A new law in Texas, Senate Bill 2929, now grants sports officials the authority to eject disruptive spectators from high school games without a prior warning. Signed by Governor Greg Abbott, the measure is a direct response to a rise in verbal and physical altercations directed at referees, coaches, and student-athletes across the state.
Key Takeaways
- Texas Senate Bill 2929 allows officials to remove disruptive fans from high school sports without warning.
- The law aims to combat increasing verbal and physical abuse at school sporting events.
- The measure comes amid a nationwide shortage of sports officials, with an estimated 50,000 leaving since 2018, partly due to poor fan behavior.
- The new rule has received mixed reactions, with some supporting the protection it offers while others worry about its potential for misuse.
New Authority for Game Officials
Under the provisions of Senate Bill 2929, which became law following the spring legislative session, game officials now have clear jurisdiction to remove any individual causing a disturbance. This change eliminates the need for a preliminary warning, allowing for immediate action to de-escalate potentially volatile situations.
The law was enacted to address a growing pattern of aggressive behavior from spectators. Incidents ranging from intense heckling to physical assaults have become more common, creating an unsafe environment for participants and officials alike. The legislation seeks to restore order and protect the integrity of high school sports.
Previous Legislative Efforts
This is not the first attempt to manage spectator conduct in Texas. In a previous session, Governor Abbott signed House Bill 2484, which mandated that schools must ban any spectator who physically assaults an official from all extracurricular events for a minimum of one year. SB 2929 expands on this by empowering officials to act preemptively against disruptive behavior before it escalates to physical violence.
Addressing a National Crisis in Officiating
The new Texas law is part of a broader conversation about a nationwide shortage of high school sports officials. According to the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), approximately 50,000 officials have left the field since 2018. While the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this decline, ongoing abuse from parents and fans is cited as a primary factor.
In 2022, the NFHS formed a national consortium to tackle this issue. Dana Pappas, the federation's director of officiating services, highlighted the negative perception surrounding the role.
"A lot of times in the news we hear people blaming officials because they lost a game. We hear stories about assaults and stories about poor treatment of officials."
Pappas explained that the organization is working to reframe the narrative by showcasing the positive aspects of officiating to attract new talent.
Disturbing Statistics on Official Safety
A comprehensive survey by the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) revealed the extent of the problem. After polling over 35,000 officials across the country, the study found that 12 percent reported being physically assaulted either during or after a game they officiated.
The shortage is felt acutely in Texas. In June 2023, Alvin White of the Houston chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) told ABC13 that the area needed 1,400 officials but only had 1,000. He directly linked the shortfall to fan conduct, stating, "Sometimes it's the behavior of the parents at the games. We are in the middle of it at all times."
A Pattern of Disruptive Incidents
The need for stricter rules is underscored by several recent events at Texas high school games. These incidents highlight that the targets of abuse are not limited to officials.
For example, during a football game last September, students from Arlington Heights were reported to have shouted racial slurs at Hispanic cheerleaders from North Side. Despite the severity of the comments, no spectators were removed from the game, leading to a community campaign for accountability.
Other events have involved physical violence. In February, a student was attacked by a group of approximately 20 others during a basketball game between Memorial and Stratford High Schools. More recently, on September 5, multiple fights erupted during the Yates vs. Madison football game, forcing spectators to flee onto the field and causing the game's cancellation.
Mixed Reactions to the New Law
While the law is intended to improve safety, it has generated a debate among parents and sports organizations. Supporters believe it provides a necessary tool to protect everyone involved in high school athletics.
Michael Fitch, the executive director of TASO, expressed his support for the bill. In an interview with Central Texas' KXXV, he acknowledged that passionate fans are part of the game but noted a troubling shift in behavior.
"Fans have always been and can be a little over the top. You know, you can complain about a call, but over the last few years, it's gotten much worse."
However, some parents are concerned the law gives officials too much unchecked power. Velvet Malbrough, a Beaumont ISD parent with 16 years of experience in youth sports, worries about the subjective nature of what constitutes a removable offense.
"Removing someone without warning takes away that fairness," Malbrough told Chron. "While I have seen fan behavior become more aggressive over the years, I believe granting referees the authority to eject spectators at any moment without warning will create more conflict in the long run rather than less."
As the new school sports seasons get underway, communities across Texas will be watching to see how this new authority is implemented and whether it successfully curbs the disruptive behavior it was designed to prevent.