The NJSIAA says football games are an extension of the classroom
UPDATE: NJSIAA flags itself, backtracks on total tailgating ban
ROBBINSVILLE -- Don't even think about tailgating at any of the 23 high school football sectional finals that will be played this weekend around New Jersey.
The New Jersey State Interstate Athletic Association issued a ban on parking lot festivities at the four sites hosting championship games Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
MetLife Stadium in a file photo. In a statement issued Monday reminding fans that its events are drug and alcohol free, the governing body for high school sports in the state also said, "tailgating is strictly prohibited."
"When you attend an NFL or Big Ten football game, for example, the entire environment is dedicated to fan entertainment," NJSIAA Executive Director Steve Timko said in a statement. "But high school sports are different -- even a state championship football game contested at Met Life Stadium is an extension of the classroom. And you don't allow alcohol, drugs or tailgating at school."
Sectional finals will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford; Saturday and Sunday at Rowan University in Glassboro and Saturday at both Rutgers University's High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway and Kean University in Union.
By Tuesday afternoon, the NJSIAA tweeted a clarification to the tailgating rules. It said pre- and post-game eating is OK. The rules are aimed at curbing tailgating and partying, according to the NJSIAA.
At last year's sectional finals, several schools sponsored tailgates for students. Some high schools also sponsor tailgates for regular-season home games.
It's not clear how the NJSIAA plans to enforce the edict or what the repercussions would be for an offender.
NJSIAA is school-based sports, w/ no alcohol. New rules are aimed @ curbing tailgating/partying, not pre-/post-game eating. #KeepKidsSafe
-- NJSIAA (@NJSIAA) November 29, 2016
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.