Career No-nos.

[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.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

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".

Actually, I've only had to bring it up once, and it was a "Hey, Steve, don't forget to take your earrings out."

"Thanks, Adam."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

Mr. Earring is rated in the top 25% of our association and got 19 Varsity games last year.

Odd? Once again, an example of "When in Rome ...". Here in my little corner of Connecticut, we traditionally guard our ranking, and number of games assigned, like they're the Royal Crown Jewels. All of us speak of our ranking, and number of games assigned, in cryptic terms ("I moved up a few spots.", "I like my schedule this season.", "I'm working three, or four, times a week.", etc.). I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying it's wrong. I'm not sure about the origin of this "oral tradition", passed down from generation, to generation (probably has to do with collegial ratings), but that's they way we've been rolling around here for all of my thirty-two years, and I guarantee that it goes back a lot longer than that. If we tell colleagues our specific ranking, or the specific number of games, or the level of the games, that we got, then we have to kill them.

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... we traditionally guard our ranking, and number of games assigned, like they're the Royal Crown Jewels.

Interesting...our Assignor likes "full disclosure".

Our entire association just got the email last night showing every member's ranking (1st to last), amount of Varsity games last year, how many schools each official got "rated" by, and even what each official's score is on the yearly test. It also shows your ranking among your peers.

I have heard wise ol' Assignors say...

"it dosen't matter what system you have for ranking...the cream always rises to the top."