New Jersey Bans High School Trash Talk

You might think that New Jersey and trash talk go together like highways and roadkill, but the state is looking to change all that. This week the state's Attorney General's Office and Interscholastic Athletic Association announced a policy change banning all manner of mouthing off in high school sports, NBC New York reports. Officials say it just brings sporting events in line with the state's school anti-bullying law.

Profanity and "unduly provocative language or action toward officials, opponents, or spectators" could get the team penalized, and the athlete suspended, and harassing statements about gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or religion could land an athlete in trouble with the state's Civil Rights Division. The rules require the Athletic Association to report to the Attorney General any discriminatory conduct. (More New Jersey stories.)