Beads ...
 

Most recent issue of IAABO Sportorial magazine came out today. It included some photos of legal and illegal equipment. It included the rule change regarding beads.

Hard adornments (beads) are allowed if they are securely fastened "close to the head" and do not present a risk to the player, teammates, or opponents.

It appears that beads that are not worn "close to the head", for example tied to long braids, are illegal.

Note that this is an IAABO interpretation, not a NFHS interpretation.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1fb92fb5_m.jpg

Not sure If I'm ready to debate with a coach, a young woman, or a young man, what "close to the head" means. Easy interpretation for the two photos on the left (legal) and the photo on the far right (illegal). Third photo from the left is interesting, beads are within a "bun", but not "close to the head", beads are up to two inches away for the scalp.

I guess it's based on whether, or not the beads can "swing around" and strike somebody in the eye?

Maybe I should laminate these photos and bring them with me to games?

Concussion Headbands ...
 

Also included this:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2a626bd0_m.jpg

It appears that "concussion headbands" have left the realm of headbands and have entered the realm of medical devices, and as such, are not color restricted?

The NF came out with an interpretation using similar pictures and examples. IAABO is likely using the same information or examples. All in the last few months of Referee Magazine and even an example of soccer that had more examples of their rule that proceeded the basketball interpretation. I will try to post the pictures I used on my FB page.

Peace

Racist ...
 

My biggest fear is that coaches, players, and parents will hear about beads now being legal and will misunderstand that to mean that all beads are legal.

Being a mostly middle school official, I know that many middle school coaches are often unaware of equipment rules, and have difficulty explaining such to players and parents.

I just don't want to be thought of as being a racist when I enforce the beads rule as intended by the NFHS and IAABO. I really don't want to see my name in the newspaper, or on the local television news, or in a viral internet post, as has happened to our colleagues in other sports (softball, wrestling) regarding ethnic hair issues over the past few years.

I like the beads in braids that are kept close to the scalp, it's a good look. Beads at the end of long braids are also a good look, but can be unsafe when swung around.

I sat in the bleachers near a Black mom braiding her young daughter's hair at a state tournament game a few years ago. What a great bonding experience for both of them. I truly hope that we can pull off this rule change with few problems. It's a good rule change. I hope that it doesn't come back to bite us in the ass, or smack us in the eye.

Bolero ...
 

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7f/7d/c4/7...d168a85e7f.jpg

Anybody (other than Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.) old enough to know who this is?

Hint: How would you rate her on a scale of one to ten?

Cultural misappropriation?

Illegal in a basketball game.

Let's look at the far left picture in the group of pictures labeled: Head Decoration. I am waiting for a girl who is wearing beads all throughout her hair as in this picture to fall hard to the floor, her head hits the floor hard, the beads either break and sharp pieces are driven into her scalp or they do not break but are still driven into her scalp and either case cause bleeding, possibly server bleeding.


Jeff: You beat me to it!


Bonnie Jean is a 10 Bo is just an 8. That said, I have had two games in my career which involved beads as in the picture in the far right of the group of pictures labeled: Head Decoration. The first time was decades ago in a run of the mill weekend AAU tournament involving a girl in an 16U game. I told the girl that I could not make her take the beads out but I would not let her play while they were in her hair. This was not her team's first game in the tournament and no one had told her that she could not play with them in her hair. And of course her parents got the TD involved and he said that she could play. I told him that if that was his decision that I was going home and I went home! The second time was also decades ago at the YBOA Girls National Championship Tournament in the very first day of Pool Play. I told the girl that I could not make her take the beads out but I would not let her play while they were in her hair. She was a starter; her mother took the beads out but it took so long that she was not ready to play until the start of the Second QT.

MTD, Sr.

Eleven ...
 

Bo Derek an eight? The 1979 movie was called "Ten" for a reason.

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.v...AA&pid=Api&P=0

In the 1962 James Bond movie, "Dr. No", Ursula Andress walking out of the sea as Honey Ryder was an eleven.

https://spoonfeedz.com/images/5c7e5912a3071.jpeg

Be careful Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. Ursula knows how to use that knife.

You realize that there are white girls that wear things in their hair too? I get that you want to be ultra-safe, but white people do a lot of things that other cultures do and act surprised when those things might be problematic. The image that was shown in Referee Magazine in soccer gave many examples of white people wearing their hair with things in them that would be deemed illegal.

Peace

See Photo Of Bo Derek ...
 

Agree. Over thirty years of teaching middle school science, I've seen many White girls come back from a winter vacation in the Caribbean with beaded braids.

The same or similar pictures are also used for VB. They could have 101 pictures about what is legal or illegal and some would say that's not enough guidance. Honestly, if you can't officiate this, or worry about what the parents think, you should give it up.

And, concussion headbands have never (well, except perhaps in some mistaken non-official interp) been "headbands." This rule should have no affect (at least on officials -- it seems to have more to do with state associations)

We will have been married 40 years in September and I do not want to sleep on the couch, LOL!

MTD, Sr.

I'm old and learned enough to know you left out Linda Evans from the harem.

Birds Of A Feather ...
 

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/26/6e...aa7f2666a3.jpg

Film director John Derek married Linda Evans in 1968, and separated in 1973, when Derek disclosed his affair with Bo Derek, who was 30 years his junior, and was 17 years old at the time. He married Bo Derek in 1976.

