Beads ...

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

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 no equipment issues.

Well this is a new rule, we have not even made it to the meetings yet or with the literature. Not worried about something that is not even addressed. And certainly do not care what is happening in a middle school game for sure. When high school starts and the process to take the exams and get approved to work games for the year, then I will worry about it then. We have a few months for this to work itself out anyway. Football season is starting and we just got some clarification on a couple of rules that were announced before basketball rules changes. Maybe, wait until we get closer and there is more communication on this. The NF PowerPoint is not out yet for basketball and a lot of information is likely to come out. But again this was addressed in Referee Magazine and pictures were used to show what was legal and illegal and it was not the pictures you used. Be patient and at this point, who cares what we are doing until it is fully addressed?

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Well this is a new rule, we have not even made it to the meetings yet ... wait until we get closer and there is more communication on this. The NF PowerPoint is not out yet for basketball and a lot of information is likely to come out ... Be patient ...

Agree. I was just reacting to something that just came out from IAABO. I'm sure that the combined IAABO/NFHS PowerPoint that we will get in a few months will be more explanatory.

My problem is more local, having little to do with the NFHS, or even IAABO. I don't have a crystal ball, but I've been to enough local rodeos to know what's coming. We've got many local guys who are great play callers, many are state tournament level officials (deservedly so), but don't give a damn about equipment, making those of us that do care jobs much more difficult.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

"But the referee on Tuesday night didn't say anything about ..."

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I remember a boy's JV game Mark, Jr., and I had years ago. It was the first night of the boys' season in the OhioHSAA (The first Friday in December.). I am watching the Visitors warm up and on player has a metal splint on his index finger (I do not recall which hand). I inform him that the splint is not legal and that we will not make him take the splint but as long as he is wearing it he cannot play.

The next thing you know, he and his HC come to Mark and me. The first words out his mouth was: "The officials in our last game let him play." And my response was: "You mean he was also wearing the splint when your team played their last game of last year's season last February?" That ended the discussion. The Player removed the splint and the school's trainer taped his finger together with his middle finger.

MTD, Sr.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

The NFHS Basketball Rules Committee issued 2022-23 Comments on the Rules which addressed only one thing: R3-S5-A4d. It can be found at https://nfhs.org/sports-resource-con...rules-2022-23/ and says:

3-5-4d – Allowing hair-control devices and adornments such as, but not limited to, barrettes, bobby pins and beads creates inclusivity of hair styles while maintaining that the risk of injury to the athlete, teammates and opponents should not be compromised. Hair adornments must be securely fastened close to the head and not increase risk to the athletes, teammates or opponents. It remains the responsibility of the head coach to ensure players are legally equipped before the competition begins.


As one can see it really clears things up, !

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

3-5-4d: Allowing hair-control devices and adornments such as, but not limited to, barrettes, bobby pins and beads creates inclusivity of hair styles while maintaining that the risk of injury to the athlete, teammates and opponents should not be compromised. Hair adornments must be securely fastened close to the head and not increase risk to the athletes, teammates or opponents. It remains the responsibility of the head coach to ensure players are legally equipped before the competition begins.

Hair adornments are now legal.

Does this mean that soft cloth ribbons, securely fastened close to the head, are now legal?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

The NFHS Basketball Rules Committee issued 2022-23 Comments on the Rules which addressed only one thing: R3-S5-A4d. It can be found at https://nfhs.org/sports-resource-con...rules-2022-23/ and says:

3-5-4d – Allowing hair-control devices and adornments such as, but not limited to, barrettes, bobby pins and beads creates inclusivity of hair styles while maintaining that the risk of injury to the athlete, teammates and opponents should not be compromised. Hair adornments must be securely fastened close to the head and not increase risk to the athletes, teammates or opponents. It remains the responsibility of the head coach to ensure players are legally equipped before the competition begins.


As one can see it really clears things up, !

MTD, Sr.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Hair adornments are now legal.

Does this mean that cloth ribbons, securely fastened close to the head, are now legal?

Billy:

I told you this Comment on the Rules would clear it up, !

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

I told you this Comment on the Rules would clear it up ...

Actually, I'll take the blame here. In typical BillyMac fashion, it was my question about ribbons (does this mean that cloth ribbons, securely fastened close to the head, are now legal?) that pushed the limitations of Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.'s new rule comment citation.

Even though I disagreed with the 2019-20 NFHS interpretation regarding ribbons...

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 was very cut and dry, easy to understand, and had a logical rationale: Ribbons are illegal because they are decorations. While I disagreed with the interpretation (in addition to being a decoration (adornment) they were also a soft, cloth, hair control device), I did enforce it because it was so clear.

Now that the NFHS has made hair adornments, like beads, legal, are all properly secured close to the head adornments (decorations) legal, such as ribbons? Beads are hard and now legal, shouldn't ribbons which are soft also be legal? Their rationale for the 2019-20 ribbon interpretation is no longer valid.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

"The officials in our last game let him play."

Hate it say it, but he's probably not lying, it was a scrimmage official.

Hear it all the time here in my little corner of Connecticut, at all levels from middle school to high school varsity.

It takes every single bit of will in my body to keep from asking for the name of the official, because I really don't want to know the name. I'm not sure what I should, or would, do with that information, so ignorance is bliss.