Rule 9.1.5 states that an opponent shall not disconcert the free thrower. Does this apply to the cheerleaders and/or mascot? I called a JV game recently where the cheerleaders had a routine when the opponent was shooting at the end they were cheering on. They weren't going wild, just clapping and stomping. Is that legal?

No, they can't disconcert. As long as they remain seated where they normally are, they're fine. I did once have a situation where they wanted to stand along the endline during an opponent's FT but we quickly put a stop to that.

One thing we have been told to guard against is the use of mechanical devices. For example cheerleaders are allowed to use megaphones to cheer but are not permitted to bang them against the floor or the bleachers to make noise.

I don't think they can even use megaphones in the conventional way in that situation. That new rule for 2001-2002(1-18) states that 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. I think a megaphone would be considered an artificial noisemaker.

Artificial Noisemaker?
 

A megaphone can't make noise--it can only enhance noise from a real live noisemaker. I suppose you could check her to see if she was real or artificial--but in HS, I think most are real!!!

Re: Artificial Noisemaker?
 

I was at the mall today and saw a woman's short t-shirt
that said "Silicon free". Cute. Anyway, it seems to
me that a megaphone banging against wooden stands gets
pretty close to an artificial noise maker. Pretty close.

Re: Artificial Noisemaker?
 

True that the person is making the noise, but the megaphone is enhancing or amplifying the noise, artificially. This would hold true for a PA system. I wouldn't allow it.

Most of our cheerleaders stand on the end line. I dont think I can recall ever dealing with cheerleaders who disconcert. They know they have to stand to the sides of the paint. They know if they get unsporting we can move them to the 65th row

Re: Re: Artificial Noisemaker?
 

The NFHS issued an interpretation / clarification that the use (normal use) of megaphones by cheerleaders is allowed.

Re: Re: Re: Artificial Noisemaker?
 

daves,

Bob is correct. It is legal to use them for their prescribed purpose. But, as I said, once they start banging them on the floor or the bleachers, they have to go.

Tony

As to whether they can disconcert, or should be treated like a fan - think of it this way. Since they are official representatives of the team and are allowed special priviliges not allowed to fans, they must be treated differently than fans. If they want to be treated like a fan on this or any other subject, then they must subject themselves to the same restrictions as the fans, i.e.: can't come on the floor, can't pace the sidelines, etc.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Artificial Noisemaker?
 

Can you give me the case book reference or the interpretation of that? I haven't seen it.

Artificial Noisemaker?
 

The rule is 1-18.

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.

From the NFHS website
The prohibition against artificial noisemakers, including but not limited to, megaphones, cowbells, sirens, 'clackers', cans with marbles or rocks inside, and varied other creative, albeit cacophonic, devices provides additional rules support for an increasingly serious problem.

From the NFHS Interpretations web page
SITUATION #6: The school sponsored cheerleaders wish to use megaphones as part of their cheerleading routines from the sidelines.
RULING: The new rule prohibiting artificial noisemakers would not apply to the cheerleaders in this situation. The megaphones would only be legal for the cheerleader’s use, provided they were being used appropriately. (1-18)

I hope that clears it up.

Re: Artificial Noisemaker?
 

Thanks for the interpretation. I read this as meaning the cheerleaders can use megaphones as part of their normal cheerleading routines from the sidelines during a time out or similar situation. I would not interpret as meaning the cheerleaders can use them to disconcert during a free throw situation as im my opinion it would not be using them appropriately. Just my opinion.

Cheerleaders can't disconcert by using a megaphone to cheer during a FT. Please don't call that.

Speaking of cheerleaders. They are the most annoying things alive, always in the way. Last night in a fairly tight gym, about four feet from end line to padded wall on one end, they would not get out of the way even on throw-ins. I was nice for a quarter or so, then went during time-out and told them to either stay out of the way or cheer from the hallway. Still ended up having trouble with them, so I started stepping back on their toes and standing on them for a few seconds.

What does that mean? Does it mean that it is not disconcertion if a cheerleader uses a megaphone during a FT?Or does it mean that a cheerleader is disconcerting during a freethrow if using a megaphone? The wording is confusing. If the cheerleaders are doing a cheerleading routine during live action this is unacceptable. I don't know if I would call it disconcertion, but I would prohibit them from doing their cheering routines during a free throw or any other live game action. If a cheerleader is roaming the sidelines doing cheers while the game is being played they are risking life and limb. They are going to get run over. The same restrictions that apply to the band not playing during the game also applies to the cheerleaders not doing their cheering routines, with or without a megaphone.

