A new "jewelry" thing, at least for me
 

Last night, I was working a GV game. I was the R, 2-person.

As I was watching the visiting team warm up, I noticed white things in the earlobes of one of the players. Taking a closer look, this girl appeared to have holes in her earlobes almost 1/2" in diameter. She had white plugs in place to fill the holes that, I guess, normally have some metal jewelry.

Since we have to stand out there watching 5'8" girls not dunk for 20 full minutes (:rolleyes:), I contemplated this for a while, then held the captains meeting, where I got a closer look at the plugs, since the girl was one of the captains.

After my 15-second captains meeting, I pulled my partner aside and asked his opinion. Since he was wearing a patent leather belt, I wasn't really interested in any kind of sartorial opinion, rather I was a bit dumbfounded as to whether or not these plugs would be considered jewelry.

Not thinking like a 17-year-old girl, I decided they probably are jewelry and when my partner told me he'd be happy to talk to the girl while I was at the table, I took him up on the offer.

I came to find out later that these were rubber plugs designed to fill the holes in the girl's earlobes during physical activity. My partner said, "I think it would be more dangerous for her to play without them." Good enough for me. Of course, I learned that those things aren't fastened in the ears cause I saw the girl picking one up off the court later in the evening.

I must be turning into a geezer, cause that huge hole in her earlobe couldn't have been any less attractive, IMO.

Gross. http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...mages/yuck.gif

I have never seen a girl having these but have seen several guys with them - fortunately none have been on the basketball court.

being a guy who use to wear an ear ring I can understand young guys wanting to wear an ear ring - I can not understand why you would want a huge hole in your ear. :eek:

This is a practice sometimes known as gauging. The ear is pierced and over time, the lobe is stretched out using progressively larger hoops. When I was in college a few years ago, I saw more than a few people doing it.

I haven't run into it officiating, but if the hole is large enough, I could see it being a safety issue to not have the plugs in.

+1

Don't worry, Rich. It's not just you getting old. Us younger people still find it revolting as well. I always wonder what those earlobes are going to look like when they're 80 :eek:

http://srv.fotopages.com/2/1653522/W...-Ear-Lobes.jpg

I think it qualifies as jewelry.

I am sympathetic to the thought that it's safer with it in than with it out.

Not surprisingly, you and I are completely in agreement here. I allowed them, but wasn't thrilled with my choices.

Maybe have them removed and then cover the entire ear with tape? :D

It appears that she's trying to remove her earlobe, a few mm at a time.

I think the Fed is going to have to come out on a specific stand on these if this kind of mutilation continues to be popular.

I think the player would be placing herself and potentially her opponents at risk of injury without it but what protection does it provide if they pop out easily?

Haven't seen it on the court, and hadn't really thought about the implications either. Honestly, I'm not sure I've seen it on females, only guys.

Possible solution
 

Borrow something from the wrestling team? :D
http://www.weplaysports.com/Cliff/Keen/Youth/YF5.jpg

Rich:

Some people may laugh but I have a simple criteria for jewelry. If the player was not born with it, it is jewelry. I would not have let her play with them in her ears.

MTD, Sr.

Would you have let her play with half-inch diameter holes in her ears?

That's kind of like letting her play with belt loops on her shorts.

A few years ago, I had a 7th grade boy come up to me just before a game and ask if he had to remove his nipple rings (yes, plural). At first I thought he was joking, but he wasn't. I told him yes. He told his coach he had to go to the locker room for a few minutes. My partner, who heard the conversation, asked me how I would like to be that kid's dad. I said, "Uh, no."

I'm happy with my decision. Thanks.

I used this last week, reminding just before tip-off as we waited for a fussy clock to be reset properly. One of the girls (sophomore game) asked if her braces were OK. I have a Ph.D. in sarcasm and didn't detect any from her. Cute kid. I told her I thought we'd be OK. This time.

Curious, did she have a mouthguard?

Did not appear so

We have a young lady playing for one of the local HS teams who has these "gauges" and the necessary huge holes in her earlobes. They have a letter from the State saying that she can keep the rubber gauges in the holes, providing that she tapes over them so they don't fall out as someone stated in an earlier post. So all we have to do is check that she has the rubber gauges in there under the tape.

They weren't as big as the picture.

And yes, I think they're quite nasty looking. What's attractive about those gaping holes?

Was she blonde?

Robby (married to a blonde and father to a blonde)

That's best left alone. :D

Ultimately, the plugs could be considered jewelry, I suppose. However, if that girl plays without them, there's a GOOD chance someone gets a finger in that hole on a layup, rebound, etc and rips her earlobe in two. Blood everywhere...in this case, I'm letting the plugs stay in. However, I like the tape idea...that's probably the best decision.

How about just tape the "ear holes"? Players tape their wrists, etc. why not their ears...as long as no jewelry is under the tape?

I hear you guys on the "guaging"...my 21 year old son has been "guaging" for a few years now. He thinks it's cool. Whatever...

I remember my Dad thought it was terrible the way those beatles wore their hair so long.

My Dad told me he'd cut half my earlobe off if I got my ears pierced. It seems these kids did him one better; on their own.

Yes, I agree, although I bet there's already movies out depicting what I'm thinking at this moment. :D

Yes. Why? I have let every player in every game I have ever officiated play with a hole, that was oval in shape, that measured approximatley 3in wide and 1.5in high. :D

MTD, Sr.

There may even be a thread or two on this site in which it's discussed.

Mark:

I am not technologically advanced like you and Billy, so the best I can do is to post the website URL of a picture the 1946 University of Houston Men's Basketball Team. Please note the belted shorts. :D

Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1c/First_Houston_Cougars_basketball_team_1946.jpg


MTD, Sr.

yep

So if they were all getting doctorate degrees, their jerseys would say "DUH"? :rolleyes:

A stretch, even for you, Mark. :o

We're not going there tonight!:D

And I was just starting to feel bad about my earlier perception regarding how Wisconsin refs dress appears, I'm spot on.:D

This is the official policy in Oregon per the state association.

This is the first belted official I've ever worked with here, so maybe he's just the exception that proves the rule.

Until Brad bans them.

I would be concerned about the potential for the ear to be torn or an opponent's finger to be broken if a finger got caught in the hole.