[Kansas Ref]

One of the issues that we have discussed on this forum is: "What criteria are involved in helping refs in "moving up" the officiating ladder?"

We have cited issues such as "years of experience", "familiarity with assignors", "performance evals", "managing your arbiter", and a ref's ability to exercise "discerning judgement on the 'gray areas' of game management"--among other factors. However, at a recent association meeting--one of the panelists raised this question: "have you ever noticed any of the High School State playoff or NCAA refs with facial hair, beards, or mustaches?". The group of us attendees paused, then there was a collective faint "...ummm no" response. The panelist then said that "NCAA refs and their leaders all said that they do not want anyone on their crews with facial hair." And, furthermore that this was an accepted norm/restriction.
So, given this issue of grooming--do you think that the same bias/discrimination inheres with keeping good junior high & high school level refs from advancement? (i.e., just because they have facial hair is there such oblique discrimination in-play ?).