[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

The NFHS rule book uses the word ejection only for the Head Coach. It uses the word disqualification for players, substitutes, bench personnel. It does not use the words disqualification and ejection interchangably.

NFHS R4-S14-A1 defines a disqualified player: "one who is barred from further participation in the game because of having committed his/her fifth foul (personal and technical), two technical fouls, or a flagrant foul." Remember that a flagrant foul can be either personal or technical.

NFHS R4-S14-A2 defines when a player becomes officially disqualified and becomes bench personal: "when the coach is notified by an official."

There are Notes in the penalty secions of NFHS R10-S2, 3, 4, and 5, that refer to a substitute, player, bench personnel, and coaches respectively. These Notes define when the party covered in that Section becomes disqualified or ejected and whether that party remains on the bench, or must go the the team's locker room or outside building.

Players, substitutes, and non-adult bench personnel are DISQUALIFIED and must remain on the bench.

Adult bench personnel (other than the Head Coach) are DISQUALIFIED and must go to the team's locker room or leave the building.

The Head Coach is EJECTED and must go to the team's locer room or leave the building.

The confusion between disqualification and ejection started when the NFHS changed the definition of a flagrant foul. Until a few years ago a second technical foul was a flagrant foul by definition. This was a remnant from the days when the penalty for a tecnical foul that was not flagrant or intentional was one free throw. This part of the definition remained in the rules even when the penalty for technical fouls was changed to two free throws for all technical fouls. Finally, the NFHS rewrote (but did not change what is a disqualified player) the disqualified player definition and the flagrant foul definition was rewritten to reflect these other changes.

The real question is whether the disqualification is the result of an unsportmanlike act. In the original play the second technical foul (even though it was the player's fifth foul) was unsportsmanlike and he was disqualified for for receiving a second technical fou. When a second technical foul is involved it is better to go ahead and send a report to the proper authorities and let them decide how the player, substitute, bench personnel, or head coach should be handled.