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Mesa Public Schools launches fan‑behavior initiative with PSAs, signage and event plans
Summary
Athletics staff presented a districtwide plan including pre‑game PSAs, signage, ops meetings for high‑attendance rivalries, ticketing acknowledgements and official protections to improve sportsmanship and protect officials at large events.
Mesa Public Schools athletic staff presented a new districtwide “fan initiative” intended to raise sportsmanship standards, protect officials and improve the gameday experience at high‑attendance events.
Athletics director Mr. Eubanks said the program will require a short, district PSA to be played after the national anthem at events with audio systems, new signage at campuses, and pregame operations meetings for large rivalry contests that could draw significant away crowds. He said the district will also require online ticket purchasers (GoFan) to acknowledge fan expectations as a condition of entry for events where ticketing is used.
“Mesa Public Schools is gonna lead the way in showing our expectations of what we expect from our fans, our students, our coaches, and officials altogether as a group,” Mr. Eubanks said. He described steps to welcome and support game officials — providing a secure check‑in, a staff escort when requested and a place to change or rest — as part of an effort to reverse a statewide decline in available officials.
Student voices recorded for the PSA urged respectful cheering and positive conduct. Jameson Wayne, a Red Mountain student athlete, said in the recording, “No booing, no taunting, no hate. That's how we show up,” language the district plans to use in pre‑game announcements.
Athletic directors at several high schools described complementary steps: meeting with student fan‑leader groups before each season to review rules and expectations; having coaches model sportsmanlike conduct; and coordinating security and exit plans for high‑risk games. The district noted the positive correlation between athletic participation and graduation: staff cited that seniors involved in athletics had about a 98% graduation rate last year.
Next steps: the district will record school‑specific PSAs, place signage and roll out additional communications to parents and student leaders before the busy fall season. Athletic directors said they will pilot pre‑game operations meetings for the largest events this fall.
