(KWTX) – As high school football fans across Central Texas return to the stands, officials are reminding them there is a line between cheering for a team and taking it too far. A Texas law gives game officials the power to remove spectators without giving them a warning first.<\/p>\n
What the law allows<\/p>\n
Under Senate Bill 2929, a referee or other game official can eject a spectator for inappropriate behavior without first giving a warning.<\/p>\n
Jimmy Clark, with the Central Texas Football Chapter, said officials expect fans to get loud, but there is a difference between disagreeing with a call and making it personal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s when they start taking it personal, calling us names, cussing at us and stuff like that. That\u2019s when officials will stop it,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n
The law has been in effect since last school year, but districts are putting out reminders as another football season gets underway.<\/p>\n
Officials say behavior sometimes goes beyond the game<\/p>\n
Clark said officials are used to hearing from the stands, but the problem is when it goes beyond the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had officials or parents approach me in the parking lot after a baseball game, threatening me and my partner,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n
Clark said that kind of behavior is also contributing to a shortage of officials.<\/p>\n
Consequences for spectators and schools<\/p>\n
Clifton ISD has its own three-tier system for ejections. A first ejection results in a 30-day ban from district athletic events. A second ejection results in a 120-day ban. A third ejection results in a full year ban.<\/p>\n
Clark said the goal is not to eject people from games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope I don\u2019t have to use this tool that we have. I\u2019d rather deal with it by talking to the players and the coaches and let them handle it,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n
Clark said booing a bad call will not automatically get a fan ejected, and officials are trained to tune out much of that reaction. But if behavior becomes disruptive enough that an official decides a fan needs to leave, the official no longer has to give a warning first.<\/p>\n
Under the Texas Association of Sports Officials\u2019 abuse-of-officials policy, repeated spectator incidents can require a school to submit a corrective action plan. A third incident can result in officials not being assigned to that school\u2019s home schedule until the plan is implemented.<\/p>\n
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