[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

NFHS 2003-04 Casebook Play 3.5.5 SITUATION A(c): Substitute A6 is beckoned and enters the court to replace A1. A6 is wearing jewelry. RULING: The item in (c) is illegal and A6 will not be allowed to participate while wearing the item. No penalty is involved. A6 simply cannot participate until the illegal item is removed. (R3-S5-A6)

SITUATION A(c) is identical to NFHS 1996-97 Casebook Play 3.5.5(c).

NFHS 1996-97 Casebook Play 3.5.2: Substitute A6 reports and is beckoned onto the court to replace A5. Play begins and the first dead ball, one of the officials discover that A6: (a) is wearing a ring; or (b) is wearing an earring. RULING: In both (a) and (b) no technical foul is charged. In both cases A6 must remove the jewelry or leave the game. A player may not continue to participate after it is discovered that jewelry is being worn, but no other penalty is assessed.

I will agree that per the 1996-97 Play 3.5.2, an official has an option to allow A6 to remove the jewelry immediately or to have a substitute replace A6 immediately. But one must remember that an official does not have the authority to make a player to remove illegal equipment. I stand by my position that A6 forfeits his/her privilege to participate in the game until the offending equipment is removed. I cannot justify delaying the game to allow A6 to make himself/herself legal.

With regard to SITUATION A(c): Because A6 was wearing illegal equipment he/she really had not become a player and therfore can be denied entry into the game until the next opportunity to subsitute assuming that A6 has removed the offending equipment.