Jerseys 'tucked in': 2025-26 NCAA Women's Rules Change.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

The has been a discussion in a Facebook for NFHS Basketball Rules regarding ‘untucked’ jerseys. This is a Rule that has been in effect for over 25 years in NFHS and NCAA Men’s/Women’s Rules.


NCAA Women’s: R1-S22-A10 has been eliminated 2025-26.

Prior to the 2025-26 School Year the NCAA Women’s Rule was R1-S22-A10: “Game jerseys shall be tucked in the game shorts. Note: The first time an official must tell a player to tuck in the game jersey, the official shall issue a warning to the head coach. The next time any player on the same team has the game jersey untucked, that player shall leave the game until the next opportunity to substitute. The official shall enforce this rule at the next dead ball after observing the violation.”

The NCAA Women’s Committee has made a Rules Change: R1-S22-A10 has been eliminated. Players will no longer be required to wear their jerseys tucked into the shorts.

The NCAA Women’s Committee’s “Rationale: Game jerseys have become shorter and are not always manufactured to be long enough to be properly tucked into the game shorts. When players lift their arms, the jersey often becomes untucked, making it difficult for officials to enforce the rule properly.”



NFHS R3-S3-A5: “A player not wearing the pants/skirt properly and above the hips and/or a player not tucking in a team jersey (front and back) designed to be worn
inside the pants/skirt, shall be directed to leave the game as in Rule [R]3-[S]3-[A]4; a
charged time-out shall not alter this requirement.”

AND

NCAA Men’s R1-S22-A10: “Game jerseys shall be tucked in the game shorts.
Note: The first time an official must tell a player to tuck in the game jersey, the official shall issue a warning to the head coach. The next time any player on the same team has the game jersey untucked, that player shall leave the game until the next opportunity to substitute. The official shall enforce this rule at the next dead ball after observing the violation.”

have not been eliminated.

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

NFHS: If I remember to look (sometimes I have more important things to watch for) I usually remind players to tuck in their jerseys during free throws.

I'm actually willing to do that several times in a game, even to the same player.

However, if I see a player intentionally pull their jerseys out of their shorts, especially if they've already been warned, they sit for a tick, do not pass go, and do not collect two hundred dollars.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

NFHS: If I remember to look (sometimes I have more important things to watch for) I usually remind players to tuck in their jerseys during free throws. I'm actually willing to do that several times in a game, even to the same player.

Fat kids get a free pass, as do kids in some of my middle school games with uniform "jerseys" that are actually scrimmage jerseys made of "shiny" synthetic material that easily slips out and becomes untucked all by itself.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

NFHS: If I remember to look (sometimes I have more important things to watch for) I usually remind players to tuck in their jerseys during free throws.



I'm actually willing to do that several times in a game, even to the same player.



However, if I see a player intentionally pull their jerseys out of their shorts, especially if they've already been warned, they sit for a tick, do not pass go, and do not collect two hundred dollars.

When you're looking at players you can't tell the jerseys aren't tucked? You have to be specifically looking for that to notice it?

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[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

When you're looking at players you can't tell the jerseys aren't tucked? You have to be specifically looking for that to notice it?

Yes, I sometimes miss it during the thirty-two minutes of the game, especially a hectic game with a lot of competitive match-ups, a lot of up and down action, and a lot of calls and no calls.

And I might occasionally (rarely) miss it during free throws.

I don't ever actually look for it, but if when I do notice it (and I can do so without actually looking for it, offenders seem to just stick out in a crowd), I always deal with it, usually with a warning.

What I'm saying is that some offenders may get away with it for a short period time in the game, but I'll eventually "get them".

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Yes, I sometimes miss it during the thirty-two minutes of the game, especially a hectic game with a lot of competitive match-ups, a lot of up and down action, and a lot of calls and no calls.

And I might occasionally (rarely) miss it during free throws.

I don't ever actually look for it, but if when I do notice it (and I do so without actually looking it, offenders seem to just stick out in a crowd), I always deal with it, usually with a warning.

What I'm saying is that some offenders may get away with it for a short period time in the game, but I'll eventually "get them".

You choose to ignore it, which I'm not saying is the worst thing in the world. But don't rationalize why you don't enforce it. Especially saying you can't see untucked jerseys through the normal course of doing your duties.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

You choose to ignore it, which I'm not saying is the worst thing in the world. But don't rationalize why you don't enforce it.

Good point, but "choose to ignore" is strong language for what I actually do.

Yes, I don't usually take the time to actually "seek out" offenders with untucked jerseys (as I said before, offenders seem to just stick out in a crowd), but when I do notice offenders with untucked jerseys, I almost always (exception for fat kids and middle school teams with shiny slippery scrimmage type jerseys) enforce such, usually with a stern warning to "Tuck it in", or in extreme cases to take a seat for a tick of the clock.

