Interesting interpretation.

Can you email him and ask what to do if a team has 9 players on the floor but 10 players in the book at the 10 minute mark?

(This oughta be fun.)

<b>Coach</b>: I've got a player having a dump.

<b>OOO</b>: Doesn't matter. That's a "T"!

I thought the interesting part was the guy saying "the rule is X, answer the question X, then do Y, like we've always done".

Unfortunately, I think that your local interpreter's answer is inaccurate and uninformative. While that is the definition of a team member, the rules do not state WHEN those kids have to be ready to play. Why would anyone interpret it to mean that they have to be ready TEN minutes prior to the scheduled game time? The teams still have ten minutes to warmup and by definition are NOT ready to play at that time. They are still stretching and running drills.
Many teams return to the lockerroom for the last several minutes of this time period. The ENTIRE team leaves. Would this guy say that means that there are no team members present and that this team should forfeit? :rolleyes:

Sorry, but your local guy need to rethink this one or pick up the phone and call the NFHS office for clarification.

Maybe I'm being being too specific, but you're both inaccurate. "Ready to play" is not part of the rule. The rule says that bench personel have to be in uniform and eligible to become a player. You don't have to be ready that minute, you just have to be eligible. Does that make a difference?

No you are not. That local interpreter is the one being too literal. The problem lies in the lack of a definition from the NFHS of what is in red.