Sportsmanship is such a hot topic these days in college athletics that the Division III Commissioners Association’s sportsmanship and ethical conduct committee endorsed a survey to find out how Division III administrators, coaches and student-athletes view various ethical-behavior scenarios.

The purpose of the survey, which garnered 192 responses, was to stimulate discussion. That was accomplished — I have received numerous messages from athletics directors indicating they took the survey into a staff meeting and engaged in healthy and interesting dialogue.

Several respondents indicated — correctly so — that mitigating circumstances or historical behavior would affect their answers. While that is obviously true, it would have been impossible to develop the instrument with complex layers of circumstance. The idea was to be simple but thought provoking: “What is your initial gut reaction?”

Some questions turned out to be slam dunks in terms of overwhelming consensus. Others, however, produced divided responses, some close to 50-50. Herein lie the discussion areas.

Both on the campus and conference levels, it is important to understand what constitutes acceptable behavior and what doesn’t. For example, 54 percent of respondents thought that “stealing signs” is part of the gamesmanship of a baseball or softball contest. That means that 46 percent, a large minority, thought it a disingenuous and inappropriate practice. Moreover, those who think it is acceptable have a competitive advantage over those who do not. If you talk about that and come to a mutual understanding, you can perhaps level the playing field.

“Flopping” in basketball (faking a charge) is another issue that would benefit from mutual understanding. Is it acceptable gamesmanship? If it isn’t, someone should tell those 42 percent who think that it is a strategic part of the game.

Another question that begs discussion is whether a student-athlete’s attitude or demeanor affects his or her chances of being voted the league’s player of the year. Twenty percent believe honors should be based strictly on court/field performance. Unless you have conference language that addresses that point, sooner or later you are going to run into a conflict.

Unfortunately, too many fans attend games for the sole purpose of degrading the opponent. Because Division III attendance is quite modest compared to Division I games we see on television, those miscreants are able to put themselves on stage and be heard by other fans and even the student-athletes themselves. In my opinion, this is the biggest sportsmanship problem we have in Division III.

Five of the survey’s 16 questions dealt with unsavory fans and three showed interesting results. What do you do when a fan purposely sits among fans of the opposing team, obnoxious but not vulgar, with the intent of creating an unpleasant experience? Fifty-nine percent said they would live with it; 41 percent indicated they would move that person to another area.

Evidenced by these examples, sometimes sportsmanship is in the eye of the beholder. There is a four-letter “s” word used commonly these days that is repugnant to my generation (baby boomers) but apparently no big deal to current college students. I went to a basketball championship game recently where, after each of the visiting team starters were introduced, a group of student fans hollered, “You s***.” I was appalled and embarrassed. I learned from the survey that 85 percent of respondents felt as I did. It is hard for me to fathom what the other 15 percent are thinking.

A follow-up question substituted “who cares?” for the more vulgar version. Interestingly, 47 percent said they would put a stop to that, while 53 percent would tolerate it, reluctantly or not. That’s a close vote. If you are among the 47 percent and are the visiting team when it occurs, you may have a conflict with a home team who is among the 53 percent and allows the behavior to take place.

Sometimes sportsmanship doesn’t even involve any malice in thought or action. There are simple protocol issues. Suppose a group of fans wants to stand and cheer in good taste for their team during a contest, but in doing so they block the view of fans sitting behind them. What do you do as the site administrator? Interestingly, a slight majority (51 percent) feel that fans have the right to stand, while 49 percent believe the other fans have the right to sit unobstructed.

Another interesting protocol scenario centered on the final game(s) of the regular season when your team already has locked up the top seed. The last game does not affect the playoffs for you, but other teams in your league get into the playoffs or not based on the result of your game. Have you earned the right to play your back-ups and remain healthy for the playoffs, as 17 percent believe, or do you owe it to the league to play your starters like 33 percent feel? (Fifty percent would split the difference and start the first string, but substitute early.)

Among other things, our survey points out that good sportsmanship and acceptable language and behavior — and the lack thereof — are perpetual agenda items. Sometimes the picture is clear and sometimes it is not. The one thing that is certain is that education and communication are essential.

