NEW FOOTBALL GAME ETIQUETTE - NO PROFANE OR BIASED LANGUAGE

If you plan to come out and root on Columbia High School at its first home game Saturday at 1 p.m. you better watch your language. Several developments have arisen to indicate offensive or biased comments will not be tolerated.





First, this banner was placed at Lynn Profeta Field at Underhill Sports Complex for this season.

Add to that new state regulations that could have players and fans tossed for less-than-kind words during a game.

The Star-Ledger reports:

Whoop and shout after delivering a big hit and you might get a warning.

But drop the "N-word" and you’re not only finished for that game and the next, but referees must report the infraction to the state’s governing body for high school athletics, which then passes the player’s name and the violation on to the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights in the Attorney General’s Office.

Calling an opponent a "faggot" also will end a player’s day immediately. In fact, any verbal, written or physical conduct related to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, disability or sexual orientation is grounds for disqualification. After that, it can get a little tricky. In some instances, using the "F-word" is sure to get you tossed; in others, referees seemingly will have leeway to chalk it up to good-natured trash talking.

The new rules apply not only to football but every high school sport that uses officials. They also extend to fans in the stands, who often will be read a similar statement about biased language and behavior over the loudspeaker before games.

So beware!