NFHS 3-3-8 and 3-3-10

[marvin]

Originally Posted by Andy

You handled the situation according to rule 3-3-8, which is fine. I would not have allowed the player back in the game, but that is another discussion.

My point is that the blood rule is a separate rule for a specific situation. If a player is removed for the blood rule, the re-entry rule applies, meaning that a substitute is needed. The blood rule does not allow for a temporary runner as in 3-3-8.

NFHS 3-3-8 applies to a runner who is unable to continue. A player who has blood on her uniform that can not be cleaned up in a timely fashion is unable to continue because it is prohibited by rule 3-3-10, so I would see no problem applying 3-3-8 if no subs were available.

The sentence about the re-entry rule in 3-3-10 (IMO) is to make it clear that the player has left the game and will use her re-entry privilege to return to the game.

3-3-10 provides for the removal of a player from the game who may be physically able to continue, but is not allowed to due to the blood on her person or clothing.

I feel you are trying to be too specific with your application of the rules and not taking the entire rule set into consideration.

NFHS needs to specifically address players returning to a game once a team has gone short handed. There are reasons that a player may not be available to play for a period of time, but is fine to return later.

[MD Longhorn]

I think you would be justified in allowing the use of EITHER rule. You don't have to decide if it was the blood or the injury that took her out of the game, and then apply that rule. Seems to me the defense has two options here.