Definitely not a VHSL rule for football games until possibly championship games. I'm pretty sure it doesn't apply to semi-finals.
It can be a school, district, or school system policy. In Chesterfield, I've heard it is a school system policy. I don't care for that policy, but more importantly to the argument is that I think it's cowardly for them to hide behind the excuse that it's a VHSL rule. Own it. Let the crowds know why it's enforced.
Besides, and I've said this before, "do you know how may people are killed with cowbells every year at high school football games?"
Well......., none. But, it could happen you know!
At the Matoaca game, a Matoaca parent told us, "you find a way to have fun, and Chesterfield will find a way to outlaw it!"
If they are going to have that policy of " no artificial noisemakers" then let's bar band instruments, too?