Monday, November 28, 2016

No Tailgating At HS Championship Games


Three local high schools will play for football championships this weekend at New Jersey colleges.
But the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association is reminding fans that these games aren't like college games.
The NJSIAA released a statement Monday morning stating that all events it sponsors are alcohol- and drug-free. And, tailgating before these events is strictly prohibited.


“We want all our fans, many of whom are minors, to have an enjoyable experience while attending scholastic sports competitions,” said Steve Timko, the NJSIAA’s executive director, in a statement. “And that’s why we instituted specific rules that don’t allow certain activities and behaviors. All of our member schools are in agreement that we will not tolerate a few individuals enjoying themselves at the expense of everyone else.”
Holy Spirit will play Mater Dei Prep for the state Non-Public II title at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kean University.
Millville will play Toms River North for the South Jersey Group V title at 6 p.m. Saturday at Rowan University.

 Cedar Creek will play West Deptford for the South Jersey Group II title at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Rowan.


Timko said that it's more than just the age of the athletes who are competing.
“When you attend an NFL or Big Ten football game, for example, the entire environment is dedicated to fan entertainment,” he says. “But high school sports are different -- even a state championship football game contested at Met Life Stadium is an extension of the classroom. And you don’t allow alcohol, drugs or tailgating at school.”

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/football/njsiaa-prohibits-tailgating-at-high-school-football-championship-games/article_ae93037f-9139-5853-82b9-d9a70a2d40e0.html

Update
A day after releasing a statement explicitly prohibiting all tailgating at this week’s football sectional finals, the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association partly defended its stance on the subject on Tuesday while making a clarification.
Alcohol is out; food is in.
Tailgating will, in fact, be permitted at all four sites, but not the kind that includes alcoholic beverages, NJSIAA spokesman Mike Cherenson told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday.
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/6468184437951996900/njsiaa-flags-itself-backtracks-on-total-tailgating-ban/ 

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