Slightly OT: Brain Teaser
 

OT, that it is not about basketball, but it is about officiating.. so I am sneaking it in---

In what sport does the official check an aspect of personal grooming on every player before the game begins. Often, if players fail the inspection they end up on their knees (literally)

What sport, and why?

Just a guess
 

Wrestling? I am guessing you lose neutral start (ala standing up)?

Chess or Checkers?

Good Guess.. but wrong
 

On wrasslin'.

Hint - it is a sport that uses a ball.

You must be really bored.

Is it Polo?

correct.. and correct
 

Correct, I am bored.

Correct, it is polo, water polo to be exact.

Before each match the official checks every player's fingernails. They must not be long or the extensive contact in the pool will lead to scratching of opponent.

If a player fails this inspection, they often kneel down on the pool deck, and "file" their fingernails on the grout between the tiles on the pool deck.

(small world, coach Z coached my daughter last year before his untimely death assuming we are talking abou the same coach Z here)

I'm in Michigan and the Coach Z I'm referring to was the college coach who I was manager for during my college days. He got fired right before I graduated, but we still keep in touch. He now coaches AAU boys, but as of Last July, he was alive and well as I visited him for the first time since I graduated. So I'm hoping it's not the same person, because I'd feel bad if he died and I missed his death notice. :eek:

Not same guy
 

I am guessing any coach who's last name starts with Z gets that moniker.

The coach Z I was talking about was a water polo coach in Michigan.. it was just a strange coincidence that you invoked the name on a thread talking about Water Polo..

It sounded like something WP coach Z would have said....

That's funny:D