(NOTE: You can download the .pdf version of this memo in the Club Memo Folder in the Documents section of this website)

Coaches:
Please beware of the State of Alabama Criminal Law of the following:
Section 13A-11-144
Harassment, etc., of sports official.

(a) For purposes of this section, a “sports official” is a person at a sports event who enforces the rules of the event, such as an umpire or referee, or a person who supervises the participants, such as a coach. A “sports event” includes any interscholastic or intramural athletic activity in a primary, middle, junior high, or high school, college, or university, any organized athletic activity sponsored by a community, business, or nonprofit organization, any athletic activity that is a professional or semiprofessional event, and any other organized athletic activity in the state.

(b) A person commits the crime of harassment of a sports official if he or she commits the crime of harassment as provided for by Section 13A-11-8, and the victim is a sports official performing official duties and the harassment is a result of the official performing his or her official duties. Harassment of a sports official is a Class B misdemeanor.

(c) A person commits the crime of menacing a sports official if he or she commits the crime of menacing as provided for by Section 13A-6-23, and the victim is a sports official performing official duties and the menacing is a result of the official performing his or her official duties. Menacing a sports official is a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) A person commits the crime of assault of a sports official in the third degree if he or she commits the crime of assault in the third degree as provided for by Section 13A-6-22, and the victim is a sports official performing official duties and the assault is a result of the official performing his or her official duties. Assault of a sports official in the third degree is a Class C felony.

(e) A person commits the crime of assault of a sports official in the second degree if he or she commits the crime of assault in the second degree as provided for by Section 13A-6-21, and the victim is a sports official performing official duties and the assault is a result of the official performing his or her official duties. Assault of a sports official in the second degree is a Class B felony.

(f) A person commits the crime of assault of a sports official in the first degree if he or she commits the crime of assault in the first degree as provided for by Section 13A-6-20, and the victim is a sports official performing official duties and the assault is a result of the official performing his or her official duties. Assault of a sports official in the first degree is a Class A felony.
(Act 2001-1099, 4th Sp. Sess., p. 1158, §§ 1, 2.)

Coaches REMIND your parents and coaches about this law. If you want me to come to your area and give this in a more detail just send me an email riskmanager.club.independent@gmail.com or call me at 256-652-4522.

Coach Ed Sasan
Club Independent (CI)
Risk Management Coordinator