KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. –Some new rules are coming to the Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar.

The Kanawha County Commission voted to approve rules aimed at enhancing the facility’s safety and curbing disruptive or violent behavior.

Commission President Ben Salango said there have been a few recent incidents involving rowdy parents.

“We’ve had some parents who got a little physical, we’ve had spectators who have probably gone beyond the realm of what’s appropriate,” Salango said.

Salango said it was important to ensure the rules were implemented legally, given that the facility is government-owned. He added that the commission’s attorney drafted the rules, along with the consequences for any violations.

Under the new rules, prohibited conduct at the facility includes obscene, offensive, or abusive language; racial slurs; and any disruptive behavior that interferes with events or activities. It also includes trying to fight, being intoxicated or committing a crime.

Salango emphasized that the rules go beyond parents simply being passionate or upset about a call made against their child.

“This is someone who becomes aggressive, attacks a coach, attacks a ref, verbally assaults a coach or ref, which we have seen from time to time, that’s what this is for, it’s not for somebody that thinks their kids shouldn’t have been called for a penalty and their just mouthing off in the stands, that’s different,” he said.

The rules also outline the consequences for violations. According to the commission’s attorney, individuals who break a rule will receive a written notice of a temporary ban. They will then have the opportunity to request a hearing before the commission.

He said the length of the ban will vary based on the number of offenses: 90 days for the first offense, 180 days for the second, one year for the third, and a permanent ban for the fourth. He explained that individuals who receive a permanent ban may appear before the commission after two years to request reinstatement, provided they can demonstrate they’ve completed anger management or have shown they understand the seriousness of their actions

If someone commits a violent act or faces criminal charges, the commission may impose either a one-year ban or a permanent ban.

Salango said these rules are all about safety for all individuals that hold games at the complex, especially the refs.

“The goal of this program is for the safety of everybody involved and also we need to protect the referees, we need to make sure people aren’t being disruptive,” he said.

Salango noted that referee participation has declined over the past ten years due to increasing instances of physical and verbal violence from parents.

Commissioner Lance Wheeler made a point to say rules like these are being implemented nationally.

“This is just another tool in our toolbox to fight against what’s going on nationally, Shawnee is not unsafe, this isn’t a we have to put these rules in because of that, this is a national thing we’re noticing and that this is giving you guys a toolbox to help maybe fight back on that,” he said.

Salango said the rules should be effective for now, but adjustments can be made if necessary.

“That is a process that we think will work, is it perfect, it’s not and it won’t be, but we can always tweak it over time,” he said.

Director of Operations at Shawnee Samantha Carney, who was present during the meeting, said she appreciates and agrees with the rules.

“I really do appreciate you basically laying it out,” Carney said. “I have read through it and I do agree with it.”

The rules will go into effect immediately.