What say you?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I have just finished my paper work from my midnight courier run and went online to read the news and this story caught my interest in the sports section.

Girl pulled from game over safety concerns about headscarf - News | FOX Sports on MSN

MTD, Sr.

[Terrapins Fan]

Mark I am in Maryland and we allow a difference in dress based on religions.

I would have allowed it.


I have never come across this. But we might have an Amish girl who has to wear a head covering.

I am surprised she was allowed to wear just a uniform to play in. We have some that have to wear long pants under their shorts and long shirts under their shirts. I have seen both of those.

[BillyMac]

Mythbusters.

State associations may, on an individual basis, allow a player to participate while wearing a head covering, if it is worn for medical or religious reasons, provided that the covering is not abrasive, hard, or dangerous, and is attached in such a way that it is highly unlikely to come off during play.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

We have some that have to wear long pants under their shorts.

Why under her shorts? Why not just long pants, sans shorts?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Why under her shorts? Why not just long pants, sans shorts?

Because that would require the school to purchase matching pants for the one girl, a much cheaper option is the pants underneath the shorts.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Why under her shorts? Why not just long pants, sans shorts?

+1

See case book 3.5.6SitB. You can wear legally wear long pants instead of shorts. Anything under the shorts and extending below the shorts is generally illegal.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

+1

See case book 3.5.6SitB. You can wear legally wear long pants instead of shorts. Anything under the shorts and extending below the shorts is generally illegal.

While this is true, if a player tells me she's wearing pants (under her shorts) for religious purposes, I'm letting her play. I'll send a note to my assigner and the state after the game.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

While this is true, if a player tells me she's wearing pants (under her shorts) for religious purposes, I'm letting her play. I'll send a note to my assigner and the state after the game.

And you would be taking a chance imo because you're going directly against a definitive NFHS ruling if you did so. The FED has said that wearing tights below the shorts for religious purposes is illegal. Anything worn that extends below the uniform shorts is illegal. Wearing long pants, tights, a skirt, etc, instead of shorts is legal.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

And you would be taking a chance imo because you're going directly against a definitive NFHS ruling if you did so. The FED has said that wearing tights below the shorts for religious purposes is illegal. Anything worn that extends below the uniform shorts is illegal. Wearing long pants, tights, a skirt, etc, instead of shorts is legal.

I realize she could wear jeans if she wanted to, as long as there's no more than one manufacturer's logo and it's no more than 2.25 inches squared.

I'd be taking a chance either way, and from what I've seen from CHSAA on this issue in the past, it would be less of a chance my way. They tend to rule towards allowing things like this (non-safety issues) for religious reasons.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I realize she could wear jeans if she wanted to, as long as there's no more than one manufacturer's logo and it's no more than 2.25 inches squared.

I'd be taking a chance either way, and from what I've seen from CHSAA on this issue in the past, it would be less of a chance my way. They tend to rule towards allowing things like this (non-safety issues) for religious reasons.

But it's already been ruled by the NFHS that she can't legally wear jeans under her shorts, even for religious reasons. I honestly can't see any state going against a definitive NFHS ruling like that when all the player has to do to be legally dressed is remove the shorts and just wear the long pants. And you're not taking a chance with telling the player that either because you have specific language to that effect in that case play to back you up.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

I honestly can't see any state going against a definitive NFHS ruling like that when all the player has to do to be legally dressed is remove the shorts and just wear the long pants.

I can.

(But I don't know what they have done in snaqwell's state.)

[Terrapins Fan]

She wore the long pants and long shirt under her uniform for religious reasons. ( modesty )

She was their best player. I wasn't going to argue that she couldn't, I could see there being a law suit for discrimination.

Plus, they were both tight to the skin, nothing hanging loose.

She played like that for 4 years and is now in college, I expect playing somewhere.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I can.

(But I don't know what they have done in snaqwell's state.)

But would you have allowed it without having a ruling from the state?

Or would you just say "Why not just wear the long pants and forget about the shorts?" Imo doing that that would keep any reasonable person happy while meeting the rule at the same time.

Why take a chance that the state might disagree with you when you really don't have to? Doesn't make sense to me. But....that's just me.

[referee99]

Two years ago. My association starts doing games for a charter school league. "Varsity" games are akin to JV or Frosh games elsewhere (or worse).

Have a girls game, and it turns out one of the teams is from a school and almost all of the players had headscarves, long-sleeved undershirts and pants.

ALMOST! One player had the full-on burqa with a number taped to the back!



This was a real mind-blower and took some time for my partner and I to process. The league was just getting going, and was seeking high-school accreditation. This we knew. Our association knew they would be struggling (getting shot clocks worked in -- a CA thing -- and other issues) The games needed to get done. This we knew.

The scorekeeper from the team was very nice (older sister of one of the players). I had her tell all of the players that they could not have jewelry on, even underneath and play. She said she would make sure. Informed coach that by rule, headgear needed a letter from the state, etc., then we threw the ball up and played the game.

Burqa wearer was and end-of-the-bench sub who played only a few minutes. Team got drubbed badly, but the girls played hard and had fun.

Just a mind-boggling experience.

Had the same team last year, and things had improved. Long-sleeved undershirts now matched color of uniforms!

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

But would you have allowed it without having a ruling from the state?

Or would you just say "Why not just wear the long pants and forget about the shorts?" Imo doing that that would keep any reasonable person happy while meeting the rule at the same time.

Why take a chance that the state might disagree with you when you really don't have to? Doesn't make sense to me. But....that's just me.

Sometimes when you stick to the rules strange things happen too.

I was approached once before a JH game by a coach asking permission to allow a player to play with a braided thread bracelet on because it was religious. I told him that while I appreciated his player's devotion, he couldn't play if he was wearing it around his wrist (I did suggest taping it to his chest under his jersey). At the start of the game, the player came out sans bracelet and said to me "I really didn't care either way."