Knee pads, braces, etc.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

If you tell a kid to take off the knee pads and he gets injured, I'd rather NOT be you.

Officials never tell players that they have to remove something (uniform, equipment, jewelry, etc.) We tell them that they can't play while wearing the item in question.

It's like you guys would never tell me that I have to remove my black belt. You would just tell me that I can't officiate while wearing a black belt, and leave the rest up to me.

[Rob1968]

This is from an email sent to our area officials, by the Assignor/Interpreter:

TO: Basketball Officials,

"We are entering into the region play for our schools and I want to review a few items of importance as you continue to officiate your games.

1.Players are not to wear the one piece, long tights under their uniform.

If you suspect they are being worn by a player, ask them to verify that the compression shorts stop at the knee.

Some knee pads actually have the appearance of a long tight with the pad at the knee, but these are legal."

Unfortunately, the wording leads one to believe that if what appears to be a leg sleeve has a pad, there would be no color restrictions, because he considers it to be a "pad"; but if it has no pad, it would come under the color requirements of a "sleeve".

Non-clarification at its finest . . .

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Officials never tell players that they have to remove something (uniform, equipment, jewelry, etc.) We tell them that they can't play while wearing the item in question.

It's like you guys would never tell me that I have to remove my black belt. You would just tell me that I can't officiate while wearing a black belt, and leave the rest up to me.

I tell them they have to remove it if they want to play. To me that is semantics. They know we are not giving them an option about playing.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

To me that is semantics.

Agree 100%. It is. Do you have a problem with semantics? Semantics is the study of the meaning of words. We have an entire rule on the meaning of words. Maybe we should get rid of Rule 4, because it's semantics.

Semantics? We ain’t got no semantics! We don’t need no semantics! I don’t have to show you any stinking semantics!

[RookieDude]

The following statement is from our Washington Officials Association. (WOA)

"Sleeves,
Headbands,
Wristbands
–
This
year,
the
requirements
have
been
simplified
concerning
color.
This
should
be
strictly
enforced.
By
not
enforcing
the
requirements
concerning
sleeves/headbands/wristbands,
you
are
setting
up
a
negative
situation
for
future
crews.
Wristbands
and
headbands
must
be
the
same
color
for
all
team
members.
If
players
are
wearing
leg
and
arm
sleeves,
all
team
members
must
have
the
same
color.
There
is
no
requirement
that
the
headband
and
sleeves
are
of
the
same
color."

No mention of "kneepads"...

rockyroad? How are you guys handling it?

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

The following statement is from our Washington Officials Association. (WOA)

"Sleeves,
Headbands,
Wristbands
–
This
year,
the
requirements
have
been
simplified
concerning
color.
This
should
be
strictly
enforced.
By
not
enforcing
the
requirements
concerning
sleeves/headbands/wristbands,
you
are
setting
up
a
negative
situation
for
future
crews.
Wristbands
and
headbands
must
be
the
same
color
for
all
team
members.
If
players
are
wearing
leg
and
arm
sleeves,
all
team
members
must
have
the
same
color.
There
is
no
requirement
that
the
headband
and
sleeves
are
of
the
same
color."

No mention of "kneepads"...

rockyroad? How are you guys handling it?

Interesting way to format an announcement. I guess they are only talking about leg sleeves with this since arms sleeves are more horizontal.

Or maybe it was a way to emphasize verticality in an indirect way.

[Rich1]

I just heard from my interpreter and we are not allowing the sleeves, with or without padding, unless medically necessary. We are "encouraged" to phrase the medically necessary question in the affirmative during pre-game but if the coach says NO then they take them off.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by Rich1

I just heard from my interpreter and we are not allowing the sleeves, with or without padding, unless medically necessary. We are "encouraged" to phrase the medically necessary question in the affirmative during pre-game but if the coach says NO then they take them off.

Oh yes we don't, but high socks are ok (in some cases they look the same). Why do they care what side of the body these things start at?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Agree 100%. It is. Do you have a problem with semantics? Semantics is the study of the meaning of words. We have an entire rule on the meaning of words. Maybe we should get rid of Rule 4, because it's semantics.

Semantics? We ain’t got no semantics! We don’t need no semantics! I don’t have to show you any stinking semantics!

What you tell them in this case is irrelevant. What you do is more important.

Who cares if you tell them what they cannot wear. The still have a choice and they know that.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

What you tell them in this case is irrelevant. What you do is more important. Who cares if you tell them what they cannot wear. The still have a choice and they know that.

This ...

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I tell them they have to remove it if they want to play.

... is a lot better than just telling them that they have to take out the earrings, as some officials, not necessarily JRutledge, will oft do. The second half of JRutledge's statement gives the player a choice that other statements that I have heard, from other officials, i.e., "Take out the earrings", do not.

If a player wants top sit on the bench, dressed in uniform, with earrings, because he knows that he won't play, as the coach's punishment because he failed an algebra test, then he has the right to do that, and I don't believe that we can do anything, by rule, about it.

Nit picking note: According to a long lost (unless Nevadaref can help us out) interpretation, I don't believe that he can warm up, with the earrings in, before the game.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

According to a long lost (unless Nevadaref can help us out) interpretation, I don't believe that he can warm up, with the earrings in, before the game.

Seriously guys, I can't find this. A little help, please.

[OKREF]

We have been instructed by our state that the long leg sleeve with a pad in it, is a compression sleeve and must meet the sleeve criteria.

[Rob1968]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Nit picking note: According to a long lost (unless Nevadaref can help us out) interpretation, I don't believe that he can warm up, with the earrings in, before the game.

Seriously guys, I can't find this. A little help, please.

3-5-1 "The referee shall not allow any team member (italics added) to wear equipment or apparel which, in his/her judgement, is dangerous . . .

And Case Book 3.5 B tells us that during warm-ups, the prohibition is in force, regarding jewelry.