Halftime Shows AFTER the Game

[AggieDan]

Flabbergasted with this decision as one of my kiddos is impacted by this last minute change. At current, we're fighting this as it was just announced this week. So, tonight, I'll be heading out to a football game for another school to stand in solidarity with this other school and their band boosters. We do have an online petition on a Google form, if you'd like to join your voice to this : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIp ... g/viewform

August 24, 2026

Band & Drill Team Parents,
As we approach the coming season for 9-10 football, our UIL DEC has changed to a new Conference 6A alignment. Historically, our Plano ISD 9-10 bands and drill teams have been placed in the halftime performance slot, similar to a varsity game. This historical practice was a privilege, as previous DEC’s have allowed us to do so, while extending the game significantly. This practice has impacted referee retention, student athletes’ physical consistency, and has delayed the completion of scheduled non-varsity UIL contests in football much longer than other alignment districts outside of Plano ISD. In the DEC implementation, our bands and drill teams will still perform, but will be amending their typical timeslots.

With the UIL non-varsity football game halftime spanning five (5:00) minutes, our performances (which can last up to 14 minutes per school) will need to shift to specific performance times to accommodate the DEC change and allow the sanctioned UIL football contest to complete in a normal span of time. With limited exception for special events, the following general change(s) will be implemented for the season:

• 9th Grade and JV games in which a Plano ISD Team plays against another Plano ISD Team
  • The ‘home’ band and drill team will perform at halftime (maximum 14 mins);
  • The ‘visitor’ band and drill team will perform after the conclusion of the game (maximum 14 mins);
• 9th Grade and JV games in which a Plano ISD Team plays against an External ISD Team
  • Both bands and drill teams will perform after the conclusion of the game (maximum 28 mins);
  • Performance order will be determined by distance to home campus (listed on schedule)
  • If only one (1) band and drill team are scheduled, they will perform after the conclusion of the game (maximum 14 mins);
• All 9-10 band and drill teams will be provided the opportunity to perform at halftime of at least one (1) of their games, regardless of opponent (PISD or External ISD) in order to ensure equity for all programs. This will ensure that our 9-10 program will be accommodated for a halftime performance at at least one of their 8th Grade Spirit Night, Homecoming, or another campus requested performance event(s). This accommodation was implemented at the direct request of band and drill team staff.

Our band and drill team staff members have provided insight to these changes to ensure they are carried out with fi delity and respect to our fi ne arts programs, while accommodating the requirements of the UIL’s DEC. We will continue working in close partnership with the Department of Athletics to ensure the best implementation of these changes for our student musicians and dancers, including game performances, load-in, load-out, and teamwork getting in and around the stadiums. Thank you for your continued support of our excellent bands and drill teams across PISD.

Phillip Morgan, Ed.D.
Director, Fine Arts

[gocsick]

My kids in Ohio have always done an abbreviated halftime show (both home and away bands) then the home band often does full show after games. Band only at varsity games... no band (marching or pep) at freshman/JV. Halftime is nominally 15 minutes but may be extended to 20 or reduced to 10 by mutual agreement of both football team coaches (to be communicated to officials before kickoff)*... the field must be cleared BEFORE the halftime clock runs out.. then there is a mandatory 3 minute warmup for both teams before kickoff... If the field isn't cleared and kickoff is delayed a penalty for the home team is assessed (5 yard). The exception is that if a visiting band overruns their time.. there is no penalty for the football team but the band can be prevented from performing at OHSAA football games for the remainder of the season (at the discretion of OHSAA officials).

* 20 minute halftime is typical..I've never seen a reduction to 10 minutes.

[AggieDan]

Well, that added a few miles to my car.... Roughly 85 miles when all is said and done.

Left my house in Frisco to pick up my kids in Plano: son from his high school then my daughter from hers. They have two 9/10 (junior varsity) schools feeding each of the 3 senior high schools. That's what the brouhaha has been about, the impact to the six 9/10 schools. Brought the kids home to Frisco then went straight to Murphy. Met my band booster president for a quick dinner then headed to the game.

We met the band directors and band boosters from two of the JV schools there and had pretty long discussions about what we know about the changes. We also let them know that the Director of Fine Arts for the ISD was coming to see what the impact of the decision was and get a pulse for things.

We ended up lending a hand getting the first band on and off the field. We got far enough to clear and then watched the second band. Then it was a few trips getting all the equipment off. I'd like to point out my frustration with artificial amplification and all of the extra equipment THAT entails. Seriously, if you WANT to be heard on the field, switch to a brass instrument. ;-)

Then it was time to load the visiting band props, podiums, electronics, field percussion, guard equipment and sousaphones into their trucks. I was all over the place instructing kids on how to be safe moving all that equipment. The Director of Fine Arts even remarked how busy I was. We then had a pretty frank discussion about how we're usually able to handle this stuff during 3rd and 4th quarters and really only load a few things after the game.

We're being promised that changes are LIKELY to come to get us back a little closer to what they have been in the past. But, of course, no promises have been made. The parents have made a pretty big stink about it and we're definitely being heard.