Earrings & Liability

[Camron Rust]

Saftey rules should never be waived. End of discussion.

[RCBSports]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Saftey rules should never be waived. End of discussion.

Agreed. Safety is for the kids. Hence why they make rules =P

-Lucas

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Safety rules should never be waived. End of discussion.

Unfortunately, some officials will always find some kind of weak excuse not to take care of bidness.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Unfortunately, some officials will always find some kind of weak excuse not to take care of bidness.

I do not think that is fair. Many times the Tournament Director is more concerned about making the participants happy and they are unaware of the rules in the first place. I had the very same thing several years ago and I did not know what to do at the time. Now I take a much clearer stand and what is required as it deals with the rules. During the regular season this is not an issue because we are under the jurisdiction of the state and if we do not enforce the rules thoroughly, there is a different consequence. Often during the summer the TD wants to make everyone happy and they do not have a set of rules or an organization making sure they follow strict guidelines.

Peace

[Man In Blue]

It's just summer ball..

Why do you have to call it so tight?

Don't call a travel...

What's a hand check?

It's just blood...

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do not think that is fair. Many times the Tournament Director is more concerned about making the participants happy and they are unaware of the rules in the first place. I had the very same thing several years ago and I did not know what to do at the time. Now I take a much clearer stand and what is required as it deals with the rules. During the regular season this is not an issue because we are under the jurisdiction of the state and if we do not enforce the rules thoroughly, there is a different consequence. Often during the summer the TD wants to make everyone happy and they do not have a set of rules or an organization making sure they follow strict guidelines.

I agree with both of you.

On the one hand, TDs (and coaches, players, and Moms) are taking advantage of newer officials who aren't as sure of themselves. You get a 19 or 20 year old kid in there; with Mom screaming about all the money she just spent that morning getting her daughter hole-punched, coach saying you can't force his best player to the bench, and the TD (who essentially writes your paycheck) wanting to make the coach and mom (who essentially write his check) happy, and it's no wonder the refs cave.

On the other hand, there are enough veteran officials who should know better who come in with the "it's summer ball" attitude and never even question the little bit of tape on the ears.

[BayStateRef]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

On the other hand, there are enough veteran officials who should know better who come in with the "it's summer ball" attitude and never even question the little bit of tape on the ears.

The officials for this tournament are varsity-level and college-level. It is a quality tournament with some of the top girls teams in Massacusetts and New Hampshire. The TD is the girls college coach. So...we don't have folks who lack rules knowledge or are uncomfortable enforcing the rules.

The assignor told me later he liked how I handled it and he would have backed me fully if I refused to allow the girl to play, even pulling all the officials from the courts, if it came to that. He was upset at the TD for her attitude, but as others have posted here, earrings and summer ball are common at the college level. And as Rut noted...the TD wants schools to come to this tournament and she thought the "tape 'em and waive 'em" policy was good enough.

Since it is her tournament, played under no formal sanction (T-shirts for the winners; bragging rights for anyone who wants; a couple of college coaches hanging around to scout and/or recruit), she can pick and chose the rules. We already had changed several rules: running time (except for foul shots and last two minutes of each half); no shot-clock (Mass. uses 30-second clock) or 10-second backcourt; uniform numbers didn't matter (one team had three '0's; another team had players with 3-digit numbers). I know that none of these are safety issues, but the rules are the rules. If we waive some rules (or the TD does), does it automatically follow that we can waive any rule?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BayStateRef

If we waive some rules (or the TD does), does it automatically follow that we can waive any rule?

No. The TD has a right to do as she wishes, but she won't have me officiating her games if she waives safety rules. Again, I'm not interested in stopping the game to clean blood up off the floor. Liability is a minor concern for me; the actual safety of the players is a bigger deal to me.

College coach should know better, and I guarantee you princess will take her earrings out if she thinks a college scholarship may be riding on whether she plays in the tournament or not.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by BayStateRef

Since it is her tournament, played under no formal sanction (T-shirts for the winners; bragging rights for anyone who wants; a couple of college coaches hanging around to scout and/or recruit), she can pick and chose the rules.

She may change timing rules or such things, but in no way would I ever tolerate her changing a safety rule. I believe you were in error.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

and the TD (who essentially writes your paycheck) wanting to make the coach and mom

That's one horny TD!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

That's one horny TD!

Fixed it.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do not think that is fair. Many times the Tournament Director is more concerned about making the participants happy and they are unaware of the rules in the first place. I had the very same thing several years ago and I did not know what to do at the time. Now I take a much clearer stand and what is required as it deals with the rules. During the regular season this is not an issue because we are under the jurisdiction of the state and if we do not enforce the rules thoroughly, there is a different consequence. Often during the summer the TD wants to make everyone happy and they do not have a set of rules or an organization making sure they follow strict guidelines.

Peace

None of that matters if someone gets hurt. Even with a waiver, they can prove you're negligent because you knew the rules but still allowed her to play.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

None of that matters if someone gets hurt. Even with a waiver, they can prove you're negligent because you knew the rules but still allowed her to play.

Of course they can. But that does not mean everyone knows how to deal with when confronted with the situation. It is not all about what the rules says it is also about how you can deal with the pressure and knowing your place in all the excitement.

Peace

[Tio]

Screw the tournament director! Do you think they are going to admit they told you the kids could play with earrings once the lawsuits start flying? Plain and simple, the guy or girl takes the earrings out or they don't play. If the tournament director wants to avoid the rules, then why do they need the officials? I walk out of the gym at that point. Which is probably why I hate summer ball.