Two Different Numbers on the Same Jersey

[bob jenkins]

11/20 Case Situation for the week of November 17-22

Basketball

Team A has two uniforms with different numbers on the front and back of the jersey. On one jersey, number 33 is on the front and number 35 is on the back, while on the other jersey, number 35 is on the front and number 33 is on the back. The uniforms for Team A are legal in all other respects, except for the two jerseys described previously. A couple of questions were asked of our office regarding this.

1. How should a school list these players in the scorebook?
2. Can the players wearing these uniforms play in a contest? If so, is there a penalty?

Answer 1: These two uniforms are illegal. The numbers on the front and back of the jersey must be legal numbers and match. When the numbers don’t match, the school should list the number on the front of the jersey as the official number for a given player.

Answer 2: The two players in this situation could play in a contest, although if either or both plays, a single direct technical foul will be assessed to the head coach of Team A for allowing players to participate while wearing illegal uniforms, in accordance with Rule 10-5-4. This technical foul counts towards possible coach ejection, the team foul count, and the head coach will lose his/her ability to use the coaching box during this contest. There is no penalty, however, if the players do not play.