- May 1, 2024
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Several Matanzas High School students were removed from a basketball game last week after using artificial noisemakers, according to Athletics Director Robert Nocella.
In the Dec. 10 game against Palatka, students in Matanzas’ student section were using artificial noisemakers and rattle the opposing team. According to Florida High School Athletic Association rules and regulations, artificial noisemakers are not allowed for an inside event.
The referees stopped the game twice and warned students for using the noisemakers. Referees then stopped the game a third time with about a minute remaining and removed students, Nocella said.
If the students weren’t removed from the game, Matanzas’ basketball team — which lost the game — would have been forced to forfeit.
Following the game, some students expressed their frustrations on Twitter. They claimed that they were being denied the ability to show school spirit and cheer on their team.
Nocella said he spoke to some of those students the next day.
“I said to them: ‘It’s artificial noisemakers, guys,’” Nocella said. “You know your mouths make a lot of noise. You can stomp on the bleachers. ... You can’t bring in air horns or bottles with money.”
Nocella suggested they clap and scream and yell and do whatever to make noise, as long as it doesn’t involve noisemakers.
Students also tweeted that they were banned from games or other after-school activities, but Nocella said he couldn’t comment on if some of the students wouldn’t be allowed into games after being removed last week.
“It’s all according to how their behavior works,” he said.
Nocella praised the student section on Monday for the atmosphere they provided during Friday’s huge district win over Mainland in boys basketball. The Pirates won, 74-71, and Nocella said the student section had a lot to do with it.
“It was a super atmosphere,” he said. “They did a great job. You couldn’t get a seat (in the gym). It was so loud that you could hear outside what was going on inside.”
Nocella said he enjoys the atmosphere having a student section brings to high school sports, as long as it’s safe and appropriate.
“I want it because it’s loud, and (the opposing team) can’t hear each other,” he said. “I don’t want it to be an unsafe place.”
Perhaps lesson learned for Matanzas’ student section — which is a good thing because there seems to be more school spirit at Matanzas now than ever before.
