American Legion Baseball Players Must Stand for Anthem if They Want to Play

UNDATED -- American Legion Baseball players in Minnesota will be required to show "proper respect" during the National Anthem, or they won't be able to play. The Minnesota American Legion committee adopted a no-tolerance policy when it comes to players' behavior during the anthem before games.

Wes Thompson is the director for District 6 which includes Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne counties.

Thompson says "proper respect" refers to players standing at attention with their hats off, and hats over their hearts.

Thompson says he has been the District 6 Director for about 10 years and he's never seen a player protest during the anthem. He says the new policy is to get out in front of the issue and require all players to follow the rules or they will be banned from American Legion baseball.

The state's legion baseball committee wanted to be proactive on the issue in light of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the anthem and reports of other young athletes protesting.