Who Is "They?"

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Um ... really? What rule do they use to justify that? (Or is it a special NYS rule?)

There's ZERO chance I'm going to be asking to look under a bandaid of any sort. (In fact, I probably never get in Adam's situation as I would not have asked). They've got a bandaid, I'm assuming it's there for what it's supposed to be for - and there's no way I want to see some kid's open sore (much less make them possibly have to get another new bandaid when they mess up the first one from me asking to see.)

Here are my marching orders from the NYS Girls Basketball Officials Association:

Ear Lobes Taped
If an official notices that a player has her ear lobes taped, the official will ask the player to remove the tape. If an earring is found, that player cannot enter the game until the player removes the earrings. If you believe that tape on any exposed area might be covering jewelry, then ask the player to remove it, to see if it is covering jewelry.

As far as boys go, I was taught from the time I started officiating in NYC (20+ years) to check if they had band-aids/tape on their ears, especially in summer leagues since they do it more often.

As for how they justify it, not my concern. They give me my certification and this is what they tell me to do, so I do it. It's no big issue for me and I'd just as well not deal with a kid having his/her earlobe ripped in half.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Here are my marching orders from the NYS Girls Basketball Officials Association:

Ear Lobes Taped
If an official notices that a player has her ear lobes taped, the official will ask the player to remove the tape. If an earring is found, that player cannot enter the game until the player removes the earrings. If you believe that tape on any exposed area might be covering jewelry, then ask the player to remove it, to see if it is covering jewelry.

As far as boys go, I was taught from the time I started officiating in NYC (20+ years) to check if they had band-aids/tape on their ears, especially in summer leagues since they do it more often.

As for how they justify it, not my concern. They give me my certification and this is what they tell me to do, so I do it. It's no big issue for me and I'd just as well not deal with a kid having his/her earlobe ripped in half.

Honestly, in the grand scheme of things, this may affect one of us, once in our career, in how we approach a situation.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Here are my marching orders from the NYS Girls Basketball Officials Association:

Fair enough... if those are your marching orders, it is what it is.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Here are my marching orders from the NYS Girls Basketball Officials Association:

Ear Lobes Taped
If an official notices that a player has her ear lobes taped, the official will ask the player to remove the tape. If an earring is found, that player cannot enter the game until the player removes the earrings. If you believe that tape on any exposed area might be covering jewelry, then ask the player to remove it, to see if it is covering jewelry.

As far as boys go, I was taught from the time I started officiating in NYC (20+ years) to check if they had band-aids/tape on their ears, especially in summer leagues since they do it more often.

As for how they justify it, not my concern. They give me my certification and this is what they tell me to do, so I do it. It's no big issue for me and I'd just as well not deal with a kid having his/her earlobe ripped in half.

I do with without a directive and would not need one. But it is good they use one and are very clear. I think it is our obligation to find out when illegal items are being used, when they are visible to us. And the penalty is they cannot play until corrected, not like we are giving a T. I do not see the big deal and this is so rare because usually a coach takes care of this long before we have to address this issue. We often have to deal with it because a coach does not understand his or her responsibility and makes us the bad guy. And I just do not want to be the one that never asked when someone gets hurt and there is a clearly stated rule.

Peace

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do not see the big deal and this is so rare...

We often have to deal with it ...

Confused. Does this happen rarely or often?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Confused. Does this happen rarely or often?

I think it depends on where you live, seriously just like anything else.

Peace

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do with without a directive and would not need one. But it is good they use one and are very clear. I think it is our obligation to find out when illegal items are being used, when they are visible to us. And the penalty is they cannot play until corrected, not like we are giving a T. I do not see the big deal and this is so rare because usually a coach takes care of this long before we have to address this issue. We often have to deal with it because a coach does not understand his or her responsibility and makes us the bad guy. And I just do not want to be the one that never asked when someone gets hurt and there is a clearly stated rule.

Peace

JRut, I feel the same. I'd do it even if the state didn't tell me. My mentors taught me to do it and they told me why: liability. Some here say "it's not my responsibility" or "we asked the coach if everyone is properly equipped" but if it came down to it, a good attorney could blow that out of the water.

If 90-95% of kids wore tape/band-aids on their earlobes then it wouldn't raise an eyebrow but that's not the case. Tape on earlobes isn't the norm. When something isn't the norm on the court don't we usually ask a few more questions?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

JRut, I feel the same. I'd do it even if the state didn't tell me. My mentors taught me to do it and they told me why: liability. Some here say "it's not my responsibility" or "we asked the coach if everyone is properly equipped" but if it came down to it, a good attorney could blow that out of the water.

