USSSA jewelry change
 

USSSA has changed their jewelry rule from one that basically mirrored Fed to the one below...

2018-1 JEWELRY
Revised Rule 2.5:
"Sec 5. JEWELRY (Youth only - 18 & Under and younger)
Exposed jewelry, which is judged by the umpire to be dangerous, must be removed and may not be worn during the
game. Medical alert bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry. If worn, they must be taped to the body so the
medical alert information remains visible.
Players may wear unadorned items with no sharp edges or points, such as bobby pins, barrettes, and hair clips (no
longer than 2 inches) as hair control devices.
Coaches wristbands (play indicators) are legal but must be worn as designed.
Rationale for change: permits players to wear stud earrings, but continues to prohibit dangling hoops, rings, watches, etc

I'm wondering if this comparable to USA's, or any other organization's, wording. If it is similar, how do individual umpires, UIC's and tournaments deal with the "judged to be dangerous" part. A directive from the state or local UIC? Any problems with individual interpretations?

"Exposed jewelry, which is judged by the umpire to be dangerous, must be removed and may not be worn during the
game. Medical alert bracelets or necklaces are not considered jewelry. If worn, they must be taped to the body so the
medical alert information remains visible."

Identical wording to the USA rule.

Judged to be dangerous is usually described as allowing string and hair-holder bracelets; small stud earrings, tongue piercings, etc. but NOT hoop earrings, dangling bracelets, protruding body piercings that could be contracted.

Yeah, it's one of those "big bucks" things.

Cecil,

What about nose and eyebrow piercings in the USA world?

USA doesn't single anything out with regards d to jewelry. It is the umpire discretion as to if they judge some item of jewelry to be dangerous.

I'm looking as to what is really happening on the field. What is the overall parameters that most umpires allow ("judged to be dangerous"). What are the teams and players expecting when they take the field?

It runs the gamut. You will get officials that will let everything go and say it's the coaches and parents problem, and you will get others that will say absolutely no jewelry of any kind. There won't be any consensus unless the tournament uic issues some guideline for the entire tournament.

You will get officials that will let everything go and say it's the coaches and parents problem, and you will get others that will say absolutely no jewelry of any kind.

Both of which are wrong.

Same thing, a question of how protruding. Little studs in the nