Reprinted with permission of the National Federation of State High School Associations. This material is not to be resold or remarketed.
RULE 3 PLAYERS, SUBSTITUTES AND EQUIPMENT
SECTION 1 TEAM, CAPTAIN
ART.1...Each team consists of five players, one of whom is the captain.
NOTE: A team must begin the game with five players, but if it has no substitutes to replace disqualified or injured players, it must continue with fewer than five. When there is only one player participating for a team, the team shall forfeit the game, unless the referee believes that team has an opportunity to win the game.
ART.2...The captain is the representative of his/her team and may address an official on matters of interpretation or to obtain essential information, if it is done in a courteous manner. Any player may address an official to request a timeout or permission to leave the court.
SECTION 2 ROSTERS, STARTERS, NUMBERS
ART.1...At least 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time, each team shall supply the scorers with the name and number of each team member and designate the five starting players.
ART.2...After the time limit specified in Article 1, a team is charged with a maximum of one technical foul regardless of howmany infractions of the following are committed (See 10-1-1, 2 Penalty):
a.) Changing a designated starter, unless necessitated by illness, injury, illegal equipment or apparel, etc., or to attempt a technical-foul free throw.
b.) Adding a name to a team member list.
c.) Requiring the scorer to change a team member's or player's number in the scorebook.
d.) Requiring the player to change to the number in the scorebook.
e.) Having identical numbers on team members and/or players.
SECTION 3 SUBSTITUTION
ART.1...A substitute who desires to enter shall report to the scorers, giving his/her number.
a.) Between quarters, at halftime and during a time-out, the substitute must report or be in position to report to the scorers, prior to the warning signal which is sounded 15 seconds before the end of intermission or a 60-second time-out and prior to the 20-second warning during a 30-second time-out.
b.) Substitutions between halves may be made by the substitute or a team representative.
c.) During multiple free-throw personal fouls, substitutions may be made only before the final attempt in the sequence and after the final attempt has been converted.
EXCEPTION: When a player is required by rule to be replaced prior to administering the free throw(s), then all other substitutes who have legally reported may also enter the game.
d.) If entry is at any time other than between quarters, and a substitute who is entitled and ready to enter reports to the scorers, the scorers shall use a sounding device or game horn, if, or as soon as, the ball is dead and the clocked is stopped.
ART.2...The substitute shall remain outside the boundary until an official beckons, whereupon he/she shall enter immediately. If the ball is about to become live, the beckoning signal should be withheld. The entering substitute shall not replace a designated jumper or a free thrower except as in 8-2 and 3. If the substitute enters to replace a player who must jump or attempt a free throw, he/she shall withdraw until the next opportunity to substitute.
ART.3...A substitute becomes a player when he/she legally enters the court. If entry is not legal, the substitute becomes a player when the ball becomes live. A player becomes bench personnel after his/her substitute becomes a player or after notification of the coach following his/her disqualification.
ART.4...A player who has been replaced, or directed to leave the game for injury or for illegal equipment or apparel, etc., shall not re-enter before the next opportunity to substitute after the clock has been started properly following his/her replacement.
ART.5...A player who has been injured to the extent that the coach or any other bench personnel is beckoned and/or comes onto the court shall be directed to leave the game.
ART.6...A player who is bleeding, has an open wound, has an excessive amount of blood on his/her uniform, or has blood on his/her person, shall be directed to leave the game.
ART.7...A player who has been determined apparently unconscious shall not return to play in the game without written authorization from a physician.
SECTION 4 UNIFORMS
NOTE: The following regulations are effective with the 2000-01 season. JERSEYS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO THE 2000-01 SCHOOL YEAR SHALL REMAIN LEGAL IF DESIGNED IN ACCORD WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PREVIOUS RULE 3-4.
ART.1...Team jersyes shall include the team member's number, which shall be at least 6 inches high on the back and at least 4 inches high on the front and not less than 3/4 inch in width excluding the border.
ART.2...The number shall be centered vertically and horizontally.
ART.3...Each team member shall be numbered on the front and back of the team jersey with plain Arabic numberals. The following numbers are legal: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 00, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. A team member list shall not have both numbers 0 and 00.
ART.4...No more than three colors may be used. The style of the number must be clearly visible and conform t one of the following:
a. A solid contrasting color with no more than two solid color 1/4-inch borders around the entire number. If the team jersey is used as a border, it must be counted as one of the allowed colors.
b. The team jersey color itself when bordered with not more than two 1/4-inch solid border(s) contrasting with the team jersey color.
c. A solid contrasting color with a "shadow" trim of a contrasting color on part of the number not to exceed 1/2 inch in width. The shadow trim may only be used in place of the 1/4-inch border(s).
ART.5...The number(s) on the front and back of the team jersey shall be the same color and style.
