[BillyMac]

Here's the (hopefully) final edit of my educational article. Thanks to all those Forum members who offered their assistance in this endeavor.

"Badges? We Don't Need No Stinking Badges”

What does officiating the game of basketball have to do with a quote from the 1974 Mel Brooks satirical Western comedy film, Blazing Saddles? When it comes to the enforcement of so-called “Fashion Police” rules, not only do basketball officials not need badges, many officials don’t even want badges. Officials love the challenge of calling a great game: block or charge; advantage/disadvantage on fouls; working with a good partner to get all out of bounds calls correct, etc. That said, many officials don't relish telling players that they can’t participate while wearing an illegal color undershirt, or an illegal color headband.

Yet, the National Federation of State High School Associations, the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, and state associations (state interscholastic sports governing bodies), want these equipment rules enforced, that is why they are in the rulebook.

The NFHS made changes to equipment restriction rules over the past few years that often confused some officials. In an effort to simplify the rules, references to “school color” have now been completely removed from the rulebook. Tights are now allowed, and compression shorts are to be treated the same as any other equipment item (compression shorts must no longer be the same color as the uniform shorts but now must be the solid color black, white, beige, or the predominant color of the uniform jersey).

Rules regarding undershirts are the most restrictive, and should be the easiest to enforce by officials. Undershirts must be similar in color to the uniform jersey. According to NFHS rules, the home team must wear white uniform jerseys. Therefore, the only legal undershirt color for home players would be white, and only white. Players on the visiting team, wearing their dark road jerseys, must wear dark colored undershirts similar in color to their dark color uniform jerseys. “School color” doesn't apply to undershirts since “school color” is not mentioned in the current NFHS rulebook. Undershirts may not have frayed edges, and undershirt sleeves shall be the same length. Note that this rule does not require all players to wear the same length sleeves on their undershirts, but each individual player must have sleeves the same length on the undershirt when worn.

There is a wider array of legal color options for other equipment items such as headbands, wristbands, arm sleeves, knee sleeves, lower leg sleeves, compression shorts, and tights. All of these equipment items must be the solid color black, white, beige, or the predominant color of the uniform jersey. All of these items shall be the same color as worn by each player. Additionally, all of these items shall be the same color for all members of a team who choose to wear them. Again, “school color” doesn't apply to these equipment items since “school color” is not mentioned in the current NFHS rulebook.

Furthermore, anything worn on the arm or the leg (except a knee brace), is defined as a sleeve, including knee pads and elbow pads (must be the solid color black, white, beige, or the predominant color of the uniform jersey). Only a single headband may be worn on the head, and headbands are not allowed to have extensions or tails. Only one moisture absorbing wristband is permitted on each wrist, and each wristband must be worn on the arm below the elbow.

By rule, exceptions to equipment color restrictions include rubber, cloth, or elastic bands, used to control hair. Such soft hair control devices (e.g., ponytail holders) are under no color restrictions. Hard hair control devices including but not limited to beads, barrettes, and bobby pins, of any color, are prohibited. Remember, headbands go around the entire head (and must be the solid color black, white, beige, or the predominant color of the uniform jersey), while soft hair control devices only go around hair and are under no color restrictions.
Another exception to equipment color restrictions deals with knee braces. Knee braces are not sleeves and are under no color restrictions. Knee braces are worn for a medical purpose to increase stability in the knee, and have embedded inserts to support the joint. Knee braces may, or may not have hinges, straps, or an opening over the knee cap. Remember that ordinary knee pads (as well as elbow pads) are treated as sleeves and fall under NFHS equipment color restrictions (solid color black, white, beige, or the predominant color of the uniform jersey).

The NFHS has also addressed jewelry, as well as medical and religious items, over the past several years. Players may not participate, or even warmup, while wearing jewelry. Religious medals, or medical alert medals are not considered jewelry. A religious medal must be taped, and worn under the uniform. A medical alert medal must also be taped, and unlike a religious medal, may be visible.

State associations may, on an individual basis, based on documented evidence, permit players to participate while wearing a head covering for medical or religious reasons. The head covering must be not be abrasive, hard, or dangerous to any other player. It must be attached in such a way that is highly unlikely to come off during play.

According to the NFHS, padded protective headbands (often called concussion headbands) are medical devices that must be approved by state associations on an individual basis, in other words, it's up to each individual state. States that allow padded protective headbands must have proper documentation from a licensed medical physician before the state association can approve such a medical device. Officials should consult their state interscholastic sports governing body regarding guidelines on padded protective headbands.

The best time for officials to observe compliance with equipment restrictions is during pregame warmups. However, if players are wearing pregame warmup apparel over their game uniforms, it may be impossible to observe such equipment restrictions during the pregame warmup period. It’s then necessary that officials observe compliance with equipment restrictions for the starting players as they enter the court for the jump ball to begin the game. After the game begins, it’s also necessary for officials to observe compliance with equipment restrictions as substitutes are beckoned into the game.

Over the past few years, many basketball teams have held “Cancer Awareness Nights”. This often involves the wearing of special uniforms and equipment, often involving, but not limited to, players wearing the color pink. Officials should utilize common sense when dealing with these special circumstances.

Some equipment restriction rules are for safety reasons. Rules that restrict equipment colors benefit officials by allowing them to easily identify players on each team during fast paced action. Consistency among officials in the enforcement of equipment restriction rules will provide a unified statement to coaches. When some officials choose not to enforce these rules, they are only hurting the profession and setting up the next crew for criticism from the coaches, when, in fact, the officials who did not enforce the rules are the ones who deserve the criticism. For those officials contemplating not enforcing equipment restrictions because such rules have “nothing to do with the game of basketball”, in the words of author Roy T. Bennett, “Stop doing what is easy, or popular. Start doing what is right”.