Illegal uniform number

[DrPete]

A recent event has led to much discussion.
First mistake: Team B has brought the wrong jerseys to their away game. Three players have illegal numbers, we will call them 6, 7 and 8. They are properly noted in the score book as 6, 7 and 8.

Second mistake: the referee failed to notice the illegal numbers (or couldn't read them) when checking the book prior to the game.

Player with jersey number 6 enters the game. Technical foul for illegal uniform.

10-5-4: The head coach shall not permit a team member to participate while wearing an illegal uniform.
PENALTY: Two free throws plus ball for division-line throw-in. The foul is charged directly to the head coach. Penalized when discovered. Only one technical foul is charged regardless of the number of offenders.


1)Can the player enter and play anyway with an illegal number??? Or is that player not allowed to play at all???
(there were no other jerseys available to change into---could they have swapped jerseys with another player at the expense of a tech)

2)Later in the game player 7 and 8 report.....so this would fall under the "one technical regardless of the number of incidents" part of the rule???

[Hugh Refner]

Why would they own jerseys with illegal numbers on them in the first place?

[DrPete]

Originally Posted by Hugh Refner

Why would they own jerseys with illegal numbers on them in the first place?

Don't know. Maybe they brought their practice jerseys, or someone with no clue bought new ones without checking the NFHS uniform numbering requirements.

The question is: can they still play with the illegal uniforms?

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by DrPete

Don't know. Maybe they brought their practice jerseys, or someone with no clue bought new ones without checking the NFHS uniform numbering requirements.



The question is: can they still play with the illegal uniforms?

Yes.

If you notice before the game, you tell the coach, "If he/they want to play, the first time they check in, we'll assess a one-time technical foul to you, but that's it, and you'll have to remain seated from that point forward." Any retort should be met with, "sorry, coach, but the rule on this is very clear."

If you notice during the game but before beckoning the sub with an illegal number, you can give the coach an "out" by offering him the chance to withdraw the sub. If the sub/team member doesn't participate, no penalty.

After beckoning, the sub is now a player, and you must penalize the head coach. But the sub and any other team members with illegal numbers can still play.


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[johnsonboys03]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Yes.

If you notice before the game, you tell the coach, "If he/they want to play, the first time they check in, we'll assess a one-time technical foul to you, but that's it, and you'll have to remain seated from that point forward." Any retort should be met with, "sorry, coach, but the rule on this is very clear."

If you notice during the game but before beckoning the sub with an illegal number, you can give the coach an "out" by offering him the chance to withdraw the sub. If the sub/team member doesn't participate, no penalty.

After beckoning, the sub is now a player, and you must penalize the head coach. But the sub and any other team members with illegal numbers can still play.


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Not to beat a dead horse but a thread earlier this week has shown part of your statement not to be true. Beckoning the sub does not make them a player. They have to be beckoned and enter the court to be a legal player.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by johnsonboys03

Not to beat a dead horse but a thread earlier this week has shown part of your statement not to be true. Beckoning the sub does not make them a player. They have to be beckoned and enter the court to be a legal player.

Interesting application.

Once this is brought to my attention, I'd be inclined to give the coach the choice at that point.

I'd probably draw the line when the player entered the court.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by johnsonboys03

Not to beat a dead horse but a thread earlier this week has shown part of your statement not to be true. Beckoning the sub does not make them a player. They have to be beckoned and enter the court to be a legal player.

Excellent point.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Hugh Refner

Why would they own jerseys with illegal numbers on them in the first place?

I had this several years ago. The new uniforms ordered were 1-15, inclusive. That means 6-9. The reason? "Our principal ordered them, and he's a hockey guy."

Of course, we got the typical "Can't you let it go just this one time?"

I replied, "Where are your jerseys from last year?"

Light bulb went on, problem solved.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by DrPete

Second mistake: the referee failed to notice the illegal numbers (or couldn't read them) when checking the book prior to the game.

There's nothing for the referee to notice. The rules don't prevent team members from wearing illegal numbers or illegal numbers being on the roster list. The only prohibition is there's a penalty if a head coach permits a team member to participate while wearing an illegal uniform (NF 10-5-4).

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by DrPete

A recent event has led to much discussion.
First mistake: Team B has brought the wrong jerseys to their away game. Three players have illegal numbers, we will call them 6, 7 and 8. They are properly noted in the score book as 6, 7 and 8.

Second mistake: the referee failed to notice the illegal numbers (or couldn't read them) when checking the book prior to the game.

Player with jersey number 6 enters the game. Technical foul for illegal uniform.

10-5-4: The head coach shall not permit a team member to participate while wearing an illegal uniform.
PENALTY: Two free throws plus ball for division-line throw-in. The foul is charged directly to the head coach. Penalized when discovered. Only one technical foul is charged regardless of the number of offenders.


1)Can the player enter and play anyway with an illegal number??? Or is that player not allowed to play at all???
(there were no other jerseys available to change into---could they have swapped jerseys with another player at the expense of a tech)

2)Later in the game player 7 and 8 report.....so this would fall under the "one technical regardless of the number of incidents" part of the rule???

Think about it, why would there be a penalty for illegal numbers if those players were not allowed to play? And the penalty is pretty clear as to how many times the coach gets penalized for illegal numbers.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Think about it, why would there be a penalty for illegal numbers if those players were not allowed to play? And the penalty is pretty clear as to how many times the coach gets penalized for illegal numbers.

Exactly. Compare it to illegal undershirts and jewelry. No penalty, they just aren't allowed to play.

[TimTaylor]

Originally Posted by Adam

Exactly. Compare it to illegal undershirts and jewelry. No penalty, they just aren't allowed to play.

Yep, uniforms vs, player equipment.

I also heard a rumor that the "no penalty for player equipment violations" is being looked at and might be changing in the future.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by TimTaylor

Yep, uniforms vs, player equipment.

I also heard a rumor that the "no penalty for player equipment violations" is being looked at and might be changing in the future.

Allowing them to play at the cost of a T (except with jewelry) might actually clean that up.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Adam

Allowing them to play at the cost of a T (except with jewelry) might actually clean that up.

Which equipment violations might they allow at the cost of a T? This is a head scratcher for me...

[TimTaylor]

Originally Posted by Adam

Allowing them to play at the cost of a T (except with jewelry) might actually clean that up.

I have no clue what form it might take. The rumor I heard is that it is being experimented with in one area this season - if that's true, maybe someone from there can comment.