half-time and bands
 

Help me out please. I am a new AD and have a disagreement between my band and the officials.
What is the NFHS rule for half-times and how much time the bands/cheerleaders can use?
Is this followed strictly or can it change state by state, conference by conference?

What if both the home and visiting band wish to perform? What is protocal? Can both perform at halftime, or is one before the game, etc, etc.

-I have no idea, I am a basketball ref and former basketball coach. I don't know the football rules but reading a bit posted here it looks like the rule is 12/3 but could be 17/3 if the state chooses? How strict are you with those times?

thanks

There are no rules under the playing rules of football by the NFHS regarding bands or halftime activities. This is an administrative issue that may be addressed by your specific state association or local policy.

The only rules regarding halftime are the length which is a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 20 minutes. I would say that the band needs to be off the field prior to the clock striking 0:00 as there is a mandatory 3:00 min. warm-up for players where the teams MUST be on the field or face penalty. The proper way to administer the halftime clock is the ECO places the halftime period on the clock, winds it down to 0:00, then places the 3:00 and runs that period down. If its necessary, take the full 20:00 but the additional 3:00 is for the teams so no, the band can't play those extra 3:00.

If both bands wish to perform, the band directors are going to have to get together to see how much time each can take and that includes getting both on and off the field.

There are those officials who would flag a home team for their band not clearing the field. I personally would caution against that action as there are schools out there where the band is as big or bigger than the game itself- in support, or in money. Those kids work hard too and their families often come just to see the show.

You, the principal, and the band director need to get together and work it out. It should not be left for the officials to correct your school's administrative problem.

So that intermission before the 3:00 can be up to 20 minutes? Is that in the NFHS rule book?

My officials are saying 12:00 followed by 3:00. Are they wrong?

It is in the rule book, Table 1-7:

State association adoptions:

"11. Determining the length of halftimes, provided
it is not less than 10 minutes and
not more than 20 minutes. (3-1-5 NOTE
2)"

My state has set halftime for varsity games at 20 minutes. It is NOT up to home school AD's to change this, so if you don't like what the officials are telling you, then your option would be to ask the state.

In our state, the home school sets the time between 10-20 minutes. I can't think of any we work that go below 15:00 for varsity games. Homecoming will pretty much guarantee the full 20:00.

It bears repeating: you need to ask your state high school association if they have a regulation for this.

I wonder who you ask if you're in Japan like 'oc' is? :D

Our state mandates a 20-minute halftime, although it can be changed by mutual agreement of both coaches before the game begins.

If bands are not off the field by 20:00, the home team is penalized, even if the visitors went over their alloted time.

Personally, I have turned my back so as not to have to enforce this. All of our teams do their pre-half stretching/warmups in their respective end zones.

As an official who has watched his partners get into "awkward" conversations over petty issues, thank you for obeying the most important rule...
Rule #1: Don't be a d!¢k.

As has been stated, the NFHS allows for at least 10 minutes and no more than 20. Call the assignor, explain the difficulty you're having and tell him how much time you plan to use for halftime for your games. He should then convey it to his crews.

Is there actually a basketball rule on this? What's the penalty, loss of instrument?

Prefecture high school association. :cool:

In WV, halftime is 20 minutes but can be shortened if everyone is ready to play. After the 20 mins has expired you put 3 back on the clock for the warm up period. IF you turn the clock off because everyone is ready, then you still ahve to put 3 minutes back on the clock for the warmup. Tell the bands that they have to be done with in 20 minutes.

Musical instruments and noisemakers are not allowed. Music, whether live or recorded, can only be played during timeouts or intermission.

Yes, there's a rule.

There's likely an equivalent to the state associations we all deal with; likely through the DoD or some other governing body. They're playing football and using Fed rules, so I assume it's a US system at some level.

Yep, but it's something we'd simply tell the game management to put a stop to. There's at least one school locally that likes to play half time music right up until we hand the ball to the thrower. I didn't realize that, and just stood there an extra few seconds waiting for the music to stop until I finally told them to kill it. They looked a bit miffed that I changed their really cool routine.

NEVER eff with the band!
 

As a referee at the high school level I affirm the maximum time is 20 minutes but have NEVER put a stop to it. While I have the courage to make tough calls the experience for both high school football players and the band is an extension of the classroom. Those kids in the band probably work longer hours in practice than the football players. Our band was always out there before we were and we were off the field from hitting when they were still playing. We had a R who threw the foul once and he received a reprimand from the state that basically said "don't eff with the band." As another poster said "don't be a Richard!" I had a game last year and they had a ceremony with the whole town watching (parade before the game, etc.) that definitely delayed the start of the 3rd quarter. If I would have stopped that ceremony I would have made officials look like total jackasses! I reported the extended halftime to our executive board (as we're told to) and they most likely sent a polite reminder to the school suggesting the maximum and offer suggestions to do split things between pregame and halftime. Let's not make ourselves bigger than the game fellas. It's about ALL the kids which includes cheerleaders and bands.

Totally agree with you. A little common sense goes a long way.

In Texas, varsity halftimes are 28 minutes. We wind the clock while leaving the field. Then, we try to return with 2 minutes left. At 1 minute, if the teams are not out, one of us goes and gets them.

We are instructed to REPORT longer halftimes, so I will not flag any over run. If the teams are slow to come out, we'll deal with that as needed.

The penalty to the bands for playing when they're not supposed to is to make them play something written by Barry Manilow.