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???