Religion Exception

Zebra29 · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Oct 24, 2005, 10:39pm

A player told me that he could not wear a mouthpiece because he was Muslim and it was a holiday where he could not put anything into his mouth.

The rulebook makes no such exception.

Was I wrong to not allow the player to participate?

BktBallRef · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Oct 24, 2005, 11:09pm

No, you weren't wrong.

If he told you that he couldn't wear a helmet because his religion states that his head can't be covered, would you let him play without one? Of course not. This is no different.

He makes us own choice which is more important to him.

Warrenkicker · #3 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 25, 2005, 08:57am

Sounds like a "Chariots of Fire" or Sandy Koufax situation to me. If a person wants to make that religious choice then they can and should be proud of themselves for being that committed but that does not mean that the rest of the world stops to accommidate them. The world should accommidate them but should also move on.

Forksref · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 25, 2005, 05:42pm

If you let him play and he got his teeth knocked out, guess who would be sued?

WhistlesAndStripes · #5 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 25, 2005, 07:13pm

Oh, I'm sure he'd sue the player who stuck their foot in his mouth.

ABoselli · #6 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 25, 2005, 07:33pm

If you let him play and he got his teeth knocked out, guess who would be sued?

Allah?

waltjp · #7 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 25, 2005, 09:33pm

Quote:

Originally posted by ABoselli
Allah?

Only if he was wearing stripes!

BigFarns · #8 (**permalink**) Wed Oct 26, 2005, 06:11pm

Quote:

Originally posted by waltjp

Quote:

Originally posted by ABoselli
Allah?

Only if he was wearing stripes!

And if Allah was wearing stripes, how many fans and coaches would still think he was making bad calls?

Jim S · #9 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 27, 2005, 12:42am

Let's not forget that one of the main reasons for a mouthpiece is not to protect teeth, but rather to reduce concussions.

schwinn · #10 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 27, 2005, 06:51am

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim S
Let's not forget that one of the main reasons for a mouthpiece is not to protect teeth, but rather to reduce concussions.

I've never heard that before. How does a mouthpiece reduce concussions? Interesting.

mcrowder · #11 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 27, 2005, 07:34am

When your teeth are clinched, if you take a blow to the head, your brain absorbs all of the impact. That little bit of "bounce" that the mouthpiece provides helps absorb all of that impact without transferring the force to the brain.