Jersey Number Size

by **UMD Lax** on Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:43 pm

We are currently purchasing new warrior jerseys similar to Princetons. We were planning on getting the two color numbers on the front and back. However, our supplier says that 12 inch two color numbers do not fit and that they will need to do 10 inch to get them to fit on the back. I know the NCAA rules recommend 12 inch but would that cause any problems in game play (penalties, etc.)? I would prefer not to have to completely change our order since they have already began the printing process. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks,

**Sponsor**

by **laxfan25** on Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:23 pm

Jason,
Here's what the rulebook says:

Jerseys. The jerseys shall have numbers that are at least 6 inches high and centered on the front. Jersey numbers of at least 8 inches in height also must be centered on the back. It is recommended strongly that the jersey numbers be increased to heights of no less than 10 inches on the front and 12 inches on the back when team jerseys are replaced.

So as long as the numbers are 6 inches high on the front and 8 inches in the back you are not in violation of the rules, just the strong recommendation.

by **UMD Lax** on Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:00 pm

Great, Thanks for the response. I just wanted too make sure before we dumped a ton of money on these. Thanks again.

by **LaxRef** on Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:02 pm

UMD Lax wrote:Great, Thanks for the response. I just wanted too make sure before we dumped a ton of money on these. Thanks again.

The point, of course, is that the NCAA may change the requirements any year now, so if you get the smaller numbers you may need to replace the jerseys as soon as next year (although they'll be fine for this year). Thus, if at all possible, get the larger numbers or you may have some annoyed players next year when you have to order all over again.

by **UMD Lax** on Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:34 pm

I will try and see what they can do regarding the numbers. I understand that they may change the rules but will the rule be forced right away? I'm sure not all teams are going to be able to replace their jerseys as soon as the rule is implemented. It gets to be a pretty excesive cost. I assume that some teams will be grandfathered in until they make new jersey purchases?

Either way I will try and get the larger numbers put on so we will not have a problem in the upcoming seasons. Thanks for the info.

by **TexOle** on Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:37 pm

Next time I have to check equipment from a coaches request I will make sure to measure the size of the numbers. It will likely be enforced immediately since the NCAA has given teams time to change. The MDIA might make an exception to the rule for teams, but I doubt it. Isn't it funny what you can learn by reading rule book. You can find all sorts of penalties.

by **John Paul** on Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:28 am

And what will you do if you find the numbers are too small? There is no penalty listed in the rule book. They are simply illegal. If you enforced the rule they would have to remove the uniforms, and without legal uniforms they would have to forfeit. One MDIA team ran into this last year with new road uniforms. The MDIA and their conference agreed to let them play out the season in their home uniforms, regardless of where they were playing. They were not penalized for the couple of games they played in before the infraction was discovered.

This isn't like a couple of players having mismatched gloves or helmets or compression shorts even, where you simply remove those players. This a whole team. I think the only solution, if it happens, is to allow the game to finish and then enforce it from then on. You can get very cheap, plain uniforms with no custom work within a week if you have to.

by **TexOle** on Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:01 am

Again sarcasm does not translate well. Dang. I cannot see a ref actually enforcing the penalty to cause a forfeit. Usually the best way to handle the situation is mentioning to a coach you have this illegal, and if you could please fix it before the next game I would appreciate it. You do not want to be known as the ref that is always looking for a new penalty to enforce. If we all did that then we would never have a lacrosse game.

by **laxfan25** on Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:25 am

The answer Jason is to get as big a number as can fit on the jersey - and remember they are talking about height, not width.

by **UMD Lax** on Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:15 pm

Well, it looks like we will be going with 10 on the front and 12 on the back. We had to change from two color numbers to single color numbers. We also had to change the number style to get it to fit. I wish I would have known about this problem before we special ordered the warrior jerseys. Oh well, they should still look sweet and be compliant with the possibility of a rule change. Thanks again for everyones input.

by **Lax_Stats** on Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:25 pm

In response to John Paul and TexOle: Unless you can tell without actually measuring the number that it is too small, I would leave this situation alone. If in fact you did discover that the numbers were too small, I would not enforce any penalty for this violation and I especially wouldn't make all players take off their jerseys thus causing a team to forfeit. I would play the game and forward the information on to your league officers for them to address with that team. Make your league officers be the bad guy if someone has to be the bad guy. We had a situation last year where a teams new jerseys didn't show up before their first game and all they had were tank tops pinny's with no numbers on the front. We played the game like any other game and the information was forwarded to the league who addressed it with that team. By not taking a hard line and allowing the league to deal with this situation, the game was played, the officials took themselves out of the equation which turned out to not only be the best thing but the right move as well!