Booing is part of the game ... let these kids build up some thick skin for when they are released in real life. Sportsfans in the USA are timid already compared to other countries.

i dont condone booing when the other team makes a good play, but it does seem part of the game when someone fouls or breaks the rules.

I don't like bad sportsmanship (I can't stand it when fans make noise when the opposing team is attempting a foul shot. I think everyone should be quiet at that time). However, I've seen many bad calls by refs and those SHOULD be booed. Bad (biased?) calls are disheartening to the players and fans and it's especially offensive when those bad calls decide the fate of the game. I've seen many games lost because so many bad calls were made against one team. Again, those should be booed. I don't think it's okay to boo when the opposing team makes a good play. I don't like nastiness from the fans. Most of the booing I hear is against the refs, and usually it's deserved.

Wow

Prior to retirement a couple years ago, I was a high school coach for nearly 40 years. I fondly recall the days when booing was universally frowned upon and discouraged by school authorities. Our failure to insist on courteous behavior and sportsmanship, on the part of both participants and fans, at school athletic events is inexcusable and teaches kids that such behavior is acceptable. Past failure to act on this problem has encouraged the practice. I applaud any efforts to stem the tide of rudeness that is undermining the educational value of interscholastic althletics. "Booing" and other similar unsportsmanlike behavior is unacceptable in the school sports arena.

Dear Coach - Thank you for your words of wisdom, I couldn't agree with you more! It's a shame that so many people just don't know how to behave decently anymore.

I also have coached for many years and believe in a few of these things - their will be winners and losers, blow outs and nailbiters, there will be good fans and bad fans. Booing is a part of sports, and at times it keeps the refs in check.
Don't ban the booing, but if there is an offensive chant ie. slanderous, racial, belitteling...that should be penalized. Let the fans have a little fun with cheering and booing (not cheering). It makes the game and coaching a little more fun

Booing rocks ... nothing can be more imposing to the opponent team and ref when 60,000 fans are booing and screaming against a call. It rocks ... its part of the game. Our kids should not grow up like robots never encountering anything while they are molded for real life in the schoolsystem.

You guys are kidding, right? The whole point of "home field advantage" is that when you are visiting the other team's court/field/whatever, you have to deal with a crowd that is not pulling for you to win. Then, your fans get to return the favor at your "house". I agree that profane chants and derogatory and demeaning comments directed at opposing players is uncalled for. But booing the other team is a part of sports. its part of sports EVERYWHERE!! What's next, are we going to stop the games when someone commits a foul/penalty and have a talk with the offending player, explaining how that was against the rules and could have made their opponent feel bad? Should we take breaks when there is a foul, so that the offending player can "have a minute" to appologize and let the other person know that they really didn't mean it? We are quickly turning into a society made up of over aggressive people, who bully others to get their way and those who break down and cry at the first sign of adversity. Booing the opposing "team" and trying to belittle and intimidate an opposing "player" are two completely different things. If you can't understand that, or more importantly, can't teach your children the difference, then the problem is in the mirror, plain and simple.

First, booing at high school (or middle school or grade school) events is mosty foolish and childish. I don't do it at high school (or middle school or grade school) events, and I have no fondess for those who do.

I cheer and boo loudly at minor league football contests, always cheering for the Cougs and the Beavs, and aways booing corrupt cheating programs like the Dawgs and Ducks.

HOWEVER, I have a real problem when a government agency -- and make no mistake, each of the school districts and the Wasington State Athletic Association are govement agencies -- decidesit is goingo determine what I can or can not say at an open public event.

Like it or not, booing is speach, and no government agency should ever be allowed to limit speach.

And an aside to "Coach" --

If you applaud "any efforts to stem the tide of rudeness that is undermining the educational value of interscholastic althletics" just close the games to spectators, have only the teams, coaches and officials at the venues, and you will have your desire.

Oh, you dont want that?

Figures.

You can not legislate (or regulate) good manners -or good character. 'Out of bounds' misbehaviour is a symptom of the deeper issue of increasing narcissism and rudeness among younger members of our society. Many today seem to go to games as a venue for exhibiting rude behaviour rather than for the love of the sport. - Unfortunate and disturbing, but making it illegal will only exacerbate the problem.

WHAT????........people today are creating a whole generation of....PUSSIES......what ever they are they going to do pass out duct tape at the door to the games?????not to mention amending the constitution......jeeeeeeezussssssss....and i was complaing about how stupid oregon was.....no WA, just took the cake.......

For once Johanna and I agree :D

For Revelent and Pat, Let's not forget that attending these games at the schools cannot be taken for granted that it is your right. It is a privilege to attend. It is not constitution protected. Good grief get a clue.

Technically through my property taxes I fund those games .... maybe we should restrict the usage of these funds more then.

this is silly, who bans booing, i am glad that is in washington. I was reading articels about this, tha they want to ban booing,they want to ban kids painting there faces showing school spirit. They dont want the foam fingr at games anymore. This is some soft sweetie stuff here. everyone just sit on your hands and not say nothing.
how about this they want to ban booing then make something new when you displeased, say noooooooooooo noooooooooooooooo nooooooooooo so no will be the new boo they arent banning no yet
so instead of boing we can be noing
this is dumbe this is one of the aspects of ports to boo and to chear,

PUSs............and weather or not it is a constitutional right to voice your opinion at any venue... is up for debate...I am sure that other clueless people would be interested to know that...but the fact that washington is "new lawing", the s*** out of their students over things the parents can't handle, not the students.....is PATHETIC......I now feel bad for the kids having to wear uniforms...it's not because of what they are doing......but because the parents don't want to have to deal with reality...life..what ever you want to call it....It's not really about gangs, or hoochies in school....it's about not having to console little johnny when his feelings get hurt....WELL WAKE UP WASHINGTON...if little johnny moves to any other state in the country he is bound to get HIS FEELINGS HURT........that is life and people need to start addressing that insted....

What would happen to all the Washington kids that go on to play at the college level? (Sorry coach I can't shoot a Basketball when someone is waving a foam finger or saying boo.) Washington will never produce a pro ball player again.

Just like the standards of education and testing, they keep lowering them and allowing kids to retake tests to allow them to pass them so they can feel better about themselves and have a higher esteem. However, this will only set them up to fail in real life. In the real world, you have to perform and perform well or you will be fired. You do not hear anyone booing there but you will boo yourself when you have no job the next morning. At times, I believe the education system(s) have no clue. Therefore, this is no surprise that they are wanting to do this as well.