[Edited by daves on Dec 19th, 2001 at 10:03 AM]

I appreciate all the good remarks. You've taught me things I didn't know. But, I'm going to have to have more than, "The officials on the forum said you can't do that" when the cheerleading sponser disputes my right to move them. Does rule 9.1.5 mean cheerleaders when it refers to the "opponent?" Is there a rule and/or case that would be clear?

I haven't had to deal with this myself, yet.... but I just watched games between cross-town rivals here in Texas. The cheerleaders were cheering during live ball and dead ball times, include the infamous "sink it" cheer for their own players just prior to a free-throw. This has been a part of many games I've seen and I don't consider this a problem or disconcertion. Note: They were NOT using megaphones.:)

In NC, cheerleaders are required to be seated except during intermissions and 60 second timeouts. Is it different where you live? I would not allow the cheerleaders on the playing floor for safety reasons. Where does your state association stand on this issue?

As long as they're sitting down, they can cheer all they want, anytime they want. And they can use megaphones while they do it.

A cheerleader who is cheering, using a microphone is simply cheerleading. Nothing in the rulebook allows you to call disconcertion on a cheerleader.

Now, don't allow them to stand on the sideline or baseline during such a situation. Preventive officiate! But if they do it, it's not disconcertion. They aren't players, bench personnel or opponents. You simply have to stop it before they do it.

So again...

Cheerleaders can't disconcert by using a megaphone to cheer during a FT. Please don't call that.

I would invoke Rule 2-8-1 if I had to, Rev. However, that being said I would probably never penalize this act. I would take this under my "preventative officiating" umbrella. If you see something, YOU feel is unsporting or disconcerting, tell them to stop. They have rules in their Spirit rulebooks, but we/I have no idea what they are. You are there to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible within the rules and if the cheerleaders are interfering with that, IN YOUR OPINION, take care of it. If some cheerleading supervisor gives you flak, refer her to the game management and let them deal with it. Unless she looks like that coach I T'ed up a couple of weeks ago,:p man she's a "hottie". What was I thinking?:(

Tony, in our state the cheerleaders are allowed to stand and cheer on the baseline during play and are often right in the way when I work lead. That is why I have so much trouble with them. I now have a habit of pre-gaming with the cheerleaders where I want to work and to get out of the way when I come down on their end. Keeps me from getting kicked as much. As far as the megaphones, I will check but it was my understanding at our state rules meeting that they were out, could not be used during any live ball situation.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BktBallRef
[B]In NC, cheerleaders are required to be seated except during intermissions and 60 second timeouts. Is it different where you live? I would not allow the cheerleaders on the playing floor for safety reasons. Where does your state association stand on this issue?

I officiate in Kansas. I'm really not sure what the stand of the state association is. I know that the cheerleaders are allowed to cheer on both endlines during the game. They come out on the floor during the 60 second timeouts. My thinking is this, as coach, I wouldn't want my players on the FT line to be distracted by the opponents cheerleaders so I am not going to allow my cheerleaders to distract. I apologize if I made this sound like a big problem in our area, it's not as far as I know. This situation just came up during one game of a J/V Tourney recently. I didn't think it was allowed, but I didn't have the ammunition to put a stop to it. Like I said in my original post, they were not jumping up and down going wild, they were standing, clapping their hands and stomping their feet. It may or may not have been distracting to the shooters.

In the northern VA area, the cheerleaders stand at the end line. It gets to be a big problem in some small gyms. I make them move back as far as possible and if there is only 4 or 5 feet between the baseline and the wall, I make them move away from the baseline all together. I tell them I am 6'6", 235 lbs and when I come hauling a** as lead on a breakaway, I will not be looking out for them! Someone mentioned earlier about cheerleader sponsers. This past Monday night, my partner had a run-in with the sponser who told him that the cheerleaders were under her control, not his, and she would decide where they cheered. Wrong!! He told her they would not be on the baseline (safety issue) and game management (AD) told her the cheerleaders had to move off of the baseline. She was one PO'd lady.

I didn't understand until late in this thread that your cheerleaders are allowed to stand. As such, your situation maybe different. The NF says that it's legal. But in your state, they may have made a different decision.

Under NF rules, the band can play during timeouts. But in NC, bands are only allowed to play prior to the game and during halftime. It's perfectly acceptable for a state association to make such a decision.

I'm with the Devon. Use preventive officiating to stop this before it occurs. But, again, you can't call disconcertion on a cheerleader and give the shooter another FT. It's not allowed by the rules.

Thanks to all! You've answered my question completely.