Cupples Stadium Football Game Safety & Sportsmanship Guidelines

Pittsburgh Public Schools is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and respectful environment for all students, staff, families and visitors attending athletic competitions, including games held at Cupples Stadium.

Pittsburgh Public Schools, along with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), believes sportsmanship is a cornerstone of interscholastic athletics. Good sportsmanship means demonstrating positive support for our student-athletes, teams, coaches, officials and school communities.

Actions intended to demean, intimidate or disrespect players, spectators, coaches or officials are inconsistent with the values of interscholastic athletics and will not be tolerated at Pittsburgh Public Schools sporting events.

Cupples Stadium Safety Protocols

The following protocols are standard safety procedures for football games held at Cupples Stadium:

Student ID Requirement 
All students in Grades 9–12, including PPS and non-PPS students, must present a valid student ID to School Safety staff before entering the stadium. Students will not be permitted entry without a student ID. Students purchasing tickets at the gate must present their ID at the ticket window before purchasing a ticket.

Adult Supervision for K–8 Students
Students in Grades K–8 must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older. The supervising adult must remain in the stadium throughout the game. If the adult leaves, the student(s) must leave with them.

Gate Closure
Home and away gates will close at the beginning of the third quarter. No additional spectators will be admitted after that time.

Restricted Items
Outside food, drinks and beverage containers, including Yeti, Stanley, Gatorade and similar containers, are not permitted. Only unopened bottles of water may be brought into the stadium.

These measures complement existing safety procedures, including the use of metal detectors and support from the PPS Office of School Safety and Pittsburgh Police.

Sportsmanship: What We Expect

Everyone has a role in creating a positive atmosphere at PPS athletic events. Students, families and spectators are expected to demonstrate school pride while showing respect for student-athletes, opponents, coaches, officials and fellow spectators.

Be a Good Sport

• Cheer for your team, rather than against an opponent.
• Show concern for an injured player, regardless of team.
• Encourage those around you to demonstrate good sportsmanship.
• Respect and accept decisions made by contest officials.
• Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
• Remain in the stands and designated spectator areas.

Behavior That Will Not Be Tolerated

• Disrespectful or derogatory cheers, chants, songs or gestures directed toward teams or individuals.
• Criticizing, confronting or disrespecting contest officials.
• Blaming officials, coaches or participants for the outcome of a game.
• Using profanity, name-calling, threatening language or inappropriate displays of anger.
• Rushing onto the field, court or other competition area.
• Using noisemakers, signs, whistles or engaging in other distracting behavior that interferes with the game.

These examples are intended as a guide and do not represent every type of acceptable or unacceptable behavior.

Getting Students Home Safely

Families of high school students attending games are encouraged to remind their children to leave the stadium immediately following the game and head directly home.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) buses may be staged outside Cupples Stadium following games to help students travel safely, including transportation Downtown and eastbound along Carson Street. Families are encouraged to discuss transportation plans with their children before attending a game.

Student Conduct and Consequences

Parents and guardians are encouraged to reinforce expectations for safe, respectful and sportsmanlike behavior with their children before attending athletic events. The actions of individuals can affect the safety and experience of student-athletes, spectators and the broader school community.

Students who violate the PPS Student Code of Conduct  may be banned from Cupples Stadium, face school-based disciplinary action and/or receive citations from city police for incidents occurring outside the stadium.

Students who are suspended from school are not permitted to attend school-sponsored activities, including athletic events, on the days of their suspension.

Help Us Keep the Focus on Our Student-Athletes

Athletic events are opportunities to celebrate our students, demonstrate school pride and bring our communities together. Pittsburgh Public Schools is committed to ensuring that Cupples Stadium, the surrounding South Side area and all PPS athletic venues remain safe and welcoming places for everyone.

We appreciate the partnership of our students, families, staff and community in making every game a safe and positive experience.

For questions or concerns regarding safety at Cupples Stadium or other PPS athletic venues, please contact the Office of Interscholastic Athletics at athletics@pghschools.org.