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Although I can see where you are coming from...
I will have to disagree slightly. If it's not in the rule boo or casebook, then it just isnt so, unless you use the elastic powers of the referee. Interpretations change. Rule Books change. No one would expect anyone to remember what was in the 1998-1999 Rule Book.
The current Rule Book are the official rule books.
The case book is an "official supplement"
The Simplified Book refers one to the rule book or case book for "technicalities" and
NF does issue Official interpretations on web site etc an will incorporate them into the case book.
I dont keep old rule books around and a lot of officials dont. I dont keep my books around for that very purpose. I dont want to be confused from the previous year to the next. I would suggest that if The committee removes something from the rules then it was not necessary or the committee did not want it there for the future. I for one will not go back and try to second guess the rules committee.
Newer officials must only rely on the books published. I have been official long enough to see rules change quite a bit, and if we rely on stuff from the past we maybe placing ourselves in jeopardy of not staying with current rules.
When an organization publish new rules, they generally supercede the old ones. The only Rules that are official are the ones in the current book. If the NF thinks that an intrerpretation is important enough it will be in the case book for new officials. This is not the legal profession where coomon law precedent plays a key role in the interpretation of new rules. Even in law when new rules are published or Congress passes new legislation, much of the precedent is overturned.
I will rely on the current book and casebooks, and here is why...
You are in a rivalry game, hotly contested, and it's close. A is down by one points and only has four team fouls, and it out of timeouts. The coach needs time to set up his press so he tells one of his players to foul, stoppoing the clock, and sends three subs in and in doing so requests a lineup. This stops the game, matches up players, allows them to immediately get on their man in he name of a line-up, and completely set up the press. A staels the ball and goes up one. Coach B complains that youlet them line up, delaying the game and setting up the press. He knows the rules and tells you it's not in the rules! and then you reply it was in the 1997-1998 rule book but has since been taken out but that you know it is still official (although it does not appear in any current NF publication) The coach complains to the State or your own association about allowing something not permitted by rule.
Your only defense, if it's not specifically prohibited then it must be allowed, because I would not want to tell someone well it was in an old book, and i dot think the committee meant to change it.
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