ART.6...The torso of the team jersey shall be the same single solid color from the base of the the neck to the bottom of the team jersey. Undershirts shall be similar in color to the torso of the shirt and shall not have frayed or ragged edges. If the undershirt has sleeves, they shall be the same length.
NOTE: The home team should wear ligh-colored uniforms and the visiting team dark. The team that violates this policy should change. If there is doubt, the officials should request the home team to change; on a neutral floor the officials decide.
ART.7...There are no restrictions in the area of the team jersey from the base of the neckline to the shoulder seam. (If a back panel is used, it must be of the same size and color as the corresponding front area).
ART.8...Team names and/or abbreviations or team member's names may be placed on the jersey. Horizontal lettering may be arched, but the first and last letters must be on the same horizontal plane, such plane shall not be below a plane extending through the top of the number(s). Lettering below a number must have the first and last letters on the same horizontal plane and said plane shall not be above a plane extending through the bottom of the number(s). Any point on any letter shall not be closer than one inch to any point on any number(s).
ART.9...Any form of decorative emphasis (e.g., paw, halo, crown, star) on an identifying name or abbreviation is only permitted if the name or abbreviation is located above the number.
ART.10...If a tail is used in the lettering of an identifying name or abbreviation, the name or abbreviation must be located below the number.
ART.11...Side inserts, including trim, of no more than 4 inches in width (2 inches on each side of seam) of any color(s), centered vertically below the armpit, are permitted. Side inserts for all team jerseys must be of the same width.
ART.12...Trim not to exceed 1 inch around the neck and arm openings.
ART.13...A visible manufacturer's logo/trademark is not permitted on the team jersey or undershirt.
ART.14...The American flag may be worn on the team shirt provided it does not exceed 2 x 3 inches and does not interfere with the visibility of the player's number.
ART.15...A team jersey designed to be worn inside the pants shall be tucked inside the pants and the pants shall be above the hips and worn properly. A player not conforming to this uniform policy shall be directed to leave the game.
ART.16...A commemorative/memorial patch may be worn on the jersey provided it is not a number and must be worn above the neckline or in the side insert.
SECTION 5 TEAM MEMBER'S EQUIPMENT, APPAREL
The referee shall not permit any team member to wear equipment or apparel, which, in his/her judgement, is dangerous or confusing to othr players or is not appropriate. Examples of illegal items include, but are not limited to:
ART.1...A guard, cast or brace made of hard and unyielding leather, plaster, pliable (soft) plastic, metal or any other hard substance - even though covered with soft padding - when worn on the elbow, hand, finger, wrist or forearm.
NOTE: Each state association may authorize the use of artificial limbs which in its opinion are no more dangerous to players than the corresponding human limb and do not place an opponent at a disadvantage.
ART.2...Head decorations, headwear, jewelry.
EXCEPTION 1: State associations on an individual basis allow a player to participate while wearing a head covering it if meets the following criteria:
a. For medical or cosmetic reasons - in the event a participant is required by a licensed medical physician to cover his/her head with a covering or wrap, the physician's statement is required before the state association can approve a covering or wrap which is not abrasive, hard or dangerous to any other player and which is attached in such a way it is highly unlikely that it will come off during play.
b. For religious reasons - In the event there is documented evidence provided to the state association that a participant may not expose his/her uncovered head, the state association may approve a covering or wrap which is not abrasive, hard or dangerous to any other player and which is attached in such a way it is highly unlikely it will come off during play.
EXCEPTION 2: A headband no wider than 2 inches and made of nonabrasive, unadorned, (except for logo/trademark, see 3-6) single-colored cloth, elastic, fiber, soft leather or rubber may be worn. Rubber/cloth (elastic) bands may be used to control hair.
ART.3...Equipment which is unnatural and designed to increase a player's height or reach or to gain an advantage. Equipment shall not be modified from its' original manufactured state and shall be worn in the manner the manufacturer intended it to be worn.
ART.4...An illegal undershirt.
ART.5...An undergarment or tights which extend below the pants.
EXCEPTION: Compression shorts may be worn if the length is above the knee and they are of a single color similar to the predominant color of the pants.
ART.6...Jewelry shall not be worn. Religious and medical alert medals are not considered jewelry. A religious medal must be taped and worn under the uniform. A medical alert must be taped and may be visible.
SECTION 6 LOGO/TRADEMARK SIZE
One visible manufacturer's logo/trademark is permitted on the pants, compression shorts, sweatbands and headband and shall be limited to 2 1/4 square inches and shall not exceed 2 1/4 inches in any dimension on each item. No visible manufacturer's logo/trademark is permitted on the shirt or undershirt. See 10-3-3 for penalty.
SECTION 7 SAFETY CONCERNS
The referee shall not permit any team member to participate if in his/her judgement, items such as a player's fingernails or hair style may constitute a safety concern.
