I apologize for assuming. I just don't see that the case play applies. It involves the end of a game, not a dead ball during a game.

I'm more than open to being convinced, but I haven't been yet. I simply don't see not penalizing A when the rule does not explicitly state "during a live ball".

Can you cite a rule stating that "participating" only involves a live ball situation?

Cool. Find a rule that states it's illegal to have 6 players on the court during a dead ball.

If they'd wanted a mandatory "T", they would have used the language "Penalized when discovered", as they do in other rules.

Agreed, if that was the case, we'd have a T on just about every substitution.

Yup.

Would you call a flagrant technical foul on a player who changed his/her number without reporting it to the scorer and an official if you discovered it during a dead ball? It has the exact same language.

There is obviously no rule that it's illegal to have 6 players on the court at any time during a dead ball. There's also no rule stating it's permissible to have more than 5 on the court during a dead ball. Is it okay for every bench player to step onto the court during the interval between a violation and the subsequent throw-in?

Again, I'm waiting for the definition of "participating." It's what this whole discussion revolves around.

Sounds like someone cannot count to 10

No, I sureasheck wouldn't call a "T". Why? Because the player is no longer participating.

It uses the exact same language as 6 players participating does. You have to discover it while the player is <b>participating</b>, exactly like it says in both 10-1-6 and 10-3-1. If you didn't discover it while the player was participating, it's too late when the ball becomes dead and the player is no longer participating.

JR, I really appreciate all your insight, but you've yet to answer the critical question - what is the definition of participating? Players don't become bench personnel at each dead ball. They are still players. That indicates to me they are "participating" unless someone can provide me a definition that states that participating only applies to live balls.

If you want to play linguistic games, be my guest. I'm done. I'm just repeating myself.

I told you what the rule is and I gave you the accompanying rules citations. If you don't want to believe that's how the concept of "penalized if discovered while being violated" is interpreted and applied.....versus "penalized when discovered", I suggest you ask your local or state rules interpreter for their interpretation. Let us know when you get your answer.

I'll ask and let you know when I get an answer. It's what I tried to do here.

I'm sorry you think my legitimate question (how does the NFHS define "participate"?) is a linguistic game. It was the one question I asked consistently and the only question that matters.

Actually, I posted the rule. You gave a case book citation I don't believe applies.

I know you said you're done, but if you can cite that the players on the court cease to "participate" at every dead ball, I'll be in complete agreement with you. I always respect your positions on rulings, but in attempting to have as complete rules knowledge as possible, I'm simply looking for a definition of what "participating" means.

Without a rule citation to define it, I think it's safe to assume the rules committee is thinking of the common definition of the word. By common definition, no player is really participating in the game during a dead ball when the clock is stopped.

And I think this is probably where the disagreement comes in. I would consider the ten players on the court setting up/defending an inbounds play or getting into their designated lane spaces to be participating. They are still "players" by definition, not bench personnel, and that's where I'm getting my interpretation of participating.

Seems most disagree with that, though, so I'll stop until I hear something more from the state. Good thing I don't have any more games this year - certainly after this discussion this situation was bound to happen in my next game! :D

10.1.6 b ...
 

10.1.6 Situation: With Team A leading 51 to 50, a held ball is called. A6 properly reports and enters the game. Time is then called by Team A. The clock shows two seconds remaining in the game. After play is resumed by a throw-in, the officials: (a) recognize that A has six players competing, but cannot get the clock stopped; or (b) do not notice Team A has six players on the court. Following the throw-in, time expires. Team B now reports to the officials that Team A had six players on the court.
Ruling: In (a), since one of the officials had knowledge that Team A had six players participating simultaneously and this was detected prior to time expiring, a technical foul is assessed against Team A. In (b), since it was not recognized by either official, but was called to their attention after time had expired, it is too late to assess any penalty.