[ref18]

Dude, I think you need to adjust your views on some things.

Let's see, after almost 5000 rec league games, I have been fortunate to see maybe a half dozen serious injuries, none of which were caused by jewelry.

I too have never had an injury caused by jerlwery, and there's a reason for it. I don't let them play with it on.

Now I know it only takes one, to end up in court

I think you've got this one right, and are you willing to take that chance??

If you travel very far to work these games, I hate to not play because of this because truth be told, I just spent a bunch of money getting here and now we don't play because player x can't get his wedding band off? Tape it!

This isn't a new concept, these guys in the mens leagues have been playing for years, the rule hasn't changed, if you don't remove it, you can't play.

Secondly, I always check with management, period. Let them know in no uncertain terms what the deal is. If game management wants to play and take on the responsibility, I can either walk or do the game. I will draw the line though with any dangling items in the hair, around the neck, or hanging from the ear

The deal should always be this, any player which is wearing jewlery cannot play or else there won't be an official to work the game.

My point is, if management is paying you and they want to play the game, you have but two choices.

In this situation your responsibility is for the safety of the players. No responsible official would officiate a contest where players are wearing jewlery.

I also liken this to other situations where many would play on. Such as, HS gym has leak in the roof and water is dripping on the floor. Do you play or not? Management says play the game and both coaches agree. Manager will wipe the floor. Team B has traveled 50 miles for the game, so do you play?

Again, the safety of the players is your top concern, the game gets cancelled. No questions. I compare this to football, if you see lightning in the distance do you play on because management says it's heading away from your location?? Absolutely not. Again no responsible official would officiate a game in these conditions.

Again, home team A has jerseys stolen and can only come up with 2 white jerseys, but some players still have their away jerseys which are red. Visitors are wearing road orange jerseys. So, do you play with 3 mixed jerseys? This was a HS game I did, so in both cases, these were actual situations. Coach A and B both wanted to play and didn't see a problem. My view was simple. Any comment that my player got confused by the color of the jersey will not be addressed. And so we played on in both cases.

Playing with the wrong colour of jersey does not affect the safety and well being of the participants of the game. Your primary responsibility should be to the players. This is completely different from a jewlery issue.

On the other hand, I worked for 2 years in a fantastic rec league that was absolutely the best run adult league I have ever seen, or played in. We had a forfeit because the 5th player for team A was wearing the right color shorts but the shorts had pocket in them. You see, you had to have a full uniform and wear it! Management would not budge and so I picked up 35 dollars becasue one guy had shorts with pocket in them. Now this is the exception and not the rule from what I've seen.

That rule has nothing to do with the officials or how we officiate the game, that is a call from the convenor, and if he says we don't play then we don't play. But if I say we don't play, he can't turn around and make me let'em play.

Then again, how many of us have started a rec game with 4 players? Management does not want a forfeit, and says play ball. Walk or run? If we start with 4 we break the rules, but? I can't tell you how many rec games I've started with just 4 players!

We have leagues where it's sanctioned for them to play 4 on 4 or 3 on 3 in the event that some players don't show up.

Lastly, I doubt from the replies here that many have worked deep in the inner city leagues where this stuff is rampant and difficult to control. Basically, the league directors want the games played, and you are at the mercy of what the league wants. Jerseys, no jerseys. Numbers, no numbers. Different colored jerseys on the same team, same color for both teams. I've seen a lot of junk that would not pass under normal circumstances, but if they want the game played, I have but two choices.

I could care less if they go shirts or skins, or they have pinnies, as long as I can tell the difference between the two teams I'm happy. The problem starts when you start risking the safety of the players by allowing them to wear items that could be potentially dangerous in a basketball game.

How is this that much different than assignors telling you what type of fouls he/she wants called and which ones you should pass on. In other words, you work for them and they tell you how they want the game officiated. Again, you can work or walk. I guess I have chosen to work, and taken my chances. Yes, I have heard of people getting earlobes torn, but have never witnessed it. I've seen teeth knocked out, knees blown out, a compound fracture, broken arms, legs, cuts, ect, but nothing caused by jewelry. I guess I've just been lucky.

I work for the assignors, not site management. I know my assignor will have my back when I put the safety of the players first. Remember the assignors are fellow officials, they know what they're doing, most site convenors don't know sh!t when it comes to officiating. I'll leave the organizational tasks to them, but they better not interfere with my officiating.

Again, even I have limits, but if it can be taped so that it does not dangle, or is visible, in most of these cases, I'm going to play.

Your limits are way too low, you really need to tweak them. Remember, it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, and by allowing participation while wearing jewlery, you're just begging for a jerwlery related injury. Our job is to put the players safety first, and some officials need to realize that it's better the game be postponed or cancelled then to have it played in conditions.