It might be worth considering for your next set of league meetings.

Tim Gleason is the commissioner of the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Survey Results

Following is a cross section of results from a survey conducted by the Division III Commissioners Association’s sportsmanship and ethical conduct committee:

A softball team in your league is noted for stealing signs from opponents and gaining an advantage.
54% (A) That is part of the game. If they are successful, more power to them.
46% (B) It is disingenuous to steal opponents’ signs and you should not make an effort to do so.

A basketball player is noted for “flopping” and taking charges when little or no contact is made by the offensive player.
42% (A) That is part of the game. It is up to the officials to monitor such. If players are successful, more power to them.
58% (B) Flopping should not be taught or condoned by coaches, and it should not be practiced by players.

A football coach devises a play, in a quick no-huddle offense, that sends the 11th player off the field, but stopping while still an eligible receiver. The defense does not cover the player and he catches a touchdown pass.
69% (A) It is part of the game. It is up to the opponents to catch this and stop it.
31% (B) A coach should not devise this play. It is not within the spirit of the game.

All of the golf coaches in your league decide not to play during the regular season at the course that will host the next conference championship. Your coach talks the group into leaving it a “gentlemen’s agreement” and not putting in your guidelines. Your coach then instructs his players to play on that course.
5% (A) The other coaches are getting what they deserve for not putting the rule in writing.
81% (B) My coach will get an earful from me and also a punishment.
14% (C) My coach will be fired.

A basketball fan of your team makes it a point to sit in the middle of the cluster of opponents’ fans, and while he does not admit his intent, he is obnoxious to the opponents’ fans.
59% (A) As long as he is not vulgar, he pays his admission; he has the right to sit where he likes.
41% (B) I will ask him to move and indicate that he will be removed by security if he does not comply.

Several students at your basketball game yell “you s**k!” after each of your opponents is introduced during pre-game.
15% (A) While such language is not appropriate in church or at the dinner table, it is common language these days and should not be over-reacted to.
85% (B) I will put a stop to it the instant I hear it.

A group of students at your basketball game yell “who cares!” after each of your opponents is introduced during pre-game.
53% (A) While such language is not appropriate in church or at the dinner table, it is common language these days and should not be over-reacted to.
47% (B) I will put a stop to it the instant I hear it.

At a packed-house volleyball match, a group of fans wants to stand and cheer throughout the match. The people sitting behind this group complain that they cannot see the match.
51% (A) Standing and cheering is very common in college athletics. Those people are enthusiastic and respectful, and have the right to stand.
49% (B) I would have those students sit down if they remain in that spot. The people behind have the right to see the match without people standing in front of them.

A tennis player, perhaps the best in your league, is extremely cocky, rude and arrogant. He often taunts his opponents.
20% (A) I would still vote him player-of-the-year in our league. His demeanor, although disgusting and annoying, should not enter in to all-conference voting.
80% (B) I would not hesitate to give that player fewer points or no points at all. Demeanor is a part of allconference.

After a collision at home plate between the catcher and baserunner, the baserunner hollers a racial slur at the catcher, loud enough for many to hear.
0% (A) While I am annoyed with this behavior, there is little to be done about it.
21% (B) The player should be reprimanded.
79% (C) The player should be suspended for a game or longer.

It is the last game of the regular season and you have clinched the top seed in the playoffs. Your starters could really use the rest. The team you are playing can get into the playoffs (knocking another team out) if they beat you.
17% (A) I am going to start my backups. I have earned the right to rest my players, and more importantly avoid injury, heading into the playoffs.
33% (B) I would start my starters and play them like any other game. I owe it to the team who would qualify if I win this game.
50% (C) I would start my starters, but take them out midway and split the difference.

Immediately after a championship loss, my commissioner tells me she won’t mind if my team quietly leaves the arena floor after she publicly congratulates us for finishing second.
19% (A) I would take her up on her offer.
81% (B) I would keep my team on the floor and watch the winning team receive its praise and accolades.