I know that the rules state that both goals must have pading on them. The other night I went to work a tournement where I will be back on Friday. Neither goal has ANY kind of pading. What would you do? What should I do?

Also: These teams are coming from all over the parish. In order to be legal, you must have the same color under shirt as the uniform. The only team to have this is the home team and the other teams said "they knew not what color they would be." What would you do on this?

What level are you talking about? Undershirts are easy to deal with. They can take the undershirt off and play. The backboards - not much you can do about that. Schools have enough trouble buying books. How far down on the priority list do you think backboard padding is?

If it's a low enough level (jr high or lower) and a travel league where kids honestly don't know what color they'll be wearing; I'd probably loosen up the uniform restriction. Chances are their uniforms won't be up to reg anyway. As long as there isn't much chance for the players to get confused, I'd let it be.

This is a 6th grade tournement. I am not sure whats the point of the rule, but was just checking.

Undershirt problems are easy to deal with:

If one player has an undershirt on then all other players must have the same color if they choose to wear one too. If there is a variety that is not going to cause significant problems for the other team, I will ask the coaches if they have any objections to the issue. If so, then they all come off. If not, then I let it go an the game is played.

6th grade - you'll be lucky if they all have numbers, let alone if any of them don't have the numbers 6,7,8, or 9. I agree with Snaq - at that level I would not worry about the undershirts at all. Or the backboards. Let 'em play and have fun.

In our area, we won't officiate a game if the padding is missing. It's a straight safety item. If someone got hurt because of missing padding, you're looking at a liability issue.

I'd talk to your assignor about this one, Brandan, and get some direction on it.

Padding on the backboard probably isn't going to be an issue at the 6th grade level, even so there's not anything you can do about it. It's already been stated, but you're lucky if you have legal numbers, just let the kids play and have fun, that's what it's all about!! :)

Oh I don't know about that! ;)

Did you see this weeks Sports Illustrated?
It has a kid in there that some scouts have been looking at since he was 9 yrs old!
He's 14 now and an eighth grader...6'3" and dunking the basketball with ease...his AAU team hasn't lost in many years.
His name is Demetrius Walker.
They are projecting him to be in the NBA at 18...if he doesn't make the NBA and JUST gets a full ride to a D-1 school...some will be DISAPPOINTED.
Hmmmmmm, quite a bit of pressure on the kid, don't you think?

I don't mean to brag - OK, I do - but my grandson Tyler is 10 years old and is 5'2". He plays on a fifth grade team and is averaging over 20 points a game after his first four games. He's had two double-doubles. Fortunately, my daughter and her husband both have their heads screwed on straight about it. My son-in-law is 6'6" and played D-I ball, so he knows how it works.

Cool!
Maybe Grandpa won't have to fork over any college money! :)

Undershirts & 6th Grade...PLAY BALL

No Padding: If there is risk of injury, don't play. If there is not risk, toss it up. I had fellow officials in that situation in a Varsity game. They notified game management of the illegal equipment and informed them they would allow the gorls to play due to the negligible risk and that they would have to make provisions for the boys game prior to it starting. After the girls' game they allotted the game management 1/2 hour to remedy the situation. Upon the 1/2 hour expiration and not padding, they forfeited the boys' game. Remember, you (we) are responsibile for the safety of the players and could possibly be sued if an accident occurs.