BANDS, CHEERLEADERS & MASCOTS

Bands

A maximum of 29 band members (with a minimum of 19) in addition to one band director will be allowed inside CHASE Fieldhouse to represent each program during the game(s) in which their team is participating. All institutions are required to send a pep band to every game their program competes in during the championship.

Institutions must submit a completed Band Pass List (Appendix C) by Noon on Tuesday, February 21. Submit form to Jazmin Sherard at jsherard@atlantic10.org.

ENTRANCE AND PARKING (DIRECTIONS TO CHASE FIELDHOUSE LOCATED ON PAGE 17)

Buses will drop off/pick up the band at the Band / Cheerleader Entrance located at the East Fieldhouse Entrance to CHASE Fieldhouse (see pages 18-19). All bags / cases will be subject to search/screening upon entrance.

Each team’s submitted Band Pass List will be at the door to validate admittance. Band members do not receive credentials or a game ticket. Band Directors will be issued a Band/Cheer wristband upon entrance to CHASE Fieldhouse for the first game in which their team is playing. Bands will be escorted to their assigned location in the end zone corresponding with their team’s bench.

Bands arriving during the preceding game must remain in their designated pregame area (this will be communicated to the director by the band liaison upon entrance). At the conclusion of the first game, they should move to the designated band section in the appropriate end zone once the area has been cleared by the band playing in the previous game. An Atlantic 10 representative will indicate when it is appropriate for the bands to enter the floor. Bands must remain in their designated section.

Game Performance

The higher seeded team’s band in the first game of each session (Games 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14) will play the National Anthem unless a performer is secured. Prior to the start of any game, bands will alternate playing, with the higher seeded band beginning the rotation. Once the game has begun, the higher seeded band and cheerleaders will perform during the first timeout, or as designated by the sight/sound coordinator. The next timeout will belong to the lower seeded band and cheerleaders. This rotation will continue until halftime.

Halftime entertainment is reserved for the use of the Atlantic 10 Conference. If entertainment is scheduled, bands may play alternating songs after the completion of the entertainment until the start of the second half, according to the game script.

If no entertainment is secured, the designated home team band and cheerleaders may perform from the 12:00 minute mark to the 8:00 minute mark. The designated visiting team band and cheerleaders may perform from the 8:00 minute mark to the 4:00 minute mark. At the 4:00 minute mark, the floor shall be available for the participating teams; however, bands may continue to play alternating songs. The second half rotation will be the same as the first with the designated home team band and cheerleaders taking the first timeout.

Bands are not permitted to play while the game is in progress. Bands may play only during “dead ball” situations, pregame, halftime and postgame. Use of artificial noisemakers and air horns is prohibited. Any single band instrument played outside of the designated band time is considered an artificial noisemaker and is prohibited.

Bands may not go on the playing floor under any circumstances.