PIERRE The South Dakota High School Activities Association is working on a policy to keep fans from storming the court after state events.
Its not a big occurrence, said SDHSAA Executive Director Dan Swartos. Were not trying to be fun haters but there are legitimate safety concerns.
At its July meeting, the SDHSAA board of director passed the first reading of a policy that said fans who enter the playing area prior to the awarding of medals and trophies would be removed from the facility immediately. It also said the offending school would be fined $1,000 payable to the opposing team. Physical altercations between fans and players would be referred to law enforcement.
At its meeting on Nov. 5, the board considered an alternate version of the rule that removed the fine. Swartos said some bars offered to pay their schools fine if students storm the court.
Swartos said he was for removing the fine from the policy because it almost serves as a permission slip to storm the court.
Instead of taking action on the second reading, Swartos was instructed to develop a new policy for the board to consider that states that the school administration at the hosting venue is responsible for keeping fans off the court. The new wording will state that SDHSAA reserves the right to sanction a school that blatantly disregards the policy.
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