The Most Misunderstood Basketball Rules

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

So, what rule change affected the misunderstood rules?

Headbands and wristbands must be white, black, beige or a single solid school color, provided all team members are wearing the same color for each item for all participants.

Also, a few other "unannounced" editorial changes.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Headbands and wristbands must be white, black, beige or a single solid school color, provided all team members are wearing the same color for each item for all participants.

Also, a few other "unannounced" editorial changes.

Okay, I guess I wouldn't have put them in a list of misunderstood rules, but it's your list.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Okay, I guess I wouldn't have put them in a list of misunderstood rules, but it's your list.

Do you really think that players, coaches, and fans, understand this rule? Not in these parts.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

You really think that players, coaches, and fans, understand this rule?

No but I don't think they misunderstand it either. I would put it in the category of unknown rules that they really don't care about.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I would put it in the category of unknown rules that they really don't care about.

I don't give a rat's derriere about fans understanding, or not understanding, this rule, but it would be nice it players, and coaches, understood the rule. Then I wouldn't have to flash my "Fashion Police" badge every few games.

Last season a photo appeared in a major metropolitan newspaper of a high school state tournament game worked by our local board officials where a girl with a white (home) jersey was wearing a red headband (illegal last year, legal this year). Our interpreter made it part of his Powerpoint presentation and, without mentioning any names, reamed us all out.

And if you think that this rule can't be enforced consistently, then guess again. Undershirt, headband, wrist bands, and jewelry rules are strictly enforced in the Catholic middle school league that I work. If we, as officials, don't enforce these rules, we don't get paid by our assigner. All officials know this, as do all coaches. After a few reminders the first week of the season, we no longer have any problems with these "Fashion Police" rules. No, "The officials last week let him wear his lucky purple and yellow striped headband". And some of these kids are in second, or third grade, coached by volunteer parents. If they "get" the rule, then high school varsity players, coached by paid coaches, can "get" the rule.

Would somebody please help me down from my soapbox. I'm getting dizzy up here.

[Adam]

Billy, I have no problem with enforcement of this rule. By the time the kids around here hit high school, they're all complying; so I can only assume it's being enforced at the ms level. I'll probably work a few ms games this year to get back into the flow, so I can tell you it'll be enforced then. Hell, I knew the rule when I played junior high basketball in the late 80s.

Actually, I've got a serious point to make about the misunderstood rules. If it's too long, people don't read it, so I would recommend trying to keep it to one page. That would mean you have to either drop some or shorten them all. Maybe one list of misunderstood rules and one list of "rules you never knew about."

I can see the misunderstood rules (3 seconds, over the back, etc.) being useful to help fans; while the "rules you never know about" (colors of undershirts and headbands, jewelry, coaching box) would be beneficial to parents and coaches who are new to the game.

Just my two bits offered from somewhere in front of the soapbox.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I've got a serious point to make about the misunderstood rules. If it's too long, people don't read it, so I would recommend trying to keep it to one page. That would mean you have to either drop some or shorten them all.

Great point. I keep trying to shorten it, but can't decide which points to delete. It's not "my" list (I've gotten a lot of help from many Forum members), but it is my "baby" and it's hard for me to let one, or more, points "leave the nest". I'm starting to tear up just thinking about it. Next time I revise it I will invite Forum members to make corrections, additions, or, dare I say it, deletions. Of course, we're all good neighbors around here so no one really needs an invitation.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I have no problem with enforcement of this rule. By the time the kids around here hit high school, they're all complying.

How do you, and your association colleagues, accomplish this daunting task? I talk to to varsity kids during warmups about illegal equipment and they look at me like I'm from Mars and I've got three eyes. I've got kids, and coaches, telling me in January, "How come? All the other officials that we've had this year have allowed Poindexter to wear his lucky, yellow, and pink, polka dotted, headband". This always makes me feel like I'm one of "those guys" and I don't want to be like one of "those guys". I screwed up and made one of "those guys" calls a few years ago, and I've never lived it down.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Headbands and wristbands must be white, black, beige or a single solid school color, provided all team members are wearing the same color for each item for all participants.

Also, a few other "unannounced" editorial changes.

The NCHSAA took it a step further. As long as every player who is wearing such is wearing the same color, we don't give a tinker's damn what color it is.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

The NCHSAA took it a step further. As long as every player who is wearing such is wearing the same color, we don't give a tinker's damn what color it is.

And that's how it should be.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

And that's how it should be.

Amen.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

The NCHSAA took it a step further. As long as every player who is wearing such is wearing the same color, we don't give a tinker's damn what color it is.

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

And that's how it should be.

The local high school in my town uses the school colors blue and white. Over many years the color red has somehow crept into the uniforms, usually on the piping, or numbers. Several years ago we got a new football coach. He decided to get red helmets. After the first game of the season, all the old timers in town, in the bars, and in the coffee shops, complained, and complained, and complained, about the nontraditional red helmets.

I don't work games for my local high school. I'm a retired teacher, and coach, from the school system, and I don't want there to be a perception of a conflict of interest. Plus there are sixty-nine other schools where I can peddle my wares. For sake of argument, let's say that I did work one of their games, and the players all had red headbands. The rule states that headbands and wristbands must be white, black, beige or a single solid school color. Red is not an officially recognized school color.

Now that I'm up here on my soapbox, let's say that players want to wear black wristbands and headbands to honor the recent death of a player, coach, teacher, etc. Or, to raise cancer awareness, they all want to wear pink headbands, the same week that we all use pink whistles.

I love BktBallRef's post. Why did the guys at the NFHS have to put in the word "school"?

Now could someone please help me down from this soapbox? It didn't seem this high on the way up, and the height kind of scares me.

Note to BktBallRef: Is "tinker's damn" actuaully written into the NCHSAA language?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The local high school in my town uses the school colors blue and white. Over many years the color red has somehow crept into the uniforms, usually on the piping, or numbers. Several years ago we got a new football coach. He decided to get red helmets. After the first game of the season, all the old timers in town, in the bars, and in the coffee shops, complained, and complained, and complained, about the nontraditional red helmets.

I don't work games for my local high school. I'm a retired teacher, and coach, from the school system, and I don't want there to be a perception of a conflict of interest. Plus there are sixty-nine other schools where I can peddle my wares. For sake of argument, let's say that I did work one of their games, and the players all had red headbands. The rule states that headbands and wristbands must be white, black, beige or a single solid school color. Red is not an officially recognized school color.

Now that I'm up here on my soapbox, let's say that players want to wear black wristbands and headbands to honor the recent death of a player, coach, teacher, etc. Or, to raise cancer awareness, they all want to wear pink headbands, the same week that we all use pink whistles.

I love BktBallRef's post. Why did the guys at the NFHS have to put in the word "school"?

Now could someone please help me down from this soapbox? It didn't seem this high on the way up, and the height kind of scares me.

Note to BktBallRef: Is "tinker's damn" actuaully written into the NCHSAA language?

1) I'd allow the red.

2) The phrase in "tinker's dam."

3) An exception is usually allowed for pink during designated weeks.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I'd allow the red. An exception is usually allowed for pink during designated weeks.

I would also, as well as the black. It's not my job to research the history of the school to find their traditional school colors. If I'm wrong, well, then, I'm willing to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.