Washington Interscholastic Activities Association gained national attention, and derision, recently for what has become known as the "booing ban" or the "no booing rule."

Cable television shows, the major networks and all sorts of blogs had a chuckle about the idea of banning booing at high school athletic events.

It didn't seem to matter that the WIAA doesn't have any such rule and never seriously considered adding one.

The WIAA instead discussed establishing rules about fan conduct.

Different school systems in the state of Washington have different rules about fan conduct -- things like no body paint, no artificial noise makers, no signs.

During the discussions, the WIAA looked at the purpose of high school athletics -- which is to help students -- and discussed fan conduct.

There were discussions about how to encourage fans to cheer without deriding opponents, hence the talk of no booing.

"There was never any rule change about sportsmanship," said Mike Colbrese, the WIAA executive director.

But when Colbrese told reporters that he personally didn't understand the fascination some adults have with booing high school students, the "booing ban" myth went national.

"The media chose to focus on some belief that the WIAA was banning booing and they wouldn't let go of that. That was never the WIAA's focus," Colbrese said.

Colbrese and Bob Kanaby, the executive director of the National Federation of State High School Association, left its national meeting in Palm Desert, Calif., in July to appear on national talk show television.

They were ridiculed.

"I wanted a serious discussion about sportsmanship issues involving our nation's high school athletic teams. The hosts wanted to laugh at us," Kanaby said.

Lost among the giggling is that the idea of controlling fan conduct at high school athletic events isn't a bad idea.

In fact, the N.C. High School Athletic Association has its own playoff standards -- things like no signs, no body paint, no artificial noise makers, don't cut down the nets and leave the goal posts alone.

Before every NCHSAA contest, the public address announcer is supposed to ask spectators to treat opposing teams and coaches with respect.

It is a sort of a "no booing, please" request.

Dozen of times I have seen school administrators, cheerleader coaches or teachers approach a group of students at a game and tell them to tone it down when a cheer is too rambunctious.

This Friday night, you can expect to be asked to leave if you are profane or abusive.

A high school game is no place for swearing or serious taunting of players.

Some fans argue that high school athletics are designed to teach life skills and kids need to learn how to handle being booed, jeered, mocked and embarrassed.

But they are wrong.

Fans sometimes think of high school athletes as rugged, strong and immune to taunting.

But the majority are just kids trying to have fun.

They don't deserve to be booed.

Neither do the people who try to keep high school sports in the right perspective.

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