New Jersey’s tough new rules to
ban trash-talking among young athletes was prompted by a "horrific" exchange of racial baiting and slurs last year, but "we probably all . . . know that those type of things were going on," an official of the state’s Interscholastic Athletic Association said Tuesday.
The association’s assistant director Larry White told "The Steve Malzberg Show" the rules go beyond harmless rivalry and target those who cross the line.
"Our statement basically reads any verbal, written or physical conduct related to race, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religion shall not be tolerated, could subject the violator through ejection, and may result in penalties being assessed against your team," he said.
White said the rules were sparked by a Thanksgiving Day football game between Bergen Catholic and Paramus Catholic schools.
"We got a letter from a group called the Coalition of Racial Equality," he said. "They alleged some pretty horrific stuff that was going on in terms of racial baiting and slurs."
Players who use banned language could be referred to the state attorney general’s civil rights office.
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