Athletic Directors, Game Administrators and Football Coaches:
As we enter Week 3 in the football season, the TAPPS office has received inquiries concerning the rules outlined below. Please review the following rules which apply to all TAPPS football games, non-district, district and post season.
If questions arise, please contact the TAPPS office at 254-947-9268 or by email at info@localhost.
Prohibited Activities (TAPPS By-Laws Section 138)
- Live animal mascots, cannons, firearms, fireworks, etc. are prohibited at TAPPS athletic contests.
- No dogs or other animals are allowed at TAPPS hosted contests.
- Except in their normal course of business, emergency vehicles shall not flash lights or sound sirens during the course of a game.
- Noisemakers are prohibited at TAPPS events held at field houses and/ or gymnasiums.
- In events held in field houses/gyms, megaphones may be used only by cheerleaders, in uniform. Megaphones must not be used to strike walls or playing surfaces.
- Bands, when permitted, shall play only during time-outs and intermissions. Individual instruments may not be used as noisemakers. (For football see Section 158 item G.)
- No sound systems, other than the one(s) provided by the host school are allowed at TAPPS Secured sites or at neutral sites unless mutually agreed
- Body paint and like decoration shall not be permitted by players or spectators. (Exception: Small markings as sold by cheer or other school organization on the cheek are permitted) This rule applies to all games held at neutral sites. If a TAPPS school is not going to permit this activity at their facility, the opponent should be notified in advance of the contest.
- Air horns and bullhorns, handheld or otherwise, are not permitted at any TAPPS contest.
- The use of, or appearance of using, any controlled substance (alcohol, drugs,etc.) before, during or after games at contest sites is prohibited by TAPPS.
- Streamers, confetti or other such materials are not permitted.
Use of Drones during competition (TAPPS By-Laws Section 138)
In accordance with all federal and state laws, drones should only be operated by pilots licensed to operate the drones in accordance with the flight plan filed.
- Practice – subject to local discretion drones may be used
- Scrimmages and games – Drones shall not be used during pregame, warm up, contest or half time.
- Drones shall not be used in the stadium when people are present
PERFORMING GROUPS (TAPPS By-Laws Section 158)
In order to maintain a proper perspective and to insure equity in competition for the participating teams, the following guidelines must be followed.
The guidelines apply to Marching Bands / Field Bands / Stand Bands, Drum Lines, Other live performance groups, Music played over sound systems
- Band instruments, including drums, are not to be played at any time other than when the entire band is playing. During the contest, bands are to play only
- during pregame, halftime, postgame, the time between quarters, time-outs (except injury time-outs) and between plays (stopping prior to the referee’s whistle for “ready for play”).
- Bands seated near the end zone should not play if the line of scrimmage is inside the 10-yard line on the end close to the band.
- The band may play the school fight song, etc After a touchdown, field goal, extra point, or safety. However, the director must be sure to stop playing when the official blows the ready for play whistle to start the next play.
- When bands want to warm-up prior to halftime, directors should arrange this so that it is done in an area that is not a distraction to the contest. Note: No whistles may be used while the game is in progress. Because the band acts as a spirit group, members should always act in a positive manner and must not do anything to distract or negatively affect the opposing team.
- It is the director’s responsibility to prevent his/her band from playing at inappropriate times, playing inappropriate music, or taunting the opposing team.
Uniforms (NCAA Rule 1. Article 5. Part b. Sections 1-4)
All uniforms must be in compliance with the current NCAA Football Rules
Color.
- Players of opposing teams shall wear jerseys of contrasting colors. Players on the same team shall wear jerseys of the same color and design.
- The visiting team shall wear white jerseys; however, the home team may wear white jerseys if the teams have agreed in writing before the season. .
- If the home team wears colored jerseys, the visiting team may also wear colored jerseys, if and only if the following conditions have been satisfied Rule 1 / The Game, Field, Players and Equipment FR-23
- The home team has agreed in writing prior to the game; and the conference of the home team certifies that the jersey of the visiting team is of a contrasting color.