The state championships for high school baseball in the state of Georgia will come to an end this week. They have, once again, sparked a debate about the use of artificial noisemakers during competition.
It ruins the environment!
There is something about high school baseball (and baseball in general) that is most enjoyable to watch at its most pure. For the playoffs to be spoiled by a constant buzz of fake noise takes away from the game.
Georgia allows artificial noisemakers.
Believe it or not, artificial noisemakers are actually permitted for use at high school baseball games in 48 of 50 states. They are completely banned in moth other sports, like football or basketball.
The National Federation of State High School Association has strict rules against them in certain situations, like in (or near) the dugout, but not a total ban. It depends on the situation.
“Under NFHS Rule 3-3-1f, no bench personnel may engage in unsportsmanlike conduct, including distracting chants, artificial noise, or comments directed at opponents. All coordinated chanting must stop when the pitch is imminent and during pitch delivery. Spectators near the dugout are held to the same standard, and the head coach is responsible for all bench-area behavior. Violations will result in a warning and progressive discipline up to ejection, with immediate ejection for severe conduct.”
Only Texas and Louisiana have state-specific policies on artificial noisemakers. The University Interscholastic League allows very a specific type of noisemaker in the crowd.
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association mostly defers to the venue. Host schools and facilities can choose to enforce localized crowd control policies which often strictly limit or ban these items.
Georgia does not have any rules on artificial noisemakers. Is it time for change?
The high school baseball championships are deafening.
Maybe it’s just me, but there is something so pure about the sounds of baseball. The crack (or ping) of the bat, a fastball hitting the catcher’s mitt, a baserunner sliding in the dirt, an umpire calling balls/strikes.
That is equally as true for the fans. I love a good crowd pop on an RBI double, or a collective rise in excitement as a home run ball nears the fence. It is the best when the entire stadium goes quiet during a crucial at-bat in the late innings. Silence in sports is beautiful.
None of those things exist at the high school baseball championships in Georgia. Artificial noisemakers pollute the air with the sounds of vuvuzelas, clappers, cowbells and spinners. Take a listen:
Absolutely NOTHING happening on the field and all you hear is 100 million damn bumblebees buzzing in your ears for 7 straight innings 😭🤕
— BLACK COBRA MEDIA (@TheOfficialBCM) May 26, 2026
My head is still ringing.@OfficialGHSA please do something about the artificial noise makers for next year!
—BCW 🐍 https://t.co/o8SFUVKbNx pic.twitter.com/JCcmYpevoe
This was filmed as Loganville completed its three-run comeback in the seventh inning to win its fourth state championship in the last five years. Listen to the buzz before the pitch:
WALK-OFF FOR THE 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ‼️‼️‼️
— Prep Baseball Georgia (@PrepBaseballGA) May 27, 2026
2026 2B Brantley Carter shoots this backside for the 2-run 1B to complete the comeback!@LHSdevilball score 3 in the 7th to win their 4th state championship in the last 5 years!!#GAHS26 pic.twitter.com/LsMDyDtn4T
Here is another example:
‘26 Grant Travelstead (GA) out of the ‘pen & working steady @ 84-86 up to 87. Feel to spin SL right at 77 with good GS action drawing whiff. CB at 72 showing more traditional depth to it. Attacking hitters. #Emmanuel commit. @NPPackBaseball #PGHS pic.twitter.com/1Zttordryy
— Perfect Game Georgia (@PG_Georgia) May 27, 2026
Is that really necessary? It is time for Georgia to ban artificial noise makers at high school baseball games and the rest of the country should follow suit.