PHS Futsal, a staple club at our school, had one of its most testing moments last month when the team “Hackeysack Club” faced off against another team “The Council,” and a series of violations from “Hackeysack Club” ultimately caused the team to be suspended from playing again.

This event brought up the idea of sportsmanship and to what extent we are taking it seriously.

It’s common knowledge that sportsmanship is integral to cooperating when playing against opponents, but it’s also important that students know its deeper significance.

Sportsmanship is more than just being nice to other people — it’s a way for people to set rules and boundaries so that the game itself isn’t inhibited. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, the umbrella-governing body for NJ athletic rules and regulations, has specific guidelines for how certain sports are to be played, from concussion assessments to drug testing. However, Futsal Club doesn’t have a specific set of rules to follow, as it isn’t an official sport run by the school. Nobody knows that better than PHS Athletics Director Brian Dzbenski, who admits concern over the issue.

“You’re in a unique situation because in our club systems, we have students that take the lead,” said Dzbenski.“We do not have a national federation of high school sports futsal.”

For example, in sports which are regulated by the NJSIAA, the rules and regulations are required to be read to the players before the match begins. Along with that, organizers of each selective sport are required to go over rules and watch webinars regarding the rules to the game, which is something that Dzebenski thinks would be helpful.

“Making sure that the rules are upheld for competition [is important],” said Dzebenski. “We [should] have ongoing professional development or officials [so the referees] understand what the rules are.”

More than just the rules of the game, sportsmanship can also be a way for students to learn social habits that will benefit them, even after they graduate high school and beyond. Former PHS Principal Frank Chmiel feels this is critical to student development.“Sportsmanship is something you have to carry with you as you get older,” said Chmiel. “If you remove yourself from a sport, you look back on the love you had for a sport, and appreciate the rules for the sport.”

In the case of the futsal team, Dzebenski believes it is important that both players and fans know the rules and standards of the game, so that the sport can be played safely and be enjoyed by everybody. For example, Dzebenski recalled a moment in the Mercer County Tournament ice hockey final, during which a

frustrated opponent fan bypassed into the Princeton fan section, knowing they weren’t allowed to enter. The fan was ultimately removed and sent back to their fan section.

“Athletics are emotional; people are committed, and they train hard to win competitions,” said Dzebenski. “The little things like [enforcing rules and regulations] can avoid people getting frustrated.”

For Dzebenski, rules and regulations would be meaningless if the student body didn’t know they existed. To him, spreading awareness to PHS students is of utmost importance so that things can improve.

Paulo Barbosa ’25 was the goalie of “The Council,” and he shared the same desire for there to be consistent application of the rules. His biggest desire was for the referees to be more involved. “I don’t think what was done was due to a lack of awareness, but rather to see what [the players] they could get away with,” said Barbosa. “I think the club needed to properly end the situation before it escalated.”

When The Tower reached out to the futsal club leaders for a response, they did not reply.

Looking into the future, there are promising signs that these altercations will be adressed and prevented.

With proper guidance, Dzebenski believes that the school community will demonstrate its spirit of sportsmanship.

“I’d be more than happy to meet with [the advisors] in preparation for next year,” Dzebenski said.