Shoeless Joe comes to HS basketball
 

B1 arrives at the game and notices that he has forgotten his basketball shoes. Suppose that he was wearing sandals with his street clothes or if B1 is a female player that she came to the venue in high heels.

B1 wishes to play without shoes. (Either barefoot or in socks) As the Referee do you allow it? What rule do you reference for your decision?

I'd go with a player safety issue. Socks they would slip a lot and barefoot they get stepped on they would get hurt a lot. Either way I'm not opening myself up to litigation.

I would not permit. Socks would be a safety issue for sure. I could argue that playing barefoot could be a safety issue also (especially for the player), but I'd probably justify prohibiting that using section 2-3.


SECTION 3 REFEREE’S AUTHORITY
The referee shall make decisions on any points not specifically covered in the rules.

SECTION 5 TEAM MEMBER’S EQUIPMENT, APPAREL
ART. 1 . . . The referee shall not permit any team member to wear equipment or apparel which, in his/her judgment, is dangerous or confusing to other players or is not appropriate.

SECTION 7 SAFETY CONCERNS
The referee shall not permit any team member to participate if in his/her judgment any item constitutes a safety concern, such as, but not limited to, a player’s fingernails or hairstyle.

I posted this because the rules cited above reference items and apparel that are worn. This situation is about the lack of an item being present.

Shoes are not required equipment. Neither are socks.

The only reference to shoes or socks in the NFHS rulebook is in the section on the Official's Uniform.

Play on, McDuff!

Is this one of Zola Bud's children, and shouldn't they stick to track and cross country?

The Eagles football team, in the past, had a place kicker that kicked bare foot. Gotta hurt in cold weather.

In NFHS track/cross-country, shoes are a required part of the uniform.

Soccer rules require socks and shoes as well, but this is basketball.