If 90-95% of kids wore tape/band-aids on their earlobes then it wouldn't raise an eyebrow but that's not the case. Tape on earlobes isn't the norm. When something isn't the norm on the court don't we usually ask a few more questions?

I never said I wouldn't ask further, I'd go to the coach at that point to clarify. But I'm still not opening up a bandage.

[hoopguy]

If I see a player with tape on his ears, I would not ask him/her what is under the tape. I know what is under the tape. I just tell the potential player that if he or she wants to play in the game he or she will need to remove their earrings. Their choice. I do not care if they leave the earrings in or take them out and that's what I tell them if questioned. The decision is theirs.

This thread does make it abundantly clear who 'they' is.

As a comment on this... My daughter thought she would be okay to get her ears pierced during volleyball season because she thought the rule was different. Unfortunately for her, she got the same treatment and removed her earrings before a match in order to be allowed to play. For her the holes did close up in that short amount of time. She then waited until after basketball season was over and got them pierced again.

[rekent]

(Disclaimer: I have not read a lot of this thread, so my apologies if I am repeating someone.)

I find the whole jewelry thing rather ridiculous myself. Do the players not realize or just not care that the rule really is for their own protection?!

I was told a story the other day from someone who was actually present when an injury happened because of jewelry, and it was quite gruesome - not something I would ever care to experience or even witness.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by rekent

I was told a story the other day from someone who was actually present when an injury happened because of jewelry, and it was quite gruesome, not something I would ever care to experience or even witness.

Once, when I was a lot younger, I was playing basketball on an outdoor playground court while I was wearing my wedding band. I went up for a rebound and got the ring caught in the metal chain net, and hung there for a fraction of a second, long enough for the ring to cut into my finger almost down to the bone. I still have the scar today.

Did I learn my lesson? Apparently not.

Way back before I retired from teaching, and before I won my in independence with a divorce decree, I was passing the gymnasium on the way out of the school and noticed the boys team shooting around. I decided to show off and take a few shots with the guys, while I was wearing my wedding band. I was only half paying attention when one of my students passed me the ball and caught the pass with my fingers extended, which jammed the fingers. I woke up the next morning with a very swollen ring finger. I showed the injury to the school nurse as soon as I got to school. The wedding band was acting like tourniquet, cutting off circulation to the finger, and because of the swelling, we couldn't get the ring off. We were on our way to the metal shop to get the ring cut off, but decided to stop by the cafeteria kitchen first. Luckily, a little butter on my finger helped to get the ring off.

What's that expression? "Fool me twice, shame on you. Fool me three times, shame on me".

[Adam]

Originally Posted by hoopguy

This thread does make it abundantly clear who 'they' is.

How do you figure this?

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Adam

How do you figure this?

"They" are those of you who would choose to simply ignore the tape over the ears. And claiming ignorance because you asked doesn't really let you off the hook. You know with 99.9% certainty that tape or bandaids over the ears means there are earrings underneath. Choosing to let it go makes you "they".

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Liability.

There's liability, and there's negligence. If I don't notice the bandaid, I'm probably negligent. If I notice the bandaid and don't address it, I'm negligent. If I notice the bandaid, ask the player about it, am lied to, and have the coach confirm that his players are legally equipped, I don't believe that I'm negligent, but I'm probably still going to have to deal with the bother of lawyers, courts, IAABO insurance, NFHS insurance, etc.

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on television.

Bottom line, I'm addressing the issue, but I'm not asking a player to remove a bandaid. But, as usual, when in Rome, check your local listings.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

There's liability, and there's negligence. If I don't notice the bandaid, I'm probably negligent. If I notice the bandaid and don't address it, I'm negligent. If I notice the bandaid, ask the player about it, am lied to, and have the coach confirm that his players are legally equipped, I don't believe that I'm negligent, but I'm probably still going to have to deal with the bother of lawyers, courts, IAABO insurance, NFHS insurance, etc.

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, nor do I play one on television.

Bottom line, I'm addressing the issue, but I'm not asking a player to remove a bandaid. But, as usual, when in Rome, check your local listings.

You do not ask them to remove them in the first place, you just tell them they cannot play with them if on their body.

Peace