03/21/2025
ATTENTION SPORTS FANS!
(b) A person commits the crime of harassment of a sports official if he or she commits the crime of harassment as provided for by Section 13A-11-8, and the victim is a sports official performing official duties and the harassment is a result of the official performing his or her official duties. Harassment of a sports official is a Class B misdemeanor.
a “sports official” is a person at a sports event who enforces the rules of the event, such as an umpire or referee, or a person who supervises the participants, such as a coach.
As a sports fan, I realize the competitive spirit and the emotional conflict that often arise during sporting events. At times, these emotions rise to the level of crossing a line that becomes criminal. As a personal victim of this crime, I ask that the fine and upstanding Blount County citizens always hold themselves to the highest standards during sporting events. The coaches who coach your children are volunteers. The umpires and referees that call these games are paid minimal amounts of money to mediate games. It is absolutely NEVER acceptable to threaten these individuals or to use profanity against them. No matter how bad the call, no matter how slighted you feel, no matter the outcome of the event. It is a game. It is a recurring competition that children are competing in throughout their lives. What are we, as adults, teaching our children when we decide to threaten or use abusive language towards a coach or an umpire/referee? We are teaching them a lack of respect and that is not okay.
I gently and very lovingly remind you all to please remember to show the class and dignity that I know all of you have when you attend sporting events. Not doing so creates a plethora of dilemmas like a shortage of volunteers and persons who are willing to share their time with your children. WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS! Please don't do it.
From the office of the Chief of Police