Linda Evans is a close friend with Bond girl Ursula Andress, a sometime houseguest at her home in Beverly Hills.

I remembered some of this, but not all of this.

Middle School Follies ...
 

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.

Agree.

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'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.

http://coveteur.com/wp-content/uploa...Ribbon_034.jpg

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

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.L...=0&w=309&h=174

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.

That Would Be A Real Hoot ...
 

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.

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

Goose And Gander ...
 

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

It's a "they" problem :D

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

We have found the answer!

Better Colleagues ...
 

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.

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.o...AA&pid=Api&P=0

Pretty much. Like the pun. LOL!!!

Peace

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

Local Problem ...
 

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.

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.

2022-23 NFHS Basketball Rules: Comments on the Rules
 

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, :p!

MTD, Sr.

Take The Ribbon From Your Hair (Kris Kristofferson, 1970) ...
 

Hair adornments are now legal.

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

https://louiseroe.com/wp-content/upl...e-blog-2-1.jpg

Pogo (Walt Kelly) ...
 

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.

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.o...AA&pid=Api&P=0

Billy:

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

MTD, Sr.

But Not Limited To ...
 

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.

Utilitarian ...
 

On the other hand ...

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.L...=0&w=309&h=174

Do the decorative qualities of this ribbon (above) outweigh the utilitarian qualities of the ribbon (hair control)?

On the other other hand (three hands?), do decorative beads have any utilitarian qualities?

Billy:

You did nothing wrong, the Rules are just getting more and more murkier every year.

Have a good weekend.

MTD, Sr.

Keep It Simple ...
 

Just the opposite of what the NFHS should be doing regarding equipment rules. These rules need to be simplified.

Removing the phrase "school color" from the rulebook, and grouping compression shorts with other types of equipment, was a good start, but more needs to be done.

If equipment rules are easily understood by officials, coaches, players, and parents, these rules would be a lot easier to consistently enforce, and we can get back to playing basketball.

I don't want high school and middle school games to look like a "wild west" fourth grade recreation league practice in half of a local elementary school gym, or like a "clown college" graduation.

I see the value of uniformity (as well as dignity and pride) in a team's equipment, allowing officials to easily identify players on each team during fast paced action, as well as safety rules regarding such.

But we need simplified equipment rules, simplified so as to be easily understood by all stake holders in the game, simplified to be consistently enforced by all officials.

Basketball fashion (shoes with flashing lights, undershirts, headbands, prewrap headbands, wrist bands, arm sleeves, compression shorts, long shorts, Ninja style knotted headbands, tights, beads, etc.) changes all the time, always has, and always will continue to change.

The NFHS needs to react to such and adjust, but must do so in a simplified manner.

http://rlv.zcache.com/keep_it_simple..._8byvr_152.jpg

I hate to re-open this discussion, but this is from the VB interps -- my *guess* is that BK will have something similar:

2022-23 SITUATIONS
SITUATION 1: During team warmups, the officials notice a player on Team A wearing plastic beads at the end of hair braids. The braids, pulled back in a ponytail and secured with an elastic hair tie, (a) extend down the player’s back swaying back and forth as the player moves; (b) fall above the player’s shoulders moving within the plane of the player’s shoulders. RULING: (a) illegal, (b) legal. COMMENT: Hair-control devices and other adornments in the hair that are securely fastened and do not present a risk of injury to the player, teammates or opponents are permitted. In situation (a), the official shall notify the coach of Team A and allow the player to make the equipment legal by securing the beads closer to the head and within the plane of the shoulders to minimize risk of injury from swinging beads. (4-1-6)

Plane Of The Shoulders ...
 

Thanks bob jenkins.

Not quite sure what the "plane of the shoulders" means.

Possibly this (horizontal plane at shoulder height):

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.G...AA&pid=Api&P=0

I do not care how the beads are attached. There was nothing wrong with the rule, as written before the 2022-23 school year.

Remember: If a player was not born wearing it then there is absolutely no reason to wear it when playing!

MTD, Sr.

“a risk of injury to the player, teammates, or opponents…”. Once again, nobody cares about us, the officials. My biggest reason not to allow the Bo Derek beads, is because I don’t want to get whacked in the side of the face. Unless Bo Derek is wearing them.

Didn't Know That There Was Going To Be Math ...
 

Bead is not properly secured and falls, unnoticed, to the floor. If someone steps on the bead, slips, and falls, guess who has a 17% (two person) or a 23% (three person) chance of slipping and falling?

https://res.cloudinary.com/teepublic...s/165514_1.jpg

Billy:

I love it!

MTD, Sr.

Girls Go Crazy Over A Guy With A Slide Rule ...
 

I did the math on my trusty Pickett Model N 1010-ES Trig slide rule.

I could go to three significant digits if you would like?

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a483908f_m.jpg

My weapon of choice is the full-size Post Versalog 1460 which I think cost me about $20 in Sep. 1969 when I entered engineering school. I also have a half-size Post Versalog 1460.

When Mark, Jr., graduated from H.S. in May 2008, as a graduation present to send him off engineering school in the Fall I went on eBay and bought him mint condition full-size Post Versalog 1460 including sheath with belt attachment and handbook for $230 not including shipping and handling, LOL!

MTD, Sr.

If you're at risk from a player's headwear, you're too close to the players.

Close Enough ...
 

Jump ball?