You must not have daughters. I have two. My girls never had the issue of sports...they got their pierced in the offseason. But, yes, the hole can begin to close up very quickly...not completely...but the outer part of the hole. It is painful to reinsert the earring even after a short time. Each daughter was quite different in how fast their piercings would close over too.

I'm not so sure on this one. Is it really jewelry? If they had a band-aid over the piercing (no earring under)....is that jewelry? No. There can be things on the ear that are not jewelry. Given the nature, intent, and purpose of the jewelry rule, I'm not sure a soft piece of soft string not meant for adornment but meant for preserving the piercing would be jewelry if it is merely knotted at the surface. It couldn't get caught, it couldn't punture, it couldn't scrape, etc. I think that it might be a very clever way to acomplish the preservation of a new piercing without violating the jewelry rule.

I agree, I would have them throw a piece of tape over the thread just to make sure nobody could hook a hang nail on it and let him/her play..I don't think this meets the definition of "jewelry"....I sure wish my wife thought so though!:)

There's been an interp, but it might just be in IL, that this "string" is considered jewelry for the purposes of this rule.

Haven't heard that Bob, I'd be interested to see it...

What if the player has "stitches" on the lower ear from some medical treatment? That is basically string meant to hold the tissue in place. Is that jewelry or not? Of course, it is not. Same material, same basic purpose...must be the same thing.

I suppose the argument could be made that the purpose is the crux of the issue- ie if you are wearing an arm sleeve that is for medical purposes that is acceptable, but if not for medical purposes unnacceptable...same item, different result..

Similar To Color Of Jersey ???
 

Was her jersey silver? Did all of her teammates with nail polish have silver nail polish on?

Knots have been known to come loose. How many times have we delayed during a dead ball to have kids tie their shoes? Tape falls off. How many times have we seen a piece of it (or a band-aid) on the floor and kicked it off to the side of the court?

Famous last words...It can't do any of those things until the one time it actually does happen.

All I know is I'm not making myself any more liable than necessary, and the jewelry/string/tape is coming out or they're not playing...

There are often things that are allowed for medical reasons that are not allowed for other reasons.

I do. But with AAU it seems like there is never an off-season.:D

So, I what is the answer to this.

Player shows up with a string and a small knot in the end. he has a doctors note saying that the string must be left in "for medical reasons". what are you going to do. Does he get to play based on the doctor slip????

we all know that most coaches know a doctor that can give them a medical excuse if they ask.

A doctors note does not trump the rules. The doctors note is in case of injury, most noticably when the head is involved. This is protection for all parties involved and to place liability on the doctor and not the officials.

I think you are mashing a few different issues together. An actual doctor's note is only required if a kid has been determined to be unconcious. If someone is wearing an otherwise illegal piece of equipment such as an arm sleeve, they don't need a Dr.'s note, all they need to do is "attest" that it is for medical reasons (at least that is how it is handled around here). However, if they are wearing a knee brace with exposed metal hinges or a cast on their arm, they could have a note from whatever Dr. they want, they aren't playing with it....I think you just need to determine if it is disallowed by rule (maybe, maybe not with the thread in the ear depending on interpretation), if it is not disallowed, is it dangerous or confusing? The whole Dr.'s note is irrelevant unless you are dealing with an unconcious player...

Ok,

so the kid comes in and says that the string must stay in "for medical reasons", as his doctor says the pierced hole would close up if he didn't leave it in.

i know this sounds stupid, but it is part of the same ole SH## that we hear day in and out.

I know i would tell him he can't play