Lipan Fans Need to Sit on the Home Side
I would like to explain why I sent out the blackboard blast last night to you. 1) There have been several incidents of violence that have broken out at many events in the past two years. Most of these events have occurred where fans are allowed to mix between home and visitor sides. These incidents are on the increase and are intensifying. 2) This past summer, UIL asked districts to put measures in place to try to stop the interaction of fans from opposing schools in varsity play. Fans from visiting teams who feel that they cannot attend games without the opposing fans ridiculing their players have the right to complain to school administration as well as the UIL. 3) The officiating organizations have the right to penalize schools after 3 strikes by not officiating games involving the school district where the officials have been continually harassed or verbally or physically assaulted.
The bottom line is this: UIL and the officiating organizations have the power to sanction our district and our teams which could include games with no fans (recent Palestine ISD game) and or no officiating crews to referee games which would mean canceling varsity schedules for the year and perhaps longer. Because we have had two complaints from opposing varsity teams concerning our fan behavior, we are requesting that home fans sit on the home side and visitors sit on the visitor side. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Ralph Carter, Superintendent