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Old Thu Jan 27, 2005, 11:03am
rainmaker rainmaker is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Nevadaref
Let me start by saying thanks to those who responded to Mr. Long's derogatory comment. It means a tremendous amount to me that I have garnered your respect. Actually, I consider having the respect of your peers to be one of the highest honors anyone could have in an avocation. We may not always agree, but we can certainly disagree civilly. As you have perceived, I certainly care about HS officiating in general, and personally improving at it, and your opinions have shown the same and thus matter to me.

Mr. Long, never have I disparaged you, nor would I over something so petty as a disagreement over basketball rules. You owe me an apology.

Now to the small stuff:

Quote:
Originally posted by BushRef
The coach has suspended the player for whatever reason
and is not eligible by the school rule which would take
precedence. By not being in he book also indicates he
is not a player.


The above interpretation came directly from a member of the NFHS Rules committee.
1. This is NOT the main issue. It is a subsidiary point. The main issue is whether a kid who is not listed in the scorebook MUST enter the game to maintain five players on the floor when all other team members have been disqualified or injured, thus forcing a team technical foul. His entry is NOT complicated by outside eligibility issues such as grades or suspension, nor is health a concern. The only problem is that he is not in the scorebook and the coach doesn't want to put him into it.
This is the real question and the case in which I firmly the kid must enter the game or it should be forfeited.

Please pose this scenario to your connection on the rules committee and see what he says.

2. Now we will handle point 1A.

This doesn't seem like the writing of a rules committee member due to the misuse of the term player. I never have contended that the student who is not in the book is a player. I only have argued that he is a TEAM MEMBER.
That aside, for now I will give BushRef the benefit of the doubt that this really did come from a committee member. How about you tell us which one though?

I also don't believe that one member's thoughts carry the day, afterall there are thirteen of these folks, although those thoughts should carry more weight than mine.
The final word on this likely hasn't been written yet. It may well turn out that the NFHS wants to handle ineligible/suspended players Mr. Long's way. I would not have a problem with that, but it should be made explicitly clear in the NFHS rules. Right now it is definitely not clear. Even BktBallRef who is the President of his association and has officiated the state tournament has a similar opinion to mine on the current reading of the rules with regard to this situation.
A coach could definitely fib to avoid a technical foul in the right situation of a game. This possibility should be precluded by the rules. The rule should be black and white.
Therefore, I strongly suggest to the NFHS that they make it simple by adopting what I have advocated, if that has not been the interpretation all along.
Simply put, if the student athlete is dressed in a uniform and seated on the team bench, then he is eligible to participate. If the student doesn't meet school/league/state association qualifications, then he can't be in uniform. He could be in street clothes on the bench. This is an objective standard and makes it very clear for the game officials.

There are really two issues with the eligibility concern.
1. The student is not allowed to play because of academics or some other school policy.
2. The student was ejected from a previous contest and is serving a suspension.

My state covers the second situation quite nicely. That student cannot attend the game, so there will not be a problem of this nature in Nevada.
Here is our state association regulation:
2080.0303 Ejections
...
In all cases, if a student or coach has been rendered ineligible to participate due to an ejection, the student or coach is prohibited from being on the premises during that game, contest or meet and any other game, contest or meet from which the student or coach has been excluded as a result of the ejection.

A coach or student who is ejected from a game, contest or meet is prohibited from being on the premises during the game, contest or meet from which he/she has been ejected
or rendered ineligible as a result of the ejection, as well as the next regularly scheduled
game, contest or meet.

1. Premises shall be defined as the total area in which the game, contest or meet takes place including any area designated for spectators.

2. No student ejected from a game, contest or meet at a venue away from the student's home school shall be left unsupervised. It shall be the responsibility of the
student's head coach to ensure proper adult supervision of the student takes place.


Sadly, it does not do as nice a job with the first situation (and I have just emailed them about it) as academically ineligible students are prohibited from playing, but the regulations say nothing about their attending such contests, let alone suiting up in a uniform and sitting on the bench. This could definitely pose a problem.

2070.1201 Participation of Ineligible Student In Game, Contest or Meet

A student who is declared ineligible for participation in any NIAA sanctioned sport pursuant to
NIAA Regulations is prohibited from appearing in any game, contest or meet.

2070.1202 Practice

A student who is declared ineligible for participation in any NIAA sport during a particular season
may practice if the coach and principal of the member or affiliate school grant approval.

a. Any ineligible student is prohibited from participating in any interscholastic
competition including, but not limited to, scrimmages, exhibitions, etc.

[Edited by Nevadaref on Jan 27th, 2005 at 06:40 AM]
So, Nevada, when is your dissertation defense scheduled?!?
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