For those of you that wear rings, whether it be a wedding band or other type, do you wear it/them while you officiate?

Why or why not?

We've had this conversation before. I take my wedding band off. If the kids can't wear anything, I don't wear anything either. Granted my wedding band is much less of a danger to others than somebody's earrings or necklace; but it just seems fairer to do what I'm asking them to do.

I guess I never thought of it in those terms before, because I always wear my wedding band. I've never considered it an issue with my partners as well, even though some of the female refs I've worked with take off their diamonds (or not even bring them to the game site).

I used to think it was symbolic to not take it off, but I do remove it before playing softball or golf. So much for symbolism, eh? ;)

Wearinig it keeps the single moms off of you! LOL!!!!

I wear my wedding ring when I officiate. Haven't taken my ring off since I have been married (9 years). I know a couple of officials that have taken theirs off before a game and lost it before they got home.

nevermind

Read the NFHS Officials Manual and the NCAA CCA Manuals:

NFHS: A wedding ring is the only piece of jewelery that can be worn.

NCAA: No jewelery can be worn.

Until the late 90's the NCAA did allow wedding rings, but not now.


Having given what the manuals say, I don't know of an evaluator who would care one iota if an official was wearing a wedding ring.

MTD, Sr.

Hey, just shows your priorities:

- Softball
- Golf
- Mrs. M&M
- Officiating basketball.

Pretty screwed up that basketball should come after softball, if you ask me.

I wear my wedding band when officiating for two reasons:

1) I'm afraid of losing it
2) More importantly, I'm afraid of my wife.

I decided to take it off before a game once and I no sooner had it off my finger then my cell phone rang and my wife was on the line asking me why my wedding band was off!

I know, that's why I'm in therapy. It's the same therapist who's treating Chuck, btw. You should see the video the therapist has about two guys in a shower... :eek:

I wear my wedding ring. If the commish wants me to take it off, he can talk to my wife :) Just joking. Frankly, I forget it is on I am so used to it and it is platinum and too expensive to risk loosing. So I wouldnt take it off anyway. And I do not think wearing the ring makes it harder to ask the players to remove items at all. I'm the ref. They are the players. I wouldnt wear earrings or a necklace or things like that. But a wedding ring is different.

Mine won't come off due to having jammed that knuckle pretty bad a few years back. And if it did come off, I wouldn't be able to get it back on....

How about the nipple rings though ??? :-0

I've had jammed fingers before in basketball (though, not officiating), so I don't wear it for that reason.

The wedding ring is the ONLY peice of jewerly any official should ever wear, except in sports like football where a watch is common -- but wear a digital sports watch, not a Rolex Submariner!

I keep mine on. I figure it's the least I can do since she never says a word about how much I am gone officiating.

Wore mine until
 

I had a close situation with a 5 second count and had to stop the count because I felt it slip below my knuckle. Got chewed on by the coach for not coming with the 5 second count but I didn't want some lady in the stands to think that I was trying to propose to her!!!!