Career No-nos.

[BatteryPowered]

In my area we are specifically told it is better to get dressed at the game site. For this reason, on days where I have a game I put a sports coat in my car. I work for a steel manufacturing company and often need to go into the production area...therefore I wear jeans. It just looks nicer and comes across better with the sports coat.

As for jewelry, we are told it is acceptable to wear a wedding band during the game. I don't. Been married 36 years and the wife is secure enough for me to go sans ring for a few hours...and it isn't like any female at the game is going to come up and hit on me. Besides, players cannot wear them so I think we should not.

I do have to figure our how I am going to address my medic alert bracelet. I know I can tape it down with only the important part visible. I am looking for one that is part of a sweat band (just cannot seem to find them again). I guess I could make my partner(s) aware of the reason and not wear it during games...but don't really like that option because if something does happen (even if it is remote) they may not remember in all the commotion.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

I do have to figure our how I am going to address my medic alert bracelet. I know I can tape it down with only the important part visible. I am looking for one that is part of a sweat band (just cannot seem to find them again). I guess I could make my partner(s) aware of the reason and not wear it during games...but don't really like that option because if something does happen (even if it is remote) they may not remember in all the commotion.

I believe they make necklace based medic alert tags. You could easily wear one of those that was just below the collar of the shirt. I know it isn't quite as visible but I would hope that medics are trained to look in both places if they're going to look at all.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

I do have to figure our how I am going to address my medic alert bracelet.

I'll figure it out for you. Wear it. Period. Your life is more important than some uniform directive from your association. If anyone criticizes you for wearing it, you can tell them that BillyMac says that they're a dick head. That's right. A dick head. Can I be more clear? I've got your back brother (or sister).

From my local board guidelines:

When arriving at a game site, people immediately judge you by your appearance. Make a good first impression by coming to game sites dressed professionally in business casual attire. Consider purchasing a sweater, pullover, or vest, with an IAABO logo, or a Little Corner of Connecticut board logo. Common sense dictates that some afternoon assignments may require officials to arrive in uniform, or in work clothes. Middle school sites may lack secure dressing areas, and may not have shower facilities available.

For most high school games, where secure dressing areas, and showers, are available, officials should not come dressed in uniform, and should not come dressed in sneakers, work boots, jeans, T-shirts, etc. It looks bad, and reflects poorly on our Little Corner of Connecticut board. On court, the official’s uniform should be clean, pants pressed, all black shoes shined, jacket unwrinkled, and the official should be well groomed. Officials should shower after the game and should not leave wearing a uniform. Doing so could give the impression that the official wants to “get in, get out, and get paid”, which is not the impression that Little Corner of Connecticut board officials want to present. Officials should leave the game site together. Even in this day in age when everyone has a cell phone, and many have some type of “road assistance”, it’s not fun sitting in a cold car, in a lonely parking lot, with a dead battery, or a flat tire, waiting for help to arrive.

Originally Posted by just another ref

11. If everybody else where you are does it, it must be all right.

Which is not only true for #11, but for almost anything in officiating.

"All politics is local." (Former Speaker of the U.S. House Tip O'Neill, 1935)

"The siesto, or afternoon's nap of Italy, my most dear and reverend Father, would not have alarmed you so much, if you had recollected, that when we are at Rome, we should do as the Romans do." (Pope Clement XIV, 1777)

Hey just another ref: Why didn't you make this post in my "belt" thread? I was pinned down. No way out. I could have used some backup.

Originally Posted by just another ref

98% of the officials here come to the game dressed and ready to work.

Wow. It's a 180° turn here in my little corner of Connecticut. In high school games, 98% come in street clothes, change into their uniform, shower after the game, and get back into their street clothes. It's a much lower percentage in middle school game. Most middle schools around here don't have dressing facilities for officials. For recreation, travel, AAU, etc. 99.9% come in their uniform, ready to go.

Originally Posted by just another ref

If everybody else where you are does it, it must be all right.

Wait a minute? I recall my mother saying something about everybody jumping off the Empire State Building. It was fifty years ago. What was it that she told me?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

Besides, players cannot wear them so I think we should not.

I've heard this mantra before, and I just don't buy it. We wear other things players aren't allowed to wear. We aren't players, we don't have the same uniform requirements. At some levels, players are allowed to wear far more than the officials are.

And frankly, there's no way I would ask a partner to tape down a medic alert bracelet. It's just pointless. When we start going for rebounds and playing defense, then I'll buy into the idea that we should be adhering to the same jewelry standards as the players.

As it is, for us, wedding rings and medical alert stuff are fine. Earrings, out. Nose rings, out.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Adam

When we start going for rebounds and playing defense, then I'll buy into the idea that we should be adhering to the same jewelry standards as the players.

