Fans: get out there and show your colors, but keep it clean. That's the gist of several new rules that have been adopted by the Montana High School Association, including a rule that requires war-painted fans to wear their shirts during sporting events and another that bans booing.

Last year at a basketball game, Capital High junior Parker McKinnon painted a brown and gold B on his chest and stood next to his buddy Marcus Rowan who was painted with an R. James Allred was the I in BRUINS, and together, they were loud, and by their own admission, "nasty."

Camped out on a couch they carried into the stands for last Saturday's football game, the boys were clear: "the new rules are BS."

Allred said he's singled out a player or ref for a few insults, and said it's just part of the game. They boo when they don't like a call or when a player on the other team fouls a hometown player.

"It's a competition," said Capital High junior Sarah Hicks. "You should be able to boo. It gets the team fired up."

Helena School District Activities Director Jim Opitz said that administrators have watched fans get increasingly more obnoxious over the past five years, and not just in Helena, but at high schools small and large across the state.

Administrators and coaches from across the state formed a committee last year and put together several new rules that were added this summer to the MHSA handbook, which governs high school activities.

Unsportsmanlike behavior has included booing, singling out a player or official for criticism, antagonizing other fans or opposing teams, and disrespecting the event itself by wearing inappropriate attire. Taunting, foul language, obscene gestures and negative cheers happen more frequently than ever before.

For decades, Tom and Kathy Miller have attended most every Bruin home game, and as many Helena High games as they can. Gradually, they've seen fan behavior become more inappropriate.

"On the whole, I think they're pretty good, but you always have those few who are just immature, and, of course, they all make us look like poor sports," said Kathy, a retired Helena schoolteacher.

The couple agreed that it's probably time for some tougher rules.

"I think people need to encourage, not discourage," Kathy said, adding that when she was in high school in Butte in the late 40s she was part of the pep band. Back then, they were required to learn all the fight songs of all the teams they played to support the opposition during games.

Opitz said he thinks fans are influenced by what they see at collegiate and professional sporting events. Students are mimicking the outrageous and often inappropriate behavior of fans they see on TV. The behavior of fans at those events is no less inappropriate, but because it's caught the eye of a cameraman and it's broadcast, young people think it's OK.

"Our activities are part of teaching, and we're teaching sportsmanship and courtesy here," Opitz said.

The high school code of conduct states that students who violate the rules or become overly obnoxious during sporting events will receive a warning, and if the behavior continues, the student is forced to leave and will not be allowed at the following event.

Capital High School Principal Randy Carlson admits that most of the MHSA rules are directed toward students, but include adult fans as well, whom he's seen get just as unruly. He's not the only one. The Millers have been shocked by parents' behavior.

"Some of the best fans are the players' parents, and some of the worst fans are players' parents," Tom Miller said, recounting a couple of near-riots at state tournaments where parents were kicked out.

Opitz said that when adults get out of control the school tries to enforce a standard similar to what is expected of students. Obnoxious adults are asked to leave, and requested not to attend the following game or match.

At Capital High, students will be briefed on the new rules during assemblies and classroom presentations. All of the MHSA rules for fan behavior are also listed in the student handbook, Carlson said.

"We're going to be looking to educate the kids first, and I really do expect good cooperation — we have been working on it for a while," Carlson said.

Like the Millers, Carlson sees the rules as necessary for only a minority of fans. Most students know how to have a good time and show their enthusiasm without getting rowdy, he said.

"Recently what they've liked to do here is they'll take a white T-shirt and write positive things on them about our team members," Carlson added.

Reporter Laura Tode can be reached at 447-4081 or by e-mail at laura.tode@helenair.com.