Quote:
Originally Posted by bucky
Whenever I see illegal gear, next to skin, that requires removal, I tell the player to go to the locker room. I usually add a quick blurb about it being necessary to avoid a T or something along those lines.
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Good preventative officiating.
I, on the other hand, never tell a player that they have to remove anything, jewelry, illegal undershirt, etc. Per instructions by an attorney at a clinic many years ago (before the "taking off the jersey rule"), I just tell them that they can't play with illegal equipment, and leave it to the player, coach, and possibly, parent, to figure it out.
"Take out the earrings", stated by an official can have unintended (albeit very, very rare) health consequences that I just don't want to deal with.
Obviously, taking out earrings and taking off a jersey aren't (health wise) the same thing.
If I recall correctly, the "taking off the jersey rule" was to prevent a player who had just fouled out from showing resentment, or disgust, to the call by taking off the jersey on the way to the bench. I'll charge a technical foul in a New York minute every time in that situation.
Taking off a jersey to remove an illegal undershirt? Based on purpose and intent, I'm looking the other way.
I might mention to the player to go to the locker room if I have a direct conversation with them, but a player who decides to remove a jersey to remove an illegal undershirt on his own volition, I'm looking the other way. If the opposing coach questions my "call", I'm going with intent and purpose and the history of the rule.
Kicking the can down the road creating a problem for the next official in the same situation? Guilty as charged.
Let the stoning begin.