Artificial noise
Encyclopedia
In the context of spectator sport
s, artificial noise is the use of artificial sound-making devices to show the audience's support.
In organized sports' early years, noise, such as there was, came solely from the cheering of a team's supporters. Early in the history of American football
, however, the practice of employing cheerleaders became standard, and these individuals soon began to use megaphones to lead the cheering. Even prior to the era of electronics, the use of horns and cowbells had begun in an attempt to make noise louder than that which could be created through the mere use of the human voice. The invention of the compressed air horn gave fans another weapon in their arsenal. As fan sophistication increased, they learned to make noise in a way which distracted the visiting team to the assistance of their own. College football
teams, especially, which had their own marching bands, came to depend upon the band to play loudly at strategic times, which, while hardly sportsmanlike, could be very effective.
Two developments more than any others led sports leagues to regulate artificial noise. The first was advances in electronics which put items like portable bullhorns within reach of the typical fan. These devices could create an incredible level of noise which could make game play almost intolerable. The second was the rise of fan interest in college basketball
, which is of course played in indoor venues in which the sound typically dissipates far less than in outdoor ones. Leagues did not desire to end the vocal support of fans, but learned that they would have to regulate artificial noise made by electronics, horns, bells, and the like, to make game play tolerable. Most leagues eventually banned these devices altogether, banned cheerleaders from access to public-address systems, and prevented bands from playing while the ball was actually in play. Most leagues have also followed the lead of the National Football League
and also banned the playing of recorded music while actual game play is occurring, limiting it to when the ball is dead. In 2007, the Indianapolis Colts
were accused of adding artificial noise against the New England Patriots
In football, the referee can call a "delay of game" penalty on the home team if, after being warned, the management of the venue does not or cannot do enough to prevent the use of artificial noisemakers. In basketball
, a technical foul
can be called on the home team if it is felt that they are not making a sufficient effort to prevent the generation of artificial noise. In the 2004
Arena Football League playoffs, the San Jose SaberCats
organization was actually fined $10,000 for distributing cowbells prior to a game versus the Tampa Bay Storm
.
The most common devices used to create artificial noise today are "thunder sticks", long aluminized PET film
balloons which make a sort of drumming noise when banged together. It seems likely that these will be banned at some point in the near future.
Some groups of fans routinely defy bans on artificial noisemakers. The most notorious noise scofflaws in North America
n sports are football
fans of Mississippi State University
. The Southeastern Conference
(SEC), has completely banned artificial noisemakers for many years; however, this has not stopped MSU fans from smuggling in cowbells (long a tradition at MSU) by the thousands and ringing them during games. However, they now generally restrict their ringing to times when the ball is dead.
Spectator sport
A spectator sport is a sport that is characterized by the presence of spectators, or watchers, at its matches. For instance, Tennis, Rugby, F-1, baseball, basketball, cricket, football , and ice hockey are spectator sports, while hunting or underwater hockey typically are not...
s, artificial noise is the use of artificial sound-making devices to show the audience's support.
In organized sports' early years, noise, such as there was, came solely from the cheering of a team's supporters. Early in the history of American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, however, the practice of employing cheerleaders became standard, and these individuals soon began to use megaphones to lead the cheering. Even prior to the era of electronics, the use of horns and cowbells had begun in an attempt to make noise louder than that which could be created through the mere use of the human voice. The invention of the compressed air horn gave fans another weapon in their arsenal. As fan sophistication increased, they learned to make noise in a way which distracted the visiting team to the assistance of their own. College football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
teams, especially, which had their own marching bands, came to depend upon the band to play loudly at strategic times, which, while hardly sportsmanlike, could be very effective.
Two developments more than any others led sports leagues to regulate artificial noise. The first was advances in electronics which put items like portable bullhorns within reach of the typical fan. These devices could create an incredible level of noise which could make game play almost intolerable. The second was the rise of fan interest in college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
, which is of course played in indoor venues in which the sound typically dissipates far less than in outdoor ones. Leagues did not desire to end the vocal support of fans, but learned that they would have to regulate artificial noise made by electronics, horns, bells, and the like, to make game play tolerable. Most leagues eventually banned these devices altogether, banned cheerleaders from access to public-address systems, and prevented bands from playing while the ball was actually in play. Most leagues have also followed the lead of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and also banned the playing of recorded music while actual game play is occurring, limiting it to when the ball is dead. In 2007, the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
were accused of adding artificial noise against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
In football, the referee can call a "delay of game" penalty on the home team if, after being warned, the management of the venue does not or cannot do enough to prevent the use of artificial noisemakers. In basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, a technical foul
Technical foul
In basketball, a technical foul is any infraction of the rules penalized as a foul which does not involve physical contact during the course of play between players on the court, or is a foul by a non-player. The most common technical foul is for unsportsmanlike conduct...
can be called on the home team if it is felt that they are not making a sufficient effort to prevent the generation of artificial noise. In the 2004
2004 in sports
2004 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* College football Bowl Championship Series :**January 1 – Rose Bowl – USC 28, Michigan 14...
Arena Football League playoffs, the San Jose SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
organization was actually fined $10,000 for distributing cowbells prior to a game versus the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
.
The most common devices used to create artificial noise today are "thunder sticks", long aluminized PET film
PET film (biaxially oriented)
BoPET is a polyester film made from stretched polyethylene terephthalate and is used for its high tensile strength, chemical and dimensional stability, transparency, reflectivity, gas and aroma barrier properties and electrical insulation.A variety of companies manufacture boPET and other...
balloons which make a sort of drumming noise when banged together. It seems likely that these will be banned at some point in the near future.
Some groups of fans routinely defy bans on artificial noisemakers. The most notorious noise scofflaws in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n sports are football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
fans of Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. The Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC), has completely banned artificial noisemakers for many years; however, this has not stopped MSU fans from smuggling in cowbells (long a tradition at MSU) by the thousands and ringing them during games. However, they now generally restrict their ringing to times when the ball is dead.