Arkansas Activities Association implements plan of action regarding postgame handshake lines

The AAA made the announcement Thursday

The Arkansas Activities Association sent out a statement Thursday afternoon to all AAA Member Schools outlining a new plan of action that has been instituted regarding fighting and postgame sportsmanship protocols. 

“Unfortunately, recent events across the state have made it necessary to formulate an altercation and handshake line protocol. Please carefully review the document linked below and begin enacting a plan to execute the protocols immediately.

Linked with the statement was a document that explains the details of the plan: 

Fight or Altercation Protocol 

Most fights end quickly after a punch or two. Fights that escalate beyond the initial incident tend to do so because others run toward the fight. Running toward a fight normally contributes to the escalation of the altercation.

1. Prepare before it happens. Make sure to instruct and even practice what to do in case an altercation occurs.
1. Assign specific coaches or administrators to run to the altercation to assist with breaking it up.
2. Assign specific coaches to immediately step off the sideline and turn their attention to keeping the players on the sideline.
3. Team members already on the field should distance themselves from the altercation.
4. Educate all participants about the penalties associated with fighting, leaving the team area, taunting, using offensive gestures, and other unsportsmanlike acts.
5. Instruct your video crew to continue to record or to start recording if an altercation occurs.
6. Know where security is stationed.
7. Keep all non-essential people off the sideline and preferably behind a fence or barrier.
2. If an altercation does occur, execute the above plan.
3. Once the participants are separated, keep them separated until play can safely resume or until administrators and officials decide how to proceed.
4. Do not allow teams to simultaneously use the same exits or occupy the same areas following an altercation or chippy contest.

Handshake Line Protocol

1. Administrators/Security from both schools should be stationed on the field in close proximity to the handshake line.
2. One team should be on the right and the other team should be on the left. Players from one team should not be allowed to walk down both sides of the line.
3. Absolutely no non-essential personnel should be allowed on the field until after both teams have reached a designated area after completion of the handshake line.
4. A coach or administrator should be stationed at the end of the handshake line to direct the players who have completed the line to a designated area on their end of the field. Do not allow them to continue to the opposing sideline or to the other end of the field.

--Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR