Wedding Ring?
 

How many of you guys wear a wedding ring while officiating? Had a guy tell me never to wear one this past weekend. It wouldn't make a difference if I took mine off because I have our date tattooed on my finger anyway, but I was curious about your areas. I've noticed multiple officials in our association wearing them, and I've never even given this a thought. My regular partners both wear one as well. My rules book is in my officiating bag so I don't have that handy to take a closer look, but I don't think I recall anything about wedding bands. I know we don't wear watches, so I'm trying to remember if it specifically addresses watches or if it's a broad statement about jewelry, and if you could interpret wedding rings in that statement....

This is a "When in Rome...." situation.
 

It is perfectly acceptable to wear a wedding ring. It is not like and ear ring or necklace.

Some people don't because they think someone might say something about their spouse. But if that is such a concern then you probably should not be out there if that is going to bother you that much with them no where in the gym or even knowing anything about you personally. No rules bans a wedding ring, that is common sense. But if you have people you work for that have an issue, that can be different.

Peace

I wear one. I've never been counseled not to and if I was, I'd probably ignore it.

The search function is your friend.

2015: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...tml#post970805

2013: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...tml#post906090

2013: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...ing-bands.html

2008: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...le-2341-b.html

2006: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...e-reffing.html

2005: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...ing-bling.html

2004: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...on-spouse.html

2002: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...officials.html

2001: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...ing-games.html

Thanks for the rabbit hole. So much for my productivity today.

My assigner doesn't want it. He said it is hypocritical of us to say players can't wear it then to wear it ourselves

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Keepsake
 

For several years after my wife died, I wore her wedding ring on a chain around my neck, the only jewelry I have ever worn. If someone had told me to take it off while officiating, I would have told them to go f*** themselves. (Well, not really, but I would have ignored them.)

There's only one thing worse than wearing any kind of jewelry, and that's having a visible ...

... oh, never mind.

My BIL has one of those with his anniversary date tattooed on it too. The anniversary of his marriage to his ex-wife.

I do not wear mine simply because it is just loose enough that I am scared it might fly off my finger at some point. Sure it's not likely, but I was concerned.

Safety Issue ...
 

I wear mine. I've never even heard it come up in a conversation here.

It doesn't affect how you officiate, and it's not likely to cause injury.

That said, much like rules on the amount of white allowed on shoes, and facial hair, and the "wide panel" shirts, and grey shirts, and gray shirts, etc,. there can be some perception issues. And, those in power get to make those decisions. So, follow the assigner's directive, or choose not to work for him / her. It's honestly not that important to worry about / fight about.

My only question is who told you this? Unless it was an assigner you want to work for, I'd ignore it.

I've had an evaluator at camp tell me this exact same thing.

It's a bogus argument, IMO, but I'd take off the ring for the duration of that camp.

Baseball plate umpire?

Yes, take it off. Safety.

Otherwise, do what you want. I've been married quite happily for 20 years and I don't wear a ring. My wife couldn't care less, either.

He was probably single.

I used to take mine off when I was still married because when I saw others with a ring on it distracted my eye.

What others decide to do I have no concern.

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Mine is fat so I don't wear it. I don't care one way or another. I think your assigner is wrong to say it's hypocritical. We are not in any physical contact with anyone else. The no jewelry rule has more to do with player safety imo than cosmetics.

I am going to jump in here. The NFHS Manual has always (with apologies to the late J. Dallas Shirley) allowed officials to wear a wedding ring only. The CCA Manuals were like the same as the NFHS Manual until the late 1980s when the wearing of wedding rings were prohibited.

I started officiating in 1971 and did not get married until 1982. Prior to getting married the only rings I wore were originally my H.S. ring which then changed to my college ring and my Order of the Engineer Ring. Since they were not wedding rings I did not wear the when I officiated. When I got married I choose to not wear my wedding ring because if players cannot wear jewelry neither should I. My dear wife has never complained about it.

MTD, Sr.

I don't buy his reasoning. Can the players wear a whistle? No, then I guess I can't either.

Wacky Rationale ...
 

Agree with jeremy341a.

[QUOTE=BillyMac;993255]Agree.[/QUOTE

U sound like a politician. Two opposing statements and you say you agree😃. I know what you mean...

+1

We are a safety risk to no one, not even ourselves. (I stopped jumping to dislodge basketballs long ago.)