No college basketball jersey ends in 6,7,8 or 9
- Thread starter onewoof
- Start date
As I recall, the reason is so the ref can signal to the scorer with one hand who a foul is on. As an example, #15 the ref would flash one finger and then 5. It would create a lot more confusion if you using 2 hands say for #19.
As someone that served as scorekeeper for a couple minor league games back in the day, I can fully confirm that this gets confusing as 17 to stay on top of. I’m quite certain that I completely butchered the stats
The league I helped out with was in Jackson around 2006, and it only lasted 3 weeks before folding, but it was a virtual who’s who of former SEC villains. On the positive side, Richard Williams was assisting one team, and Lincoln Smith was on the Jackson roster. On the other side of the fence, Torris Bright and Roy Rogers were involved among quite a few others. A crazy reminder of the razor thin line between NBA riches and making $200/game
That IS the reason.
It’s changed, especially in the NBA but in HS and college it’s still 0,1,2,3,4, and 5
My guess back in the day there used to be many upset fans from both high school and college where rest would foul players out and then call 10 seconds as well before they reach half court. That's why you see them clearly. Count 10 seconds now with their hands and also it has to be very clear who committed the foul so that the scorekeeper does not get it wrong.
1. Jersey sales. 2. Everyone knows who all the players are and all the stats/data are more sophisticated and visible so it easier to track.
Here is an article:
Crunching the Numbers: College Basketball Players Can’t Wear 6, 7, 8 or 9 (Published 2015)
A longstanding N.C.A.A. edict, rooted in maintaining clarity in referees’ hand signals to the scorer’s table, prohibits players from wearing certain numerals.
And 6 now for Bill Russell. A few player left who were grandfathered in including Lebron.