Enforcing the new uniform rule
 

With the new NFHS rule requiring home teams to wear white, what would you (officials) do at a middle school level game if a home team is wearing non-white?

Are you going to call it the way NFHS implies (one T per player upon first entry and possible written report to the association*) or let it go?

I ask since the two lower level leagues I am involved with have schools that wore non-white home uniforms and what should happen if they haven't replaced them. Ten free throws plus possession to start the game would be nice :cool: (not to mention 5 team fouls before any time comes off the clock in the first quarter)

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* From NFHS Web Site: "NFHS Rule 10-3-2 states that a player
shall not wear an illegal jersey, illegal pants/skirt or an illegal number. The
penalty shall be a technical foul for each starter or substitute that enters
the game with the illegal item. A special report form should be filed with
the state association when that occurs."

Link: http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmana...s_and_POEs.pdf

Ask your assignor or league council or such authority how they want it handled. If you've got a tight-a$$ head person, you'll have to be stinky about it. Someone with a sense of perspective will tell you which schools are allowed to be let off the hook. It's going to vary from state to state, association to association. IMHO

If that's how the NFHS and my state association end up wanting it done, I have no problem with the T's. However, I feel that we may be getting some clarification on the issue of non-varsity games. (And, frankly, if 5 T's should be called if this happens in a varsity game.)

Fortunately, we don't have this problem in our local kids rec league. All the teams get green/white reversible jerseys and the home team is supposed to wear white. If they're not doing so, we just have them reverse them.

BTW - the reason they get those jerseys is because that's our local HS team colors. The kids think that's cool. http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...ool_shades.gif

Subvarsity uniforms are generally hand me downs from the varsity in previous seasons. SInce the rulesmakers gave everybody a few years to be in compliance at the varsity level, it would be unfair to expect subvarsity to follow this rule for the next couple of years. After the "new" uniforms of 2007-08 have been passed down, then compliance should be expected at the lower levels.

However, if you have a totally anal decision making body in your area or state, you may see teams buying white tee shirts and using magic markers after their first game to be legal.

But what about Middle School or CYO teams that can't take advantage of hand-me-downs? :p

Not sure how many lower level ADs & coaches keep abreast of rules, but i imagine this year will be a crash course in rule changes. :D

uniforms
 

Good choice of words for a thread about jerseys. :D

uniforms
 

only a girls ref would notice that:p

I happened to be going through old stuff, and I found the NASO 2006-2007 pre-season rule change booklet they, in conjunction with NFHS, send out. They had an article concerning the uniform change for next year (2007-2008) and said it applied only to Varsity games, and that sub-varsity could use the hand-me down uniforms to save the schools the expense of having to buy new uniforms for all their teams.

Seems sensible to me.

Good point and it got me thinking(which isn't good usually)......

I went back to the 2004-05 rulebook in which this rule was originally initiated and read it a little deeper. In the <b>COMMENTS ON THE 2004-05 RULES REVISIONS</b>, you'll find the following statement--<i>"The new rule <b>only</b> affects varsity uniforms; lower level programs may still continue to wear <b>'light-colored'</b> uniforms as home jerseys."</i> I would imagine that unless this concept has changed, it will be spelled out in the upcoming year's rule book, and also hopefully as a case play.

I went back and deleted my previous post in this thread as it was wrong/misleading.

Good catch, Frank.

JR:

If this is how the rule is to be and will be interpeted, you answered my question. Thanks :)

If you really want to get technical, then think of what NFHS stands for and then look at the statements about middle school, CYO, rec league, etc.

If it were me, I'd postpone the game until they could get the proper uniforms....and someone else to work a junior high game:D . I don't miss that level of basketball at all.

snob

Yup, and not afraid to say it out loud.:D

Follow up......

Got my new 2007-08 rule and case books tonight.......

There is no mention specifically in either about the rule only pertaining to varsity high school programs.
-new rule 3-4-6(b) just says that the home school must wear white team jerseys.
- new case book play 3.4.6SitA says that if a home team isn't wearing white tops, you should direct them prior to the start of the game to change. If they can't comply, each starter is charged with a technical foul. Each entering substitute without a white top also gets a "T" when they enter. One "T" max per player per game.
- new 10-3-2PENALTY says that each violation is penalized one time if discovered prior to the ball becoming live for each designated starter and each substitute who enters. Note- NO indirect "T" to the head coach.
- new 2007-08 POE 1(C) further says that if you do have to nail everybody on the home team, <i>"a special report form should be filed with the state association when that occurs."</i>
- #56 on the NFHS 2007-08 Part 1 exam is based on this rule.

It looks like everybody will still have to get direction from their state governing body as to whether the new rule applies to all teams versus varsity teams only, unless the FED issues something further.

If it is middle school boys, I wouldn't care if they go shirts vs. skins and write numbers on with a magic marker. If it's girls, they have to wear different color shirts. Let them play!

I make them go to Lowe's, buy metal address numbers then put them on their chests with a pneumatic staple gun. Boy - talk about fun! :D

NFHS Officials Quaterly
 

Just got the latest issues of NFHS Officials Quarterly and it suggests that local Associations should issue a ruling on how to deal with an entire team that has illegal uniforms. It did not specifically mention the color of the uniforms, but did mention that many uniforms that are marketed to HS teams are actually illegal.

Hey, Rut.
How do you feel about the uniform rule as it relates to Girl's basketball ? :)

You, Sir, are an instigator.

They should wear them. ;)

Peace

Disagree.:p

Ha! Good call !

What level (age) are we talking about?

Well, in my OP, it will be MS Girls. Our team is scheduled to start it's season later this month against a team that had reversible blue & gold tops last year.

And what color were their jerseys? :p

Oops! I had a memory !

A hunert years ago, we had reversible practice jerseys, but luckily there were no numbers; too prickly !

I wouldn't expect to start your game with technical fouls, if that's what you're checking on. :D

In Missouri, at least, MSHSAA is leaving the individual penalty debate to the local associations, but has made it clear the rule only applies to varsity contests.

From page 27 of the Aug. 2007 MSHSAA Journal: "Beginning with the 2007-08 school year for all varsity boys and girls games, the home team shall wear white jerseys and the visiting team dark jerseys. The home team must now wear white and is no longer allowed to wear a 'light' color."

this is my first year doing basketball in the Houston area, and we were advised for the sub varsity games not worry to much about them being that Jerseys are hand me downs and some arent as good as other, just let them play and use common sense.