New England athletic conference to discourage 'booing, taunting, profanity, rude language or gestures'

Eleven New England colleges want their sports fans to avoid engaging 'unsportsmanlike actions.'

Eleven New England colleges want their sports fans to avoid engaging “unsportsmanlike actions” at men’s soccer games, including “booing, taunting, profanity, rude language or gestures, or any other action that could be that could potentially be misconstrued as negative or confrontation.”

The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) sent out a letter notifying members of the policy change. The Conference called for a similar policy back in 2011 that required game officials to “firmly address issues of unsporting behavior and negative action.”

"As a supporter, we ask you not engage in any unsportsmanlike actions, which include booing, taunting, profanity, rude language or gestures, or any other action that could be potentially construed as negative or confrontational," the new NESCAC letter, which was obtained by the Daily Caller, reads.

The NESCAC was founded in 1971 and currently sponsors 26 conference championships—13 men, 13 women—and includes schools such as Amherst College, Tufts University, Wesleyan University, and Williams College.

“We would hope that all spectators refrain from antagonistic interaction between opposing fans, including verbal disputes, or holding/posting signs or other forms of written material that could be interpreted as offensive in nature,” the letter said.

“[We ask that you only] participate in positive and encouraging cheers, regardless of how the game is unfolding and regardless of the behavior of the other supporters.”

Via Fox News.

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