Beads in Hair

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

beads in the hair can be a tough issue. Having them put in costs a lot in both time and money. When officials don't enforce the rule, kids don't think it matters and they get them in. It's like girls' pierced ears. "But I just had it done last week!!" Why?? Why have them done the day before the season starts?? Wait until March.

Why did that kid have the beads put in right before the season? Why not braid up his hair without them? It's because no one has enforced the rule in the past. If you do it now, he'll remember, and there won't be a problem down the road. If you don't, it'll keep being a problem year after year after year.

Enforce the rule. Be firm but gentle. Don't yell, don't yield. If your partner starts negotiating, or even actively speaks against what you're doing, call your assignor and pass the buck there. Or just walk out. We need to have judgment and discretion, and sometimes the judgment needs to be that a rule is non-negotiable.

Had this in a scrimmage this week. My take is this: If by removing the earrings for 90 minutes causes the newly pierced holes to close up, then the kid should get her money back from the ear pierce shop. I always point out to the coach that it is an insurance issue, too, and somehow, the player always chooses playing over keeping the ear rings in.