Rubber band

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by Hawks Coach
1. No wider than 2 inches, made of rubber - seems to describe a large rubber band to me.

Sorry but I disagree. We all know what head bands are and we all know what rubberbands are. They aren't one and the same. But if that rule doesn't please you, I can always use 3-7.

3-7
The referee shall not permit any team member to participate if in his/her judgment, items such as a player's fingernails or hair style may constitute a safety concern.

2. Rubber bands may be used to control hair - how do you determine that a rubber band is not controlling hair when worn around head - I know people who use them for this purpose and prefer it with certain hairstyles over trying to make a bunch of short pigtails.

If the rubberband is wrapped tightly around the hair, so that it can't come off during play, I have no problem with it. But that's not the case of a rubberband being used for a head band.

3. You can ask a player to remove anything? Under the assumption they must be properly equipped? So you have a player with longish hair, he/she controls this hair with a headband which is legal under the rules definition, and you make an arbitrary decision that you don't like it and they have to remove it. I am not clear where it is your place to insert yourself into the rules here.

That was a typo that I have now corrected. Thanks for pointing it out. I can't ask a player to remove anything. I can simply tell him/her that she can't play if she wears it.

The bottom line is that I could be held liable if I allow something to be worn and somebody gets hurt because of it. Therefore, I could care less if I piss off the player, the coach, the entire team or the entire gym.