Beads ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Honestly, if you can't officiate this, or worry about what the parents think, you should give it up.

I've been working public school middle school games for almost five years. Here in my little corner of Connecticut middle school coaches are notoriously ignorant regarding equipment rules.

When I walk into a girls game gym and see many, various, illegal, undershirt colors, the hairs on the back of my neck immediately go up because I know that most coaches are going to plead "modesty" and try to talk me out of enforcement. I actually had a coach say that she would put her girls back on the bus and go home if I enforced the rule. Another coach blocked me from future games. It doesn't help that many of my colleagues ignore the rule. I don't ignore, but I will occasionally "compromise" (free pass today, no free pass next game). Never any free passes in a boys game, in my opinion, shoulder and chest "modesty" with sleeveless jerseys doesn't apply to boys.

I've had a few bead problems over the years. Because it's a safety issue, I never "passed", but it's never an easy sell. Players often got emotionally upset, coaches would often sympathize with their players, and occasionally parents would politely question me (usually after the game). While my race (White) was never outwardly mentioned, I always felt that it had something to do with it. What does this old White man know about a young Black woman's hair? Fair question, answer, very little. I always had difficulty telling apart very small metal beads from metallic colored threads embedded in braids. Now, with the new rule, those metallic colored threads embedded in braids are probably legal.

Note: I have questions about ribbons used to tie back hair, for all races. Are ribbons ornamental, or soft hair control devices? The NFHS would say ornamental (illegal), but I disagree and believe ribbons to be legal soft hair control devices. I'm not going to die on this "ribbon" hill.

With this "bead rule", that I agree with for sake of ethnic and racial "diversity of hair trends" (NFHS quote), the NFHS has changed a "cut and dry" rule (no hard hair ornaments) into a subjective rule open to interpretation. How close to the head is "close to the head"?

While high school coaches will figure this new "bead rule" out and share the rule change with their players and parents, Connecticut middle school coaches will continue to be under-informed, as will their players and parents.

For me, if the beads swing around with the hair, it's unsafe and illegal. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, at least until the NFHS or IAABO offer different advice.

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

... concussion headbands ... seems to have more to do with state associations ...

Agree.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Note: I have questions about ribbons used to tie back hair, for all races. Are ribbons ornamental, or soft hair control devices? The NFHS would say ornamental (illegal), but I disagree and believe ribbons to be legal soft hair control devices. I'm not going to die on this hill either.

2019-20 Basketball Rules Interpretations: SITUATION 2: A1 is wearing a ribbon to control her hair. RULING: Illegal. Ribbons are considered decorations and the athlete should not be allowed to enter the contest while wearing a ribbon in the hair. (3-5-4e)

It's there in black and white but I still disagree.

One can legally tie prewrap in a knot to use as a headband, but one can't legally tie a piece of soft cloth (ribbon) in a knot to use as a hair control devise?

2019-20 Basketball Rules Interpretations: SITUATION 1: A1 is waiting at the table to substitute into the game. The official recognizes the substitute is wearing pre-wrap tied in the back as a headband. RULING: The substitute is permitted to enter the game wearing the pre-wrap as a headband provided it meets all the guidelines for a headband. (3-5-4b)

Below: Legal in my game, used to control hair. Yeah, I know that I'm a rebel and thus, part of the problem.



Below: Illegal in my game, decorative (ornamental).



Yeah, it's subjective, maybe that's why the NFHS outlawed ribbons?

If ribbons are outlawed, only outlaws will have ribbons.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

2019-20 Basketball Rules Interpretations: SITUATION 2: A1 is wearing a ribbon to control her hair. RULING: Illegal. Ribbons are considered decorations and the athlete should not be allowed to enter the contest while wearing a ribbon in the hair. (3-5-4e)

It's there in black and white but I still disagree.

One can legally tie prewrap in a knot to use as a headband, but one can't legally tie a piece of soft cloth (ribbon) in a knot to use as a hair control devise?

2019-20 Basketball Rules Interpretations: SITUATION 1: A1 is waiting at the table to substitute into the game. The official recognizes the substitute is wearing pre-wrap tied in the back as a headband. RULING: The substitute is permitted to enter the game wearing the pre-wrap as a headband provided it meets all the guidelines for a headband. (3-5-4b)

Below: Legal in my game, used to control hair. Yeah, I know that I'm a rebel and thus, part of the problem.



Below: Illegal in my game, decorative (ornamental).



Yeah, it's subjective, maybe that's why the NFHS outlawed ribbons?

If ribbons are outlawed, only outlaws will have ribbons.

The real problem per ribbons is that they were originally legal in NFHS, NCAA Men's, and NCAA Women's, AND then the NFHS made them illegal but the NCAA has not. Auburn University men's team in playing in a Summer tournament (played using FIBA Rules) in Israel right now (I watched from the start until the middle of the 2nd QT when I fell asleep with my pre-lunch nap, LOL!) and FIBA does not prohibit ribbons and one of the Auburn players was wearing navy blue ribbons on the end of his dreads to match Auburn's uniform.

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

FIBA does not prohibit ribbons and one of the Auburn players was wearing navy blue ribbons on the end of his dreads to match Auburn's uniform.

Hey Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. Please post a photo of you wearing ribbons in your hair.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Hey Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. Please post a photo of you wearing ribbons in your hair.

I would if I had hair, LOL!

MTD, Sr.

[JRutledge]

For the record, this is not a girl problem. I work boys basketball exclusively at the high school and college level and this comes up often in boy's or men's basketball. Happen at a camp where this was a possible issue at a camp in April and that was a college camp. A clinician discussed that a boy's hair might be an issue based on what he had in it and stated, "That has to be determined by someone higher than my pay grade, but something should be addressed if it is legal." It was my game at the time and we allowed it or better yet did not make an issue because it was not very clear. I think he would have been OK based on the location of some clamps this kid had in his hair. A few weeks later the NF came out with their rules.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

For the record, this is not a girl problem.

Disagree. It is a girl problem. And it's also a boy problem.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Disagree. It is a girl problem. And it's also a boy problem.

It's a "they" problem

[bob jenkins]

Based on all the posts here over the past several years, it seems to mostly be a BM problem.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Based on all the posts here over the past several years, it seems to mostly be a BM problem.

We have found the answer!

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Based on all the posts here over the past several years, it seems to mostly be a BM problem.

As much as I hate to say it, you guys must be working with much better colleagues than I am.

Even back when I was a full time varsity official, equipment issues were often a problem.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "But the referee on Tuesday night didn't say anything about ...", I could afford to buy that retirement villa in Tuscany I've been eyeing.

In my middle school games, it's much worse, I seldom have a game with zero equipment issues.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

We have found the answer!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Based on all the posts here over the past several years, it seems to mostly be a BM problem.

Pretty much. Like the pun. LOL!!!

Peace