Are the "Spirit Sticks" OK to use during HS games? I took a quick look through the rule book at halftime last night but couldn't find the reference to noisemakers at all. Thanks.

Rule 1-18, same casebook number.

See also:

http://www.officialforum.com/thread/11284

No, they are not.

Thanks. I wanted a specific list and got it. If these are illegal, then why in the heck don't schools check it out befor they buy a boatload of them? Last night's Girls' game there were hundreds of fans with them for "Blue Night" which is a kind of fall homecoming because this school doesn't have football.

are spirit "sticks" considered noise makers??? i know they are dangerous for everyone to have a 2 or 3 foot long stick in their hands, but they are not really noise makers unless they start banging them against the bleachers or each other!

Anything arificial that is used to make noise is illegal. Ergo, spirit sticks are only illegal if you make actually make noise with them.

Which brings up the questions.....Why have them if you're not gonna make noise with 'em? And....why have 2 of them instead of just one if you're not gonna make noise?

Well, what if you get REAL spirit sticks instead of the artificial ones? Then what?

Shut up.

Hold it fellas... and ladies! We might be on to something here. What if we allowed the thundersticks in and when they yell "3 seconds" we can shove them up their you know whats. Then they will know how long 3 seconds really is. Just a thought!

Well DUH! What do you think they're purpose is?

Cymbals don't make noise until you bang them together. A drum doesn't make noise until you hit it. A bottle with 20 pennies in it doesn't make noise unless you shake it.

Seriously? I never knew! LOL!

Neither did jritchie evidently! :p

But, would you take action to have the objects removed if they are never used to make noise in a time that is prohibited? The band is certainly allowed to play during timeouts and intermissions. The rule says the use of artificial noise makers is prohibited...not the possession of them.

We are talking about the fans here. Would you be able to withstand the temptation? Two thundersticks in your hand... a big dunk or three pointer and you want to clap and instead you hit your sticks together. I think it would be a problem to even allow them in the gym.

Should read, "We are talking about <i><b> young, impulsive, emotional, possibly drunk </i></b> fans here."

Cell phones
 

We had a fan playing ring tones from his cell phone the other night. Had to ask him to turn his phone off. Have any of you dealt with this?

Re: Cell phones
 

Believe it or not, I have. I did a community college game in an almost empty gym and a fan played his ringtones while the opponent was shooting a FT. Very noticeable, but I couldn't tell exactly who it was. Fortunately, the home AD took care of it and I didn't have to say anything. Only happened the one time.

I actually seen a booster club trying to raise money by selling the water bottles with rocks in them. The PA annoucement went something like: "Thanks for purchasing from the booster club. Also, we would like to remind you that artificial noisemakers are illegal and sportsmanship is expected to be displayed at all times. Good luck to both teams." :) Kind of funny...

I'm glad to be reminded of that rule before the season begins. I'm not sure I would have been 100% clear on "thundersticks" etc. Noisemakers isnt (for me anyway) and issue that comes up much. And the remedy here could be very severe: "AD please have the PA announce that the crowd cannot use the thundersticks." I would have been hesitant to take that extreme action without being 100% sure that I was right about the rule. Now that this issue has been raised, I am ready to deal with the issue. That is why I love this discussion board. I'm sure there are a bunch of other rules that I dont encounter much (maybe others do) that I read some time ago and didnt pay as much attention to or remember as well as, say, legal screening or things like that. Thanks for bringing this up and helping me to remember :)

Oh man, I SOOOOOOOOOOO saw that coming....

:D

SECTION 18 MUSIC/SOUND EFFECTS/ARTIFICIAL NOISEMAKERS
The playing of music/sound effects shall only be permitted during pre-game, time-outs, intermission and post-game. The use of artificial noisemakers shall be prohibited.