The Official Forum - Rules about cheerleaders' actions during play

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- - Rules about cheerleaders' actions during play (https://forum.officiating.com/basketball/18325-rules-about-cheerleaders-actions-during-play.html)

As others have said the restriction on being along the endline is NOT a NFHS BASKETBALL rule and therefore is not enforced in my area during the season. However, the following appears in the State Tournament packet:

* As per the NFHS Spirit Rules Book, spirit groups shall NOT perform in the free-throw lane extended (through the baseline) during live action. All gyms should have a specific area designated which does not interfere with participants.

* As per the NFHS Basketball Rules Book, spirit groups shall NOT take the court during 30-second timeouts.

The 30-second timeout prohibition is an NFHS rule and should be enforced during all games.

Lastly, since it was also mentioned in this thread this is part of the State packet too:
NO ARTIFICIAL NOISE MAKERS OF ANY KIND (including, but not limited to, thundersticks, airhorns, whistles, sirens, etc.) will be permitted at NIAA games (including regular-season contests). Balloons or other objects that impair spectator vision will also NOT be permitted at the games. Positive signs that recognize your own school and do not impair spectator viewing will be allowed. Schools must remove all signs at the conclusion of the game. Tournament / Game officials will always have the final say.

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Originally posted by w_sohl

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Originally posted by LarryS
Now, I was told of an official that stopped fans from using "thunder sticks" (those inflatable sticks you bang together" becuase he considered them artifical noise makers.

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There is no considering here, they ARE artificial noise makers. They don't make noise on their own, you need to smack them together to make noise and artificial noise makers are prohibited. [/B]

(Not disagreeing here...just playing devil's advocate)

If the noise makers are artificial, how to they make noise. What's a non-artificial noise maker? Is a shoe an artificial noise maker when it is stomped on the gound? Your vocal cords don't make noise on their own either. You need to put air through them to force them to make noise.

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Originally posted by BktBallRef

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Originally posted by Jurassic Referee

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Originally posted by Jeffrey Moon
To BktBallRef (or anyone else): I don't want to get hypertechnical about this thing, but in these NFHS Spirit Rules, is "stunts" defined? For example, does that word mean only pyramids and things like that, or stuff like jumping up and down with pompoms, doing group dance moves and kicks, and so on?

Before you get too wound up in this, don't forget that the officials in your game may have never heard of "spirit" rules. We enforce only what is in the NFHS basketball rule book. The NFHS basketball rules say that we leave the cheerleaders alone if we feel that they aren't interfering in the game. If we feel that they <b>are</b> interfering in the game, then we say "don't do that". Let somebody else worry about their spirit rules. Take away their pom-poms or sumthin'. That's not our job.

The rules governing cheerleaders are not in the Basketball Rule Book because officials shouldn't be the ones enforcing the rules. Game management should be taking care of the issue.

Jeremy, I don't know how they define stunts." But to me, kicking and jumping are "stunts."

All I know is that I alomost killed one two years ago. I was headed back up the floor after a missed FT and she was where she wasn't suppose to have been. :(

This happened to me last year. Transition from trail to lead on steal, saw her out of the corner of my eye as I head to the endline. I'm a big guy, 6'5", 220 lbs., and fortunately, she wasn't injured (I managed to semi-catch her before she fell). Let me just say that all of the cheerleaders stayed out of my way the rest of game. I had already moved them back earlier in the game.

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Originally posted by Jimgolf

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Originally posted by ChrisSportsFan

What about a harmonica or blowing into a jug? I also think swinging the straps from your overalls is also annoying.

You're not from NY, are you Chris? ;)

Never been to NY. St. Louis MO by way of Houston TX. I've lived in 5 states and have come to realize that people play the harmonica and wear overalls in every state. We're all part Hillbilly. Yes, that includes All Ya'll.

Cheerleaders should go out for a "REAL" sport!

Their athletic talents should not be wasted with primping in front of the mirror....practicing their "whatever" they do in hallways/cafeterias prior to games causing a log jam at the gym entrance....and just "getting in the way" during the game :confused: oblivious to what's happening on the court.

Sorry to those parents who have kids aspiring to be "popular" and developing their "self esteem" :rolleyes: in this type of activity.

Probably a Technical Foul on me for being "unsportsmanlike".

wl