Hate speech and verbal abuse from fans has become more common since spectators have returned to high school sporting events. The decline in social interactions reset fans to their baser instincts, and they forgot how to act civilized. Fans are more willing to say what they want to say about minority athletes. It's time for high school sports federations to crack down on abusive fan behavior.
The Minnesota State High School League, which oversees the state's high school programs, took steps to address abusive fan behavior this month. The athletes of color from St. Louis Park and Cooper high schools were the targets of racist taunting.
At a boys hockey game in February, a St. Louis Park player was targeted with racist language. Both schools have decided to stop competing against New Prague. The Prior Lake High School girls basketball coaching staff forfeited the rest of their season after a sophomore found a racist note in her bag. Prior Lake's coach, Desmondi Johnson, resigned.
There is an unaddressed plague across high school sports. High school sporting events against visiting teams from diverse communities inspire fans to express their bigotry. In Montgomery County, Md., games were moved to the afternoon after members of a girls soccer team from a more diverse school accused fans of making racist remarks.
The consequences have been different so far. Both the coaches at New Prague and the coaches at Sherwood retained their jobs. The wrong message was sent by these halfhearted efforts. The aggressors and their alleged helpers got away with it.
Fans have always been loud. The line between good-natured taunting and abuse has been crossed, without consequence, for too long, and fans haven't been able to keep up. In the wake of the Trump administration's policy platform, that's especially true.
We may have been inured to the abusiveness of certain fan behaviors. The system has been shocked by the return of spectators after a year of silent fan sections. Billion-dollar sports teams have the resources to permanently ban fans who engage in abusive behavior. arenas have begun using those means to kick out barbaric fans as players have had enough. High schools don't have the means.
The problem is more difficult at the high school level, where abusive fans must learn that their actions have consequences. The California Interscholastic Federation stripped a high school of its regional championship last summer after players and fans threw tortillas at players from another school. Suspensions and forfeitures are the types of severe bans high school sports should be using more often. Everyone has a camera these days and they capture their behavior on video.
No team, particularly not at the high school level, can be held responsible for every individual who supports them. Everyone has a camera. If interscholastic leagues started handing out forfeited games for teams that encourage fan behavior, fans would be encouraged to cool their bigotry or face consequences.
Interscholastic athletics can make changes to quell racist fan behavior at sporting events if conservatives make schools and school libraries safe places for white students. The kooks use public pressure to get their way. It is time for more high school athletics to address fans with the same zeal that bigots and science deniers bring to bear when railing against mask mandates and the teaching of America's racist history in schools.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
