(8-5-26) The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA ) has placed Beech football on a year’s probation and extended Rockvale’s current probation through 2027-28 after what was described as a “brawl” that broke out following a scrimmage between the two teams on July 31.

Several players from the two teams were given one-game suspensions for their involvement, part of self-imposed sanctions by both schools.

Key penalties

• Beech: Placed on one year of probation. Two players (running back Devin Crutcher and defensive lineman Rylan Davie) were suspended for the next scrimmage vs. Smyrna; offensive lineman London Parks and linebacker DK Williams received one-game regular-season suspensions (Williams also sits the second game vs. Mt. Juliet due to a prior suspension).

• Rockvale: Existing probation (from a self-reported recruiting violation earlier in 2026) was extended through the 2027-28 school year. Three players were suspended by the school for the first regular-season game (two of them for a second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from the incident).

The probations and subsequent $500 fines for both were added penalties by TSSAA.

Rockvale was already placed on a self-imposed probation through the 2026-27 school year for a recruiting violation. The TSSAA extended it through the 2027-28 school year.

In a letter sent to both schools on Aug. 5, TSSAA provided an official’s report that stated:

“A brawl broke out during the handshake line, involving multiple players from both teams. As a result, (unsportsmanlike conduct) penalties were assessed to all players/non-players/bench personnel from both teams.”

The TSSAA posted the following in July-

New for 2026-27: Sportsmanship Rules Now Apply to Officiated Preseason Scrimmages

July 17, 2026

TSSAA officials have never been required for preseason scrimmages, and that hasn’t changed. What has changed: if you choose to use them, every bylaw is now active and enforceable. Read on for details of the policy update, plus joint practice rules and three reminders every AD should act on.

Are TSSAA officials required for preseason scrimmages?

The short answer is no. However, the TSSAA Legislative Council changed policy this year to specify that when TSSAA officials are used, all sportsmanship bylaws remain in effect. 

What this means for you: If you are using registered TSSAA officials for a preseason scrimmage, coaches and players are subject to standard ejection penalties, and teams are subject to fines or disciplinary actions for any sportsmanship violations. Previously, this was not enforced for preseason scrimmages.

The Bottom Line: If TSSAA officials are on the field/court, all TSSAA bylaw penalties are active and applicable.

Clarification on Joint Practices: In team sports (volleyball, soccer, football, flag football, baseball, softball, lacrosse, basketball), schools are permitted to practice with other schools without officials during the preseason. These informal, official-free joint practices do not count toward your team’s allotted number of preseason scrimmages. In team sports, once the regular season begins, schools can not practice or scrimmage with other schools. For sports that crown an individual champion (golf, tennis, wrestling, cross country, track and field, bowling), schools may continue to practice together during the regular season. This difference in policy is due to the fact that many member schools share facilities or, in the case of wrestling, this is sometimes necessary to ensure athletes can practice with individuals of similar weight.

Important Reminders

1. Check Out the TSSAA Compliance Checklist
For our new athletic directors who may not be familiar with it, the Compliance Checklist can be a big help. It provides a month-by-month breakdown of tasks that can help you ensure your program remains in good standing. This can also be helpful for coaches to review, so that all involved have some awareness of which boxes need to be checked.

2. Eligibility, Transfers, and Hardships
The window for submitting transfer student eligibility and hardship requests is quickly approaching. Hardship and transfer paperwork can be submitted after a student is technically enrolled. In order to be considered enrolled, a student must participate in three or more days of practice after the first official day of practice for their respective sport or attend class three or more days.

3. Update Your Staff in the Portal
Athletic Directors, if you haven’t already started updating your 2026-2027 staff in the TSSAA Portal, please do so as soon as possible. This ensures that all individuals are in the system and receiving important, sport-specific updates and messaging directly from the state office.