location of the incident.
If necessary, the responding officer(s) will request additional officers to aid removing the individual to another location.
If a subject is not arrested, but ordered to depart the venue due to their behavior, the subject will be escorted from the competition venue and followed off-campus by an officer. The individual will be issued a written trespass warning for the remainder of the day.
If the subject is arrested, the individual will be transported in a marked police vehicle to the police department for processing. A second officer will provide support for the arresting office until the paperwork is completed. The subject will be photographed, given a written trespass warning, and escorted off-campus.
Depending upon the reason for arrest, the subject may be taken to the Moon Police Department to be held. The Moon Police Department will be notified by the RMU Public Safety dispatch center of the transport to the station.

Effective February 1, 2024