[JRutledge]

As basketball officials this might be hard to understand. As a football officials there are many issues we have to deal with that are not "spelled out" but could cause potential liability issues. These issues usually are never an issue in basketball, but everything to what is on the helmet to what type of cleats are worn can open the officials up for liability if certain things are not addressed. I am not saying that I agree with the officialÂ’s decision, but I understand the thought process that they were dealing with. The biggest issue we have to deal with as basketball officials is if the players have those "Life Strong" bracelets. It is easy as basketball officials to say this was overly officious, but until you have worked football and every game you are confronted with some form of equipment that might be suspect or illegal, it is really hard to judge standing on a computer screen. If this kid got hurt for any reason, then the parents would have sued everyone for allowing this kid to get hurt. You are damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Peace