Jersey Trickeration

[TXMike]

http://www.caller.com/news/2010/oct/23/mustangs-find-way-to-overpower-mathis-bmw/

MATHIS — Mathis’ BMW backfield was running smoothly Friday night, but sometimes it’s nice to have the horsepower of a Mustang — especially one with a new coat of paint.

All three components of the Pirates’ BMW backfield topped 100 yards, but Ingleside’s Mustangs had a fast one in reserve.

David McHugh, who swapped jerseys with his twin brother Matt, put on a phenomenal show with three touchdowns, 197 receiving yards and two defensive plays that made a difference of eight points. With freshman quarterback Tristen Barajas doing almost as much damage as McHugh — and some late Mathis miscues — Ingleside raced to an early lead and topped previously unbeaten host Pirates 42-35 in a key District 30-3A showdown.

The teams combined for 63 first-half points, with Ingleside (5-3, 2-1) holding a 35-28 lead.

Matt McHugh seemed to lead the charge. But, instead of his No. 11 jersey, he was wearing No. 33. David, his twin, had No. 11 and was doing much of the damage.

[KB]

Well, changing jerseys between games is not against the rule. Only changing them during a game may be illegal.

[LarryW60]

There's no rule against a player changing jerseys in the middle of the game.  As long as he's wearing a number appropriate for his position, then I have a big, fat "nothing".  

As officials, we don't care whether John Doe is wearing the number he usually wears or has changed to another one.  Maybe his jersey became irrepairably damaged in the game and he needed to wear someone else's to finish the game.

EDIT: Oops.  I'm making NFHS-based comments in a general officiating area.  All the above applies to Fed rules.  I don't know about the higher levels.

[TXMike]

NCAA rules prohibit changing during the game if done to deceive

[HLinNC]

Two weeks ago, my hometown team lost to their cross-county rival.  After the game, our kicker's mother was murdered in a domestic violence incident.  The young man kicked the opening kick-off for the game the following Friday night and then came off the field and removed his gear.  Our starting QB swapped jerseys with him after he came off and wore it in his honor for the rest of the game.

I was off last last Friday night and got to watch the scene.  It was touching to say the least.

[cincybearcat]

poor sportsmanship...no matter what the rules say

[cincybearcat]

obviously I didn't mean in regards to HLinNC's comment...in regard to the original post

[LarryW60]

Interesting.  I wonder how it would be poor sportsmanship to change places with your twin brother?  The fact that they're twins and both wear eligible numbers implies they're both similarly gifted.  Now if one has the hands of a rock and the other  has hands that make "stick'em" jealous...

[busman]

In basketball, I have had identical twins playing before.  And, I had a coach try to swap jerseys at halftime because one of the twins had three fouls and the other had none.  But in a discussion group of officials one time, somebody made the comment that identical twins are usually opposite handed - one left handed and one right handed.  So I just happen to right down in the scorebook an (L) by the one that was left-handed.  Sure enough, in second half warm-ups, I happen to notice the switch and approached the kid.  He admitted it, so we started the second half off with a technical foul.  Probably should have ejected the coach, but instead just reported it to his supt. (small school, he was standing against the wall of the gym under the basket).  He didn't renew the coach's contract the next year.

[AlUpstateNY]

Apparently in basketball there is a potential unfair advantge to be gained by switching jerseys, and there are rules to prohibit doing that.  There is no advantage like that in football.  Both numbers, in this instance, are eligible numbers for forward pass receiving (provided they're lined up in an eleigible position) and the defense has exactly the same objective, whoever is wearing which number. 

If # 11 has the ball, the object is to stop his advance.  If # 33 has the ball, same objective.  If one brother had an USC penalty called against him, and they were switching jerseys to minimize the possibility of that player getting a second one, and therefore being disqualified...but that's a real stretch, in which case NF: 1-1-6 provides the capability to deal with.