As it is, for us, wedding rings and medical alert stuff are fine. Earrings, out. Nose rings, out.

Agreed. I'm not too concerned with getting my wedding ring tangled in the net, caught on the rim, or intertwined in a uniform.

I take off my watch (when in Rome), but that's as far as it goes, as that's what I've been instructed to do as local policy.

[scrounge]

Ohio lists it out in their Officials Handbook....pretty much every sport has this blurb:

Jewelry shall not be worn except for a wedding band and/or a medical alert necklace or bracelet. A religious medallion which is not visible is permitted. A watch is permitted only when an official has a duty for timing during the contest.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Adam

I've heard this mantra before, and I just don't buy it. We wear other things players aren't allowed to wear. We aren't players, we don't have the same uniform requirements ... there's no way I would ask a partner to tape down a medic alert bracelet ...As it is, for us, wedding rings and medical alert stuff are fine.

Agree.

Originally Posted by scrounge

Ohio ... Officials Handbook ...Jewelry shall not be worn except for a wedding band and/or a medical alert necklace or bracelet. A religious medallion which is not visible is permitted. A watch is permitted only when an official has a duty for timing during the contest.

Common sense. You guys in The Buckeye State seem to have your act together.

Originally Posted by Adam

Wedding rings ... are fine. Earrings, out.

Agree 100% with wedding bands. No earrings? I'm probably in agreement, but I'm curious. Why allow wedding bands, but not earrings, especially a simple pair on female officials? How about an engagement ring? Like wedding bands, some females leave an engagement ring, and/or simple earrings, on twenty-four seven. Other jewelry is usually taken on, and off, from day, to day, or even, hour, to hour. Not disagreeing. Not disagreeing if it's your local, or state, guideline. Not looking to start a major debate. Just curious.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I'm not too concerned with getting my wedding ring tangled in the net, caught on the rim, or intertwined in a uniform.

How about this scenario, when a player tosses the ball to you? It can happen.

Way back before I retired from teaching, and before my divorce, 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 I 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.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I decided to show off and take a few shots with the guys.

This would be one reason it wouldn't happen to me. I don't "shoot around with the guys."

Full disclosure - many yrs ago I fell on the ice and dislocated my ring finger. The hospital had to cut my wedding band off to x-ray and fix it. So, my ring is already removable.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by grunewar

This would be one reason it wouldn't happen to me. I don't "shoot around with the guys."

... but players toss the ball to officials several times during a game.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... but players toss the ball to officials several times during a game.

And I could jam my finger tying my combat boots, too.

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by Adam

As it is, for us, wedding rings and medical alert stuff are fine. Earrings, out. Nose rings, out.

I agree Adam...I had a earring years ago...but, never wore it while I officiated. I do, however, wear my simple gold wedding band.

You stated "earrings out". Do you actually tell your partners, in no uncertain terms, not to wear the earring(s)? Or do you do as I do, with the ONE varsity official that we have that continues to wear his earrings? Which is simply, "Hey Mike, you still wearing those earrings? It must be a soccer thing...." (he officiates soccer also) I kid with him...but, there is "a little truth in all kidding".

Our Assignor doesn't make a big deal out of it (Mr. Earring is rated in the top 25% of our association and got 19 Varsity games last year) so even though I am on the board...I don't make a huge deal out of it. Mr. Earring doesn't do State or playoff games.

I dunno...now that I think about it...wearing an earring might be right up there with wearing a belt!

[SCalScoreKeeper]

Here our people mostly come dressed to the site.

[constable]

Here due to our start times many people come straight from work. 315 or 330 starts for a JV/V double header.

Some of our schools don't have adequate dressing room facilities either.

Our assignor forbids the wearing of wedding rings. That being said, some people wear them anyway.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by constable

Here due to our start times many people come straight from work. 315 or 330 starts for a JV/V double header. Some of our schools don't have adequate dressing room facilities either.

Same thing here. Almost all middle school don't have adequate dressing facilities. High school freshman games start at 4:00 p.m., (middle schools start at 3:30 p.m.) and while all high schools have adequate dressing facilities, the most important thing is to get the few officials who are available for these early starting times to the sites on time, ready to go. In some cases it may mean an official coming directly from work (maybe jeans, work boots, overalls, sweatshirt, etc.), certainly no time to get out of work clothes, into business casual clothes, and into his official's uniform. In other cases, especially where adequate dressing facilities are not available, it may mean getting dressed, in uniform, for the game at one's day job, or at home, and coming ready to go.

On the other hand, here in my little corner of Connecticut, high school night games, plenty of time, adequate dressing facilities, don't come dressed in uniform, come dressed in business causal, take a shower after the game, all the time.