Coaches/Unsportsmanlike Conduct/Ineligible Players

Coaches

Advice
Coaches who have been approved by their school's principal may advise their players throughout regular and post season play only between the green and the next tee without holding up play. Coaches need to keep in mind that per our match guidelines players can take no longer than 40 seconds to hit a shot when it is their turn to play. Any player taking more than the allotted time should be warned by the host official. Subsequent bad timings will subject the player to penalty strokes added to their score for that particular hole. Only one coach per team can give advice to his/her players during a match.

A school may have an Assistant Coach if the Head Coach is coaching both a Boys and Girls program. This person must be on file with the TMSGA.

Individual participants may receive advice from the coach approved by their school's principal.

Coaching Dos and Don'ts During TMSGA Play

Do:

Communicate any schedule changes to your players, opposing team's golf coaches, and host golf course.
Develop a positive, working relationship with the host golf course.
Be visible at your team's matches.
Give advice to your players when necessary (Note: Only one coach can give advice for each team during a match).
Encourage your golfers.
Make sure participants are hydrated.
Assist with maintaining a positive pace of play.
Assist with rulings.
Enforce TMSGA spectator guidelines.
Follow all TMSGA match guidelines.
Contact the TMSGA office if you have any questions.

Don't:

Only follow one player/group the entire match.
Give advice to players on another team or players representing another school as an individual.
Play more than five boys from your roster in a boys match without speaking to the golf facility (course may not have available tee times).
Play more than three girls from your roster in a girls match without speaking to the golf facility (course may not have available tee times).

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

The TMSGA and its schools believe strongly that the major purpose of athletics at the middle school level is to be a part of the total educational program. A major part of this purpose is to stress to coaches, players, officials, and spectators the vital importance of sportsmanship. It is critical that all people in each of these categories understand the major role that they play and the role model they can be for others.

I. Student Athletes Removed For Unsportsmanlike Conduct

In contests in which officials are involved, the officials will immediately notify the state office with both a telephone call and a written report if players are removed for unsportsmanlike conduct.
On the ejection of the student-athlete, the school will be required to submit a report on the action of the player and any disciplinary action taken by the school. The minimum penalty will be two (2) matches.
In addition to what is presently required when a player is ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, a meeting shall be held with the player, coach, principal, and parent(s) or guardian(s) with a report on the meeting and plans to directly address the matter to be filed with the state office.
If a player is ejected for a second time for unsportsmanlike conduct, a more severe punishment shall be imposed.
In matches where TMSGA officials are not used, it will be the responsibility of the principal and/or coach of the player involved to report this incident to the state office.
In all situations where removals occur for unsportsmanlike conduct, the individual will be removed from from the next contest(s) following the one in which the removal occurred.

II. Coaches Removed for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

The school and coach will be required to submit a written report of the incident.
The school will be given a choice of removing the coach for a specified number of matches or face further disciplinary action. The school shall not allow the suspended coach to attend matches while under suspension.
In addition to what is presently required when a coach is ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, a meeting shall be held with the coach, principal, and superintendent, or his/her appointed representative, with a report on the meeting and plans to directly address the matter to be filed with the state office by the principal.
On any subsequent removal of the same coach, the school will be given a choice of removing the coach for a specified number of matches or face further disciplinary action. The school shall not allow the suspended coach to attend matches while under suspension.
In matches where TMSGA officials are not used, it will be the responsibility of the principal and/or coach of the player involved to report the incident to the state office.

III. Appeals

Any appeal request regarding the ejection of players or coaches shall be submitted in writing from the administrator of the school. All appeals need to be sent to the TMSGA offices.

Playing of Ineligible Student - Athletes

Section 1 - All rulings on eligibility must be in writing, and the accidental, intentional or other use of ineligible players by a member school shall require that team victories in which the ineligible player participated be forfeited to opponents; and any one or more of these additional actions may be taken:

a.     That individual or team records and performances achieved during participation by such ineligibles be vacated or stricken;
b.     That team or individual awards earned by such ineligibles be returned to the TMSGA; and
c.     That a fine for the playing of an ineligible player be assessed against the school, if deemed necessary.

Section 2 - If a student is ineligible according to TMSGA rules but is permitted to participate in interscholastic competition contrary to such TMSGA rules but in accordance with the terms of a court restraining order or injunction against his/her school and/or the TMSGA, and that injunction is subsequently voluntarily vacated, stayed, reversed or finally determined by the courts that injunctive relief is not or was not justified or expires without further judicial determination, those actions stipulated in Section 1 and 3 shall be taken.

Section 3 – If an ineligible contestant competes in a match and any violation of TMSGA rules occurs, the entire contest is forfeited.

When a team plays an ineligible athlete in TMSGA tournaments or post-season play, the entire contest is forfeited, the team is removed from the event, and no team replaces that team in the tournament series.

Section 4 – If an otherwise ineligible student-athlete provides false information to a member school and is erroneously determined to be eligible and is allowed to participate on the basis of that false information, the student shall be ineligible at all levels in all sports at any member school for twelve (12) months from his or her last participation date.