Illinois High School Teams Won't Have to Change Illegal Uniforms

[illini1]

http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x1409377985/Illinois-teams-wont-have-to-replace-illegal-uniforms

Illinois teams won't have to replace illegal uniforms

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posted Jan 15, 2010 @ 11:01 AM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) ? The Illinois High School Association says it won't force schools with basketball uniforms that don't conform to state rules to spend thousands of dollars replacing them.

Coaches and schools have complained recently about an IHSA crackdown on uniforms that break the rules covering things such as the placement of names and numbers.

Replacing uniforms can cost several thousand dollars per team. Violating the rules results in teams being assessed technical fouls at the start of games.

IHSA spokesman Kurt Gibson says about 48 teams are wearing uniforms that break the rules.

The IHSA says that it understands school finances are too tight in many places to buy uniforms. Schools will be able to apply for waivers.

http://www.ihsa.org/announce/2009-10/2010-01-14.htm

IHSA Announcements

January 14, 2010

IHSA Granting Waivers for Illegal Basketball Uniforms

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced today that waivers for illegal basketball uniforms can be secured by completing the ?Basketball Uniform Waiver Request Form? that is available online in the IHSA Schools Center. Following last year?s basketball state tournament series, the Association stepped up its efforts to make officials and schools aware of the uniform rules and regulations.

?The uniform rule was specifically addressed in this year?s preseason rule interpretation meetings, said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. ?Every school and every official was reminded that compliance with the rule was mandatory rather than optional.?

Officials have recently notified the IHSA of several schools whose uniforms do not currently comply with National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) rules. As a result, the Association has instituted a waiver process that allows schools to use their illegal uniforms for the remainder of this season, including the state tournament series, without penalty.

In addition, schools successfully completing the waiver process this year will be allowed to petition for the waiver on an annual basis until they arrive at the normal replacement cycle for their uniforms. Schools must receive a waiver this year to be eligible for a waiver during the 2010-11 season.

?We have no intention of requiring schools to expend additional dollars now, or in the future, to replace illegal uniforms,? added Hickman. ?We fully realize there are many more pressing financial needs in our schools than basketball uniforms.?

Schools wearing illegal uniforms that fail to apply for a waiver will continue to be penalized per NFHS rules in the regular season and IHSA State Series. The penalty for an illegal uniform is a technical foul assessed to the offending team?s coach prior to the start of the contest.

The Association is encouraging schools to specify to their uniform supplier that all new uniforms must comply with NFHS regulations. Further, the IHSA will be submitting a proposal to the NFHS to simplify the basketball uniform rule.

?When a school or administrator complains about a rule, we always tell them that there is a process in place to change that rule and that they should submit a by-law proposal,? said Hickman. ?We are taking our own advice, so to speak, as we feel that the NFHS uniform rules for basketball may be a bit too restrictive and cumbersome. We hope our proposal will be well received and help streamline those rules.?

[Billy B]

Wouldn't it be easier if these teams just got uniforms that were within the rules in the first place? Then these schools wouldn't have to worry about not being able to afford new uniforms. Maybe the rules are too strict, so it's good that they're trying to change it. But teams should be able to order jerseys that don't break the rules.

[CubsFanBudMan]

Here's a story on the same topic that addresses how it affected a state championship:

Chicago Tribune

[rams80]

You know, if you don't opt for trendy designer uniforms, it won't set your athletic department back a few thousand dollars.

EDIT-more importantly, my high school, which was not wealthy, still found the money to re-uniform its athletic programs every 3-4 years.

My sympathy for these schools is severely limited.