Substitution procedure

["Lurker"77]

Originally Posted by Tony.oe4

NFHS ruling.
My question is where in the rule book or case book does it say that when making the substitution exchange, it says the player coming in can only enter between the attack line and center line?

Working with an outdated book (and not an official, but the forum seems dead), but the language in the substitution zone definition is far less specific than I recalled. Still, the intent is presumably clear: everyone should be able to clearly distinguish among subs entering court, potential subs, libero exchanges etc. based on where and how they pass through the sideline.

If #8 clearly caused actual confusion and delay by improper positioning in the first occurrence (even though the R2 had recognized the substitution successfully and reported it), then the first delay call is clearly justified. And, if #8 does something similar again, that's hardly looking for trouble.

If, in the first occurrence, #8, after clearly coming in front of the line and being recognized, was just wandering a little too far for the R1's taste to get to into the back row but everyone still knew it was a recognized substitution [unless there is a clearer standard I'm missing in the rule or case books], it's hard to call that a delay (or improper substitution at most levels) the first time it happens. However, for future occurrences, even if it's a petty procedure that is a bit vague, if an R1 or R2 tells a player how they (and most everyone else) interpret the rules explicitly and they still -- literally -- step over that line a second time, a delay card when they have to be told again does not seem to be overly officious.

Given that it happened again after the first delay card, it makes me think there may have been a pattern this R1 spotted rather than just jumping on an innocent misstep.