Running out of Eligible Players

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

This is largely hypothetical, but something that dawned on me during a youth game that concluded with a team fielding only three players (they started with five)...and they ended up winning the game.

Suppose they had gotten down to one and the referee still believed they had a chance to win. Per rule, we play on. My question is, what happens to this team when the opponent is shooting FTs. The bottom two lane spaces "shall" be occupied by the defense. Considering this isn't possible with only one eligible player, does that mean every FT automatically carries a delayed violation and, thus, unlimited substitute FTs until all merited FTs are successful?

Sit down, have a drink, and discuss.

We discussed this years ago and sent it in to the federation for a ruling.

2003-04 NFHS BASKETBALL RULES INTERPRETATIONS

Publisher’s Note: The National Federation of State High School Associations is the only source of official high school interpretations. They do not set aside nor modify any rule. They are made and published by the NFHS in response to situations presented. Robert F. Kanaby, Publisher, NFHS Publications © 2003

SITUATION 2: Team A started the game with seven team members in the scorebook. All team members foul out but one, A1. Team A is leading by eight points with 38 seconds left in the game with a chance to win. A1 fouls B2 with Team B in the bonus. A1 occupies one of the first marked lane spaces for the free throw, with no teammate to occupy the other required space. RULING: By rule, a team may continue to play with one player if that team has an opportunity to win the game. Accordingly, since Team A can only put one player in the required free-throw marked lane space, it cannot be penalized. Further, Team B may not occupy the first marked lane space left vacant by Team A. (3-1-1 Note, 8-1-3)