MAAC Launches New Soccer Sportsmanship Initiative
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. - The MAAC will be launching a new soccer sportsmanship initiative for all men's and women's soccer games played at the 10 member institutions.
As part of the soccer pregame protocol, meeting participants will review a standard pregame checklist that includes: sportsmanship (student-athletes, coaches and fans); language; equipment issues; identification of all ball retrievers; mandatory warnings from officials and review of new rules; and any questions or concerns from student-athletes, coaches or officials prior to the start of play.
A game administrator from the host institution will be present throughout the soccer match to escort the officials to the locker rooms at halftime and upon conclusion of the contest. Evaluation reports will be filed by the officials, head coaches and the game administrator to the MAAC office to provide assessment on the conduct of the student-athletes, coaches, fans and officials during the match.
The host institution is also responsible for filming each men's and women's soccer match from the start of competition through the post-match handshakes. The host institution will then post and share each match video per the MAAC Soccer video exchange policy.
"The soccer sportsmanship initiative is designed to create a stronger alliance and increased accountability between student-athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and fans, " said Patrick Elliott, Director of Athletics at Saint Peter's College and chair of the MAAC Men's Soccer Committee. "We believe that this alliance will increase the quality of our product and provide a greater athletic experience for all participants."
"The MAAC Soccer Summit that resulted in the implementation of the sportsmanship initiative created an excellent forum for an exchange of ideas among conference office staff, administrators, coaches and the supervisor of officials to improve our on-the-field product," said Eugene Doris, Director of Athletics at Fairfield University and chair of the MAAC Women's Soccer Committee. "We have a strong belief that the collaboration formed will create an atmosphere that is truly representative of the highest ideals in sport."