Coach Carter makes the Richmond High School basketball players sign a contract to maintain academic standards in order to play. The contract requires a 2.3 GPA, attending all classes, sitting in the front row, and wearing ties and jackets on game days. The players agree to the terms but later breach the contract by failing to meet the GPA requirements. In response, Coach Carter refuses the players entry to the gym for a week to reinforce the importance of academics over basketball. The players eventually accept Carter's emphasis on discipline and education for their futures over just playing the game.