We have had some discussion about this as of late and I want everyone (and myself for that matter) to be clear on the issue/rule.

 

Who can tell us what the rules are when it comes to bands playing during a game? Is it different from state to state? What are the rules in KY? In OH?

I dont know about high school but in college the band can play anytime the clock is stopped.

We have had some discussion about this as of late and I want everyone (and myself for that matter) to be clear on the issue/rule.

 

Who can tell us what the rules are when it comes to bands playing during a game? Is it different from state to state? What are the rules in KY? In OH?

There shouldn't be a difference from state to state...national federation rules.

Maybe enforcement varies.

If anyone has the answere does it also apply to the PA announcer?

By NFHS rule, pep bands cannot play during live-ball situations.

 

Beyond that, I think they can play any other time they please, at least in the regular season. There is no KHSAA rule that covers this, and the only time I hear it metioned is at meetings for postseason basketball tournaments, where the district or regional tourney manager will advise that bands can only play during timeouts. I think the state has similar rules for the Sweet 16 and football finals. But at regular-season games, I believe they can play any time the players aren't.

 

As for college bands, I think they can play just about any time they want, though most don't. I went to a Tennessee State game about five years ago, and its band played almost continuously. Between plays, during plays, didn't matter.

There is no rule that specifically mentions bands playing during games in the high school rulebooks. None!

 

However, rule 9-9-1 says "A player or nonplayer or person not subject to the rules shall not hinder play by any unfair act which has no specific rule coverage." The penalty for violating this rule is anything the referee considers equitable, including awarding a score.

By NFHS rule, pep bands cannot play during live-ball situations.

 

General, please provide specific rule text and rule reference!

There is no rule that specifically mentions bands playing during games in the high school rulebooks. None!

 

However, rule 9-9-1 says "A player or nonplayer or person not subject to the rules shall not hinder play by any unfair act which has no specific rule coverage." The penalty for violating this rule is anything the referee considers equitable, including awarding a score.

My bad. I had sniffed around on the Internet for this once before and found something that referenced this, but I probably attributed it wrong. It was likely a rule from another state as opposed to the NFHS. I'm not sure I could find it again without more than a few minutes of searching. Thanks for the correction.

There is no rule that specifically mentions bands playing during games in the high school rulebooks. None!

 

However, rule 9-9-1 says "A player or nonplayer or person not subject to the rules shall not hinder play by any unfair act which has no specific rule coverage." The penalty for violating this rule is anything the referee considers equitable, including awarding a score.

Hey-Ref, as a separate question and just because I'm curious, what would a band have to do to warrant a penalty under this rule. Would it be something like trying to mess with the snap count?

As an official I would be extremely hesitant to penalize a football team for something the band in the stands did. I would think that telling the band director to stop would be sufficient. If the opposing QB told me he could not call signals over the band, then I would stop the clock, stop the band and continue play. If this did not quiet the band, then I would involve school administrators who are responsible for the overall game venue and spectators. As an official I only officiate the game, not the fans and bands.

Here's the differences between NCAA and NFHS rules on non-player conduct:

 

NCAA rules do provide for an Unsportsmanlike Conduct foul against a band (more specifically, against the opponent of the team the band is attempting to disrupt):

 

NCAA Rule 9-2-1..Persons subject to the rules, including bands, shall not create any noise that prohibits a team from hearing its signals.

 

Further, the NCAA defines persons subject to the rules: All players, substitutes, replaced players, coaches, trainers, cheerleaders in uniform, band members in uniform, mascots in uniform, commercial mascots, public-address announcers, audio and video system operators, and other persons affiliated with the teams or institutions are subject to the rules and shall be governed by the decisions of the officials.

 

NFHS rules are not as specific, but CAN be interpreted to cover this situation:

 

NFHS Rule 1-1-6...The referee has authority to rule promptly, and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, on any situation not specifically covered in the rules. The referee's decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game.

 

NFHS Rule 9-9-1...A player or nonplayer or person not subject to the rules shall not hinder play by an unfair act which has no specific rule coverage.

 

Using this as a basis, I think it is reasonable to penalize a team's head coach (USC) for the actions of his school's band if the band does not cease and desist from disrupting play.

 

I also agree with Hey-Ref that this would be an extreme measure that the referee would prefer to avoid if possible.

As an official I would be extremely hesitant to penalize a football team for something the band in the stands did. I would think that telling the band director to stop would be sufficient. If the opposing QB told me he could not call signals over the band, then I would stop the clock, stop the band and continue play. If this did not quiet the band, then I would involve school administrators who are responsible for the overall game venue and spectators. As an official I only officiate the game, not the fans and bands.

 

My kind of Ref. Take charge. Don't put up with nothing.

 

I went to an Ohio state game and it was so loud it would not have matered if ten bands were playing.

My kind of Ref. Take charge. Don't put up with nothing.

 

I went to an Ohio state game and it was so loud it would not have matered if ten bands were playing.

I'm not sure about the point you're trying to make.

 

We (officials) tend to ignore a lot of ignorant behavior in the stands. It's generally not worth our time to even acknowledge an attention-seeking goober. Being loud and obnoxious is your prerogative as a ticket-holder, so long as you do not disrupt the play on the field. A band director would be held to the same standards as other goobers. Actions by the referee is going to be a last resort, but it is possible.

 

offside

I had a situation last year when the PA guy, or someone in the pressbox, kept sounding some sort of loud beeping noise through the PA system as the opposing team was getting ready to snap the ball. At first we didn't know what is was or where it was coming from, we thought it was just coming from the stands. Finally we realized it was coming from the PA system. We stop play for a moment, went over to the HC of the home team and told him to radio to the pressbox to stop putting the sound through the PA system. It was a very, very bizarre and annoying sound. But that was that, we never heard the sound again. But if we had, we would've penalized the home team with a unsportsmanlike penalty accessed to the HC. With the way the rule is stated, we could've accessed any penalty we saw fit and that includes awarding a score but I don't think an official would ever award a score unless it's a very, very, very unique situation.

If anyone has the answere does it also apply to the PA announcer?

If he's disrupting play, yes. I'm also searching for a reference to a cannon crew (if it gives a ref a heart attack, I think that could be interpreted as "disrupting play").

 

Seriously though, when adult behavior becomes so disruptive at an interscholastic athletic event that a game official has to interrupt play, we've got a larger problem than a 15 yard penalty will cure. Have fun, cheer, boo if you must. But in all cases, be a role model and insist that everyone around you acts accordingly.

 

We'll throw a flag if we have to, but it shouldn't have to come to that.

 

offside