Ponytail out of bounds?

[lmeadski]

This came up at our last refs meeting today: GV, A1 has the ball and is on the ground. Her two foot pony tail is laying across the sideline, clearly OOB. No other body part or uniform is on/across the line. Is she OOB?

[vbzebra]

my opinion yes, hair is part of her body...

please correct me if i'm wrong

[BillyMac]

2005-06 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretations
SITUATION 9: A1 recovers a loose ball on the playing court near the sideline, with his/her body entirely in bounds. However, A1's head is hovering out of bounds and his/her hair (which is in a long ponytail) is touching the floor, out of bounds. RULING: A1 is called for the out-of-bounds violation. (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 9-3-1)

[Judtech]

I had this exact same play at a camp several years ago. Player dove for aloose ball, slid to a stop right next to the sideline but her ponytail kept goin a good one inch OOB. I had one clinician tell me that they would have let it go, and another say it was a good call. Lead to a big argument among our clincians. (I think this was before the rule was established/clarified)
I did offer a solution. I had said if the player had a weave, then she would have NOT been OOB b/c it was not "really" her hair, it was someone else!!

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Judtech

I did offer a solution. I had said if the player had a weave, then she would have NOT been OOB b/c it was not "really" her hair, it was someone else!!

-1

Yeah, well, if she's wearing someone else's hair, and that hair is touching her hair, I'm STILL whistling it out of bounds!

[Judtech]

I disagree. To me this would be akin to two players in a held ball situation with one of them being out of bounds. Of course it MIGHT be difficult to determine WHO is out of bounds!!

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

2005-06 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretations
SITUATION 9: A1 recovers a loose ball on the playing court near the sideline, with his/her body entirely in bounds. However, A1's head is hovering out of bounds and his/her hair (which is in a long ponytail) is touching the floor, out of bounds. RULING: A1 is called for the out-of-bounds violation. (7-1-1; 7-1-2; 9-3-1)

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