NAC386.844. Prevention and control of bench-clearing incidents and physical altercations; penalties.

     1. A coach of a school shall maintain control of each pupil during any game, contest or meet in which the pupil participates. If a pupil:

     (a) Leaves the bench, sideline or any other area that is outside the playing field or area of play and enters the playing field or area of play in response to a bench-clearing incident; or

     (b) Engages in a physical altercation,

Ê the head coach must be ejected from the game, contest or meet in which the pupil participates, if the bench-clearing incident or physical altercation occurs before or during the game, contest or meet, and must be suspended for the next scheduled game, contest or meet.

     2. Each head coach of a sanctioned sport shall establish a plan for preventing and controlling a bench-clearing incident or physical altercation that may occur before, during or after a game, contest or meet in which his or her pupils participate. The plan may include the methods the head coach and coaching staff will use to assist a sports official who is assigned to a game, contest or meet in preventing or controlling the bench-clearing incident or physical altercation if:

     (a) The assistance is designed to prevent the pupils who are participating in the game, contest or meet from:

          (1) Entering the designated playing field or area of play in response to a bench-clearing incident; or

          (2) Engaging in a physical altercation; and

     (b) Any intervention by the head coach and coaching staff is intended to separate the pupils of the head coach or coaching staff from the pupils and coaches of the opposing team.

     3. Any pupil who participates in a game, contest or meet and who:

     (a) Leaves the bench, sideline or other area that is outside the playing field or area of play and enters the playing field or area of play in response to a bench-clearing incident, or leaves a fielding position within the playing field or area of play to which the pupil is assigned in response to a bench-clearing incident; or

     (b) Engages in a physical altercation,

Ê is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct and must be ejected from the game, contest or meet, if the bench-clearing incident or physical altercation occurs before or during the game, contest or meet.

     4. If at least three members of a team participating in a game, contest or meet:

     (a) Leave the bench, sideline or other area that is outside the playing field or area of play and enter the playing field or area of play in response to a bench-clearing incident; or

     (b) Engage in a physical altercation,

Ê the team is guilty of committing an unsportsmanlike act and must incur a forfeiture or double forfeiture for the game, contest or meet.

     5. Any pupil who participates in a game, contest or meet and is involved in a bench-clearing incident or physical altercation:

     (a) Must be ejected from the game, contest or meet, if the bench-clearing incident or physical altercation occurs before or during the game, contest or meet; and

     (b) Is ineligible to participate in the next scheduled game, contest or meet.

     6. Each pupil, coach or team that participates in a game, contest or meet and engages in a fight at least twice during a season must be suspended and declared ineligible for the remainder of that season. The Executive Director may, in accordance with the provisions of NAC 386.861, impose an additional penalty against the pupil, coach or team if the second fight occurs with less than three games, contests or meets remaining in the season.

     7. The head coach of a team and the principal of a school or a designee thereof shall ensure that the team and each member of the team behave in a sportsmanlike manner. If an unsportsmanlike act occurs, the principal or the designee, or the Executive Director shall, if the circumstances require, suspend or declare ineligible the pupil, coach or team for an additional period which must not exceed any period specified in this section.

     8. As used in this section:

     (a) “Bench-clearing incident” means any incident that occurs before, during or after a game, contest or meet in which at least three pupils, coaches or members of a team leave the bench, sideline or other area that is outside the playing field or area of play for the game, contest or meet and enter the playing field or area of play in response to or to cause a physical altercation or incident that occurs before, during or after the game, contest or meet.

     (b) “Physical altercation” means any aggressive behavior that:

          (1) Is engaged in by a pupil before, during or after a game, contest or meet; and

          (2) Involves any unwelcome and intentional touching, hitting or shoving of a person.

Ê The term includes, without limitation, any argument or brawl during which such touching, hitting or shoving occurs.

     (Added to NAC by Nev. Interscholastic Activities Ass’n by R206-03, eff. 11-2-2004)