Some parents have called the suggestion on punishing behavior in high school games

ALBUQUERK, New Mexico — A new proposal has some Albuquerque parents excited

It will be an effort to eliminate bad behavior in the stands at high school sporting events in New Mexico.

The board of directors of the New Mexico Activities Association, the teams’ governing body, voted in favor of new penalties for what it would call “outrageous acts of unsportsmanlike conduct.”

For parents or anyone else watching a sports team, the referee or any official can determine that they have committed an offense. The team will receive a warning, and if anyone in the stands causes a second infringement at any time during the season, no one will be able to watch that sports team play the rest of the year.

That would mean two goals and they’re all out – there are no fans in the stands for this team.

“It’s not fair to punish everyone for the misconduct of individuals,” said Chris O’Conner, the father of one of the student-athletes at Valencia High School. “Don’t make the rest of us pay for it, because it’s just not fair.”

Several parents told KOB 4 they did not want the rule.

“I think things have to be done to control the fans, but you can’t punish an entire group of people in a game for the behavior of one person,” said Jean Mosher, the father of a student-athlete at La Cueva High School.

Some parents said they see the upside.

“I think it’s a good thing. I know we all get crazy sometimes. I’m guilty of it, but I think it got out of control, so I feel like the NMAA or whoever is implementing it needs to step in and make sure the girls are safe, the referees are safe, and our coaches are safe as well.” said LaTasia Dyer, the mother of a student athlete at La Cueva High School.

Coaches like La Cueva High School girls’ basketball principal Marissa Cogan follow politics closely.

“In the end, what we want is sportsmanship and for our kids to be able to play. I just think it’s going to be hard to implement,” she said.

Coogan said she understands both sides of the issue.

“A lot of times parents are really excited and passionate about their kids sometimes when they’re a little over the top,” Coogan said. “Sometimes, yes, there are circumstances where parents need to cool it down.”

She said she hoped teams would have the ability to appeal the decision.

Under the proposal, there would also be a similar rule for players and coaches. If there are two violations during the season, the NMAA will cancel the rest of the team’s season.

In order for the policy to take effect in the 2023-2024 school year, NMAA officials say schools must vote for it. They have a few weeks to decide.