Is this in the book?... (must be on bench by 2nd quarter)
 

At my daughter's game last night where I was keeping the book. NFHS varsity girls, private schools. Officials from a different chapter... One of our players didn't make it to the game until halftime. (For religious reasons, she can't participate in anything on Saturdays until after sundown, so this is likely to come up again.)
She was in the book, though, from the start of the game.
The U comes over and says that, by rule, she had to be there by the start of the 2nd quarter to be an eligible player, and that playing her would result in the game being a forfeit in the books.
Even though a rule is a rule is a rule... I'll give you the added background that this game had long been decided already as my daughter's team was being lapped by the other team, even by halftime.

I did not have my rule book with me at the game, but I did jump around through it once I got home late last night (and will again after I post this). If that's in the book, I cannot find it.
Can you help confirm or deny?...

Much thanks.

(p.s., coach went ahead and put her in for most of the 4th, since the game wasn't close, but this girl would've had to sit to avoid a forfeit if the game had been more competitive.)

It's not an NFHS rule. It might be a state / league rule.

Never Heard of That One
 

As far as I know as long as she's in the book she can participate. For that matter if the coach is willing to eat the T then she's in as well.

For added clarification: Texas (can't find it anywhere in the U.I.L. pages)

I agree with Bob: this is NOT an NFHS rule or requirement.

I suggest that you e-mail or call the state association and ask for clarification. I would be astonished if they were unwilling to accommodate your student's religious reasons for delaying participation. Ideally, they would send you a letter, which you could show officials who were making stuff up.

Then, put her in a game. If the officials forfeit the game, then they'll have to deal with the state association.

Unless there's some sort of league rule, this is an example of some official somewhere (not necessarily these guys) pulling a ruling out of his arse. If there is a league rule, they'd better be able to show some compelling reason for adding it or they're looking at potential litigation (it seems).

Question for Lukester: would her religion permit her to sit on the bench until the Sabbath is over (sundown). I'm assuming she's Jewish, but I don't know how the requirement works.

And yes, I'd take this issue to the state as well as contact the chapter to which those officials belong; ask them very specifically where this requirement is written.

There is no U.I.L. provision that states a player must be there by the second quarter.

There has been some discussion here on the Forum in regard to an IAABO Refresher Exam question a few years ago about that seemed to imply that if a player is not physically present, then they can't be listed on the roster in the official scorebook. If I recall, this generated a lot of controversy, among both IAABO members, and non IAABO members.

Even if this IAABO Refresher Exam "ruling" is correct, and I'm not sure that it is, the players name can be added to the scorebook at any time at the expense of a technical foul:

Three scorebook situations: adding a name to the team roster, changing a name or a number in the official scorebook, and/or having a player change a uniform number, are penalized with a team technical foul when they occur, after the ten minute time limit. These infractions occur when the scorer is advised to add to or change the official scorebook. The foul must be charged when it occurs and enforced when the ball next becomes live. Once the ball becomes live, after such changes have been made to the scorebook, it is too late to penalize.

After the ten minute time limit a team is charged with a maximum of one technical foul regardless of how many infractions of the following are committed: changing a designated starter, adding a name to the team member list, requiring the scorer to change a team member’s or player’s number in the scorebook, requiring a player to change to the number in the scorebook, and/or having identical numbers on team members and/or players.

Usually the issue is driving (or being driven) somewhere, as observant Jews won't use powered devices during Shabbat. Doing so is often interpreted as falling under the prohibition of working.

Thanks, I was thinking in terms of participating in the actual game, but the travel restrictions would certainly prevent my half-baked work-around from working.

No baking either. ;)

Unless you have a personal or professional interest in The Law, I don't see why anyone would expect you to know about this.

Personal interest, really, in understanding the intricacies of various religions.

Missed The Bus ???
 

Check 'em out:

http://forum.officiating.com/basketb...tml#post406783

http://forum.officiating.com/basketb...tml#post559193

There are other religions with similiar beliefs regarding the Sabbath, not just Judaism.

True, but the only other one that observes the Sabbath on Saturday I'm aware of is Seventh Day Adventist.