Six Players Participating ???

[BillyMac]

IAABO 2009-10 Refresher Exam
#50. Substitute B-6 enters the court while the ball is in control of Team A and while the ball is live and the clock is running. The officials are unaware that Team B has six players in the game. B-6 returns to the bench after which Team A commits a violation. The scorer now informs the officials that Team B had six players on the court. The referee rules that no technical foul can be charged. Is the referee correct? IAABO Answer: No (10-2-2 and 2-11-3)

Thanks for your input guys. Here's what I got from my interpreter, and it's a pretty good explanation.

A technical foul could have been assessed for a "not reporting" infraction, which has a "time limit" of "before the ball becomes live following the first dead ball", rather than a "sixth player" infraction, which has a shorter "time limit" of "if discovered while being violated". 2-1-2 says that "the game officials... shall be assisted by an official timer and scorer", and 2-11-2 says "the scorer shall... notify the nearer official when there is an infraction of the rules pertaining to submission of the roster, substitutions or numbers of players".

10.2.2 SITUATION (Under the heading "Not Being Beckoned"): During a live ball and with the clock running, substitute A enters the court. RULING: A technical foul is charged if recognized by an official before the ball becomes live following the first dead ball.

Now I know why I got the question wrong. A classic misdirection question, misleading me toward a "sixth man" infraction, instead of a "not reporting" infraction. Very tricky, but thought provoking.

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