[TXMike]

#11 is a stud RB   His brother, #22, is good but not as good.  Whenever #11 is in the game, he gets the ball 80% of the time.   The opponent has devised a defensive shceme that assigns people to do certain things anytime the ball is handed or appears to be handed to #11.  When #22 gets it, they just play base defense.  The 2 switch jerseys before the game and are introduced during pregame as if they had their original numbers.

You do not see the competitive disadvantage and do not see this as "unethical"?

Why would the NCAA prevent this from being done during the game?

[LarryW60]

Why would the NCAA prevent this from being done during the game?

If you ask me, it's a rule demanded by the TV honchos so their airhead announcers don't get even MORE confused.

[AlUpstateNY]

#11 is a stud RB   His brother, #22, is good but not as good.  Whenever #11 is in the game, he gets the ball 80% of the time.   The opponent has devised a defensive shceme that assigns people to do certain things anytime the ball is handed or appears to be handed to #11.  When #22 gets it, they just play base defense.  The 2 switch jerseys before the game and are introduced during pregame as if they had their original numbers.

You do not see the competitive disadvantage and do not see this as "unethical"?

Not in any way.  Where does it say a team must be protected from deploying a dopey game plan?  There is no special provision that requires the offense to follow the defenses plan of attack, the defense is responsible to devise a plan to resist WHATEVER the offense decides to attack with, as long as the plan is within the rules, and they are NOT REQUIRED to share the details of thier plan with the defense in advance.

If the defense CHOOSES to load it's defense a certain way based on projections and assumption, they are entitled to do so, but the offense isn't required to submit to their planning.  This is a perfect example of someone OUT-THINKING themselves and expecting everyone else to play along.  This appears more a question of the defense being silly, than anyone being unethical, as allowing a fool to do what he wants is clearly the responsibility of the fool.

[HAshleyTX]

Here's wrench to the head then.  If one of them gets ejected, would it still be ethically OK to swap jerseys so he can come back?  If not, is it because they now try to deceive YOU and not the other team?

teaching players to violate the rules is indefensible. The coaching of intentional holding, beating the ball, illegal shifting, feigning injury,interference, illegal forward passing or intentional roughing will break down
rather than aid in the building of the character of players. Such instruction is not only unfair to one’s opponent but is demoralizing to the players entrusted to a coach’s care and has no place in a game that is an integral part of an educational
program.

The following are unethical practices:
a. Changing numbers during the game to deceive the opponent.

[AlUpstateNY]

Here's wrench to the head then.  If one of them gets ejected, would it still be ethically OK to swap jerseys so he can come back?  If not, is it because they now try to deceive YOU and not the other team?

teaching players to violate the rules is indefensible. The coaching of intentional holding, beating the ball, illegal shifting, feigning injury,interference, illegal forward passing or intentional roughing will break down
rather than aid in the building of the character of players. Such instruction is not only unfair to one’s opponent but is demoralizing to the players entrusted to a coach’s care and has no place in a game that is an integral part of an educational program.

The following are unethical practices:
a. Changing numbers during the game to deceive the opponent.

fortunately, I haven't considered myself as being the ultimate judge of what everyone shold consider unethical, nor do I have any reason to believe switching the players numbers was intentional or was intended to deceive anyone, nor is automatically unethical.  As to your question about a disqualified player switching numbers so as to sneak back into the game, that specifically violates NF:2-32-6, "A disqualified player is a player barred from further participation in a game". By doing so a player also violates NF:9-6- 4-f, "It is Illegal Participation  (f) For a disqualified plater to re-enter a game."

I do agree that, "teaching players to violate the rules is indefensible" but don't see where that is automatically the case in this situation as there is NO rule prohibiting players switching numbers if there is no intent at deception.

[HAshleyTX]

That wasn't my quote.  It isn't clear if the jersey swap occurred during the game or before the game.  If this happened before the game and since players have been known to wear the jersey of injured (or worse) teamates as a good jesture there's nothing the officials can do about.  BUT I do ask "what's the point" of the twins switching numbers if not to in some way deceive?