Tonight, players on both sides had livestrong wristbands...on their legs!!! Yes, it was a girls game. I did not have them remove them, but I did email my interpreter on it. Anyone else run across this?

Why did you let the players wear them? They're regarded as jewelry and they're illegal, no matter where they're worn.

I don't know and that is why I asked the question.

Your interpreter hasn't gone over that one already?

Bad interpreter. Bad, bad, interpreter.

Must be one of them IAABO-joining, Bo-Sox loving, tofu-eating, diet-coke swallowing type of interpreters.

Nothing personal, Chuck.

Why would you need an interpreter to tell you this is illegal?

He hasn't seen that one. He's just been put on the national rules committee, so he can't be that bad. I will let you know what his ruling is.

Along these same lines, how about the wristband worn just below the knee? I've seen this in a few V games (as a spectator, not official). Personally I think they need to come off as they serve no purpose there, but I've seen some officials allow them.

Are you talking about a sweatband or a cho-pat band below the knee? Sweatbands are allowed regardless of where you put them, right? Cho-pats are used to correct knee cap alignment and tracking. These would be considered in the same category as post-ACL surgery knee braces, right?

This is a no brainer. Take them off.

Dont mind my tone. I dont mean to be so short. I must be grouchy tonight. And its late :) But it is still a no brainer...

I dont let players put a sweatband around their necks. That was popular last year or the year before.

FED: no restrictions on sweatbands, wherever they are worn, except for 1)dangerous or confusing items or 2) headbands wider than 2 inches. Just because you wouldn't wear a sweatband below the knee or around the neck, or it looks unusual, doesn't mean its illegal.

I been told that several state bodies have already issued memos stating that sweatbands are to be worn only on the body part they were intended for and are not to be worn anywhere else; if they are put around the neck, for instance, they are to be regarded as jewelry.

I agree with that- it's common sense- as well as being the purpose and intent of the rule also imo. We tell our officials that headbands are to go around heads- period.

I saw the same things JR saw. I thought I either heard at the rules meeting or read in a memo that sweatbands are to be worn where they were intended. I've even seen a couple of crews make players pull seatbands down to their wrists rather than up on their forearms. As far as the bands or prewrap on the knees for medical reasons, they are allowed for sure. I had to ask on the prewrap last year. I was going to make a player lose them.

How do you know where it's "intended" to be worn? I mean, it's a "sweatband," not necessarily a wristband.

Also, although this is obviously the rule, I don't understand what possible issue can arise from wearing a wristband on a forearm...

It can restrict movement and make you shoot like crap. Oh, wait, that is a coaching issue.