Here’s the scenario: It’s a Friday night and you are covering a high school basketball game. One of the players on your team sustains a bloody nose and has to leave the ballgame. While tending to the player, you notice that the player has blood on the jersey. At this point, the jersey has to be either treated or most likely removed in order for the player to return to the game.
This is not an unusual occurrence and in fact happened in a game that I refereed last week. So what’s the big deal?
Well, in the game I was working the player removed his jersey while he was still on the bench. The National Federation HS rules governing basketball state that a player shall not remove his or her jersey while “within the visual confines of the playing area.” (Rule 10, Section 3, Article 6h) Doing so results in a technical foul. Since the player is on the bench and technically now bench personnel, a technical foul further results in the head coach losing his/her coaching box privileges. So this seemingly innocent event could have potentially game changing implications. Talk about adding insult to injury quite literally.
So here’s the tip: If a player has blood on his or her jersey, make sure that you instruct the player to keep the jersey on and he or she can change it in the locker room. Most players will want to get back into the game immediately and so you may have to reinforce this with them. In my experience, most coaches are oblivious to this rule and so by applying this tip, you can take care of the injury and the issue of blood professionally and efficiently while at the same time preventing some additional negative consequences from taking place.
I need help.. During a High School Varisty Game, 3 players took thier bloody Jerseys off and 3 of our benched players had to give them thier jersey’s and shorts while on the bench.. Not in the locker room..
Boys had to put other players bloody Jersey’s and sweety shorts on…
alot of our parents are very upste about this, what can be done…
Kay-
First off, whenever you need to remove a jersey, it has to be done in the confines of the locker room, not on the floor. I’m surprised there were not technical fouls issued because that is a t’able offense.
As far as the bench players putting on the bloody clothing, that also is a no-no. The reason the players had to remove the clothing was due to blood borne pathogen guidelines and avoiding risk of infecting another player – so why does this same logic not apply to the players on the own team. In my mind, those kids can’t play with blood on the jersey so if that is the case, they might as well just go and dress in street clothes instead. That at least helps them to save face and be safe at the same time.
Also sounds like a plan to deal with blood was not in place and that needs to happen. Preparation before hand is the key.
I am sorry this unfortunate event took place and I can see why parents are upset.
Bil