Locally, I'm considered to be the Gestapo of the Fashion Police. In my occasional high school games, I enforce all (100%) fashion rules and don't ignore anything.

However, in my middle school games, illegal undershirts under sleeveless jerseys on shy adolescent girls can be a problem for some coaches (few know the rules) to take care of (especially just minutes before the jump ball).

I do the best I can with illegal undershirts on middle school girls (no exceptions for boys).

With girls, I never totally ignore, but broach the issue with the coaches as soon as I enter the court, and I again mention it in the pregame coaches and captains meeting.

Our local interpreter and middle school assigner want us to "let middle schol kids play", but that is always stated in the context of "uniforms" (not specifically equipment), thus we allow dark jerseys for home teams, non matching shorts among players, illegal numbers, and duplicate numbers (some years I fill up my Bingo card after just a few weeks), so it's not a stretch for me to allow illegal undershirts under sleeveless jerseys on shy adolescent girls with just a "stern recommendation" for future improvement.

I don't beleive that our local interpreter and middle school assigner would be displeased with me by allowing such girls to play that afternoon rather than sit them on the bench.

Note: In my first year of officiating mostly middle school games, I had a visiting out of area coach threaten to put her girls back on the bus and go home rather than sit the shy girls who refused to remove their illegal undershirts. I decided to "back down". Not my finest hour.

Rules that restrict equipment colors benefit officials by allowing them to easily identify players on each team during fast paced action.

Student athletes should take pride in their appearance as they represent their school and community.

I tell the untucked offenders, "Watch the players on television".

[Raymond]

I've been observing women's games at a D1 school. What's funny is, the officials who consistently enforced the jersey rule were officials who also worked in the G-League and the WNBA. They had no problem addressing the young ladies.

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[SNIPERBBB]

The discussion on FB was about a sub at the table with an untucked shirt. Official denies the sub because of the untucked shirt.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

.. a sub at the table with an untucked shirt. Official denies the sub because of the untucked shirt.

Wow. Harsh.

In my NFHS game, I just tell them to tuck it in and immediately allow the substitution.

Same thing with an illegal headband, illegal wristbands, and jewelry that can be easily and quickly removed (e.g., bracelet).

I would not allow an incoming substitute to enter with an illegal undershirt. That will take too much time to fix, so next whistle.

[bob jenkins]

The rule change was met with applause at several different NCAAW rules meetings I attended and / or watched on video.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

The rule change was met with applause at several different NCAAW rules meetings I attended and / or watched on video.

It wouldn't bother me if the NFHS decided to do the same.

I know of few high school officials that actually relish being the Fashion Police.

I believe that anything that simplifies such fashion duties would be much appreciated.

[Mike Goodwin]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

The discussion on FB was about a sub at the table with an untucked shirt. Official denies the sub because of the untucked shirt.

There was no consensus, though, on if (and that's a great big if) an official denied entry for an untucked jersey, when would that substitute next be eligible to be beckoned in by an official.

A few on FB indicated they would require the player to "sit a tick," (in 3-3-4) as if they had been directed to leave the game. I believe the better course of action is for the substitute to wait until the next opportunity to substitute and I can use 3-3-2 as indirect support.

[Zoochy]

Originally Posted by Mike Goodwin

There was no consensus, though, on if (and that's a great big if) an official denied entry for an untucked jersey, when would that substitute next be eligible to be beckoned in by an official.

A few on FB indicated they would require the player to "sit a tick," (in 3-3-4) as if they had been directed to leave the game. I believe the better course of action is for the substitute to wait until the next opportunity to substitute and I can use 3-3-2 as indirect support.

OK... I'll use that logic. A6 is at the table. Violation on the court. A6 is beckoned into the game. A6's shirt is untucked and they are not attempting to tuck it in. I say go back. When is the 'Next Opportunity'? Next dead ball? What if upon being directed to go back and now they are trying to tuck in the shirt while at the table? Can we wait then re-beckon A6 into the game? Or do we tell them to sit and wait for the 'Next Opportunity'?
BillyMac... I'm turning in my Fashion Police Badge

[Mike Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

OK... I'll use that logic. A6 is at the table. Violation on the court. A6 is beckoned into the game. A6's shirt is untucked and they are not attempting to tuck it in. I say go back. When is the 'Next Opportunity'? Next dead ball? What if upon being directed to go back and now they are trying to tuck in the shirt while at the table? Can we wait then re-beckon A6 into the game? Or do we tell them to sit and wait for the 'Next Opportunity'?
BillyMac... I'm turning in my Fashion Police Badge

Once that substitute is beckoned into the game, A6 is now a player by rule. If the official gets to the point of having to direct A6 to leave the game for an untucked jersey (and that can probably be avoided in all but the most-extreme cases of defiance), then yes, the "sit a tick" rule applies.