Three Questions

[BoyznBlue]

#1) For future reference, is there a rule about discussing player injuries on this board? (This question is obviously in reference to yesterday's conversation)

#2) Does the Commercial Video website that broadcasts Alco and FH game video in it's entirety give opponents an advantage? This year, it doesn't matter that much to FH because they are so dominant. But in the future it could possibly be advantageous, especially in the playoffs. If for example, a team doesn't send scouts the week before.

#3) I've noticed that WMD bands continue to play during "live ball" situations. Is that a regional tradition? Out-of-town coaches have complained to the refs about it on more than one occasion. The MPSSAA considers it "unsportsmanlike" but they have no rule forbidding it, and they leave it to the discretion of the "white cap" to address it. I'm asking if it's a tradition because all Tri-State schools generally exhibit good sportsmanship, so perhaps it's just a regional practice.

 

[Seasoned Lettuce]

Boyz, with respect to the bands, I have seen this occur nearly everywhere, I think enforcement of the rule is really complaint driven. If the coach doesn't specifically bring it up I don't think most referees care.

 

[AllRed95]

I'm pretty sure last Friday night, South's band played when South had the ball on offense. Duh......can't believe Coach Peer doesn't have that under control. I agree with Seasoned that the bands play everywhere. It's not just going on in WMD. I remember back when we played at TJ in like 2009/2010 that our band was indeed flagged for an unsportsmanlike for playing while TJ was on offense. Haven't witnessed any issue since then.

 

[LHSlancerFAN]

I noticed at our game at Wootton on Friday evening, their band played while Wootton was on offense, but not when Linganore was. I thought it was kind of strange. While I dont think the band should be playing during "live ball" situations, I would bet that the players dont even notice it.

 

[FHHSAHS]

Playing a cadence is usually accepted during live ball, even in college. But not the brass and such.

But yeah, I always cringe when Barbara Ann or Hey, Baby fires up right when the opposing team has the ball. Inevitably, when they have the ball on a part of the field right in front of the band. However, my caveat to that is, a) as noted, I doubt the players really notice it as it's never really loud enough to drown out the calls. and b) as long as its an actual song, I think it's overlooked more often.

I'm not aware of FH doing this in any recent history...but FH was playing somewhere, dont remember where, in the last maybe 5 or 6 years where the opposing band was just making random loud noises when FH had the ball. That should always be considered unsportsmanlike, even if FH were to do it, I'd say it should be flagged.

As for number 1) I dont see anything wrong with asking if someone is okay. But I do believe it's wrong for someone to come on and start giving out personal information freely unless the identify themselves as a parent or someone who has the right to make that decision. Which I dont think happened the other day. I didn't personally see a problem with asking if the kid was okay. It's all public..we saw him limp off, we wonder if hes okay. Pretty generic.

and for #2) I dont think it hurts to have the broadcast. Teams have a right to film any game they want. If they are able to send scouts they can..if not, they can view the tape. FH nor Alco are really running anything too crazy anyway. JMO.


Good questions, though.

 

[BoyznBlue]

I'm pretty sure last Friday night, South's band played when South had the ball on offense. Duh......can't believe Coach Peer doesn't have that under control. I agree with Seasoned that the bands play everywhere. It's not just going on in WMD. I remember back when we played at TJ in like 2009/2010 that our band was indeed flagged for an unsportsmanlike for playing while TJ was on offense. Haven't witnessed any issue since then.

I'm not doubting that the band was asked to stop playing, but according to the ref I spoke to, in terms of being "flagged" there isn't supposed to be an penalty accessed because there is no rule against bands playing. And in may in fact, be happening across the state not just in WMD.

 

[bleedred]

You haven't experienced anything until you're the visiting team, playing Martinsburg, driving toward the end zone where their band sits. That end of the field gets some noise!

 

[BoyznBlue]

Playing a cadence is usually accepted during live ball, even in college. But not the brass and such.

But yeah, I always cringe when Barbara Ann or Hey, Baby fires up right when the opposing team has the ball. Inevitably, when they have the ball on a part of the field right in front of the band. However, my caveat to that is, a) as noted, I doubt the players really notice it as it's never really loud enough to drown out the calls. and b) as long as its an actual song, I think it's overlooked more often.

I'm not aware of FH doing this in any recent history...but FH was playing somewhere, dont remember where, in the last maybe 5 or 6 years where the opposing band was just making random loud noises when FH had the ball. That should always be considered unsportsmanlike, even if FH were to do it, I'd say it should be flagged.

I dont think it hurts to have the broadcast. Teams have a right to film any game they want. If they are able to send scouts they can..if not, they can view the tape. FH nor Alco are really running anything too crazy anyway. JMO.

Good questions, though.

FH and Alco, especially FH, are out-executing and over powering teams. You can probably hand them the game plan and they still couldn't stop it.

In terms of the bands, it happened during the Fairmont Heights game. I agree with you , I don't think the players noticed it, but the coach brought it to the attention of the ref. That's why I asked the question, because I've seen the situation interpreted different ways by the refs. Here is the video I was referred to:

 

[towpath94]

Teams share videos on Hudl nowadays so #2 is irrelevant

 

[ttturner]

As far as the bands playing when the opposing team has the ball, I have been informed by officials it is legal unless the coach requests that the official have them stop. Then the band is warned to stop playing once the team breaks the huddle. If they do not stop or continue later to play, a penalty is assessed to the defense for unsportsmanlike conduct. I personally believe playing music while a team is trying to run a play is disrespectful to the team with the ball.

 

[jzapf]

I talked to Donnie Grey, MPSSAA Coordinator of Officials, and Bill Wittie, MPSSAA rules interpreter, about this last year.
They say basically what tturner has said.

There is no official state policy or rule specifically for this incident.
It, however, can fall under the "unfair plays acts" which is basically a catch all for officials. The site director (principal, A.D.) has to be made aware that there is a problem or a possible problem with the band playing during the opposing team's offensive series. Once that's been established, if the officials receive a complaint from a coach about the opposing band playing and the referee agrees that it is providing an "unfair advantage to the defense", then the official warns the team's band first... anything afterward is a penalty.

 

[4R341]

You haven't experienced anything until you're the visiting team, playing Martinsburg, driving toward the end zone where their band sits. That end of the field gets some noise!

Yeah, I remember this. It was absolutely ridiculous. The Martinsburg band was so loud that the FH O-Line, including the center, couldn't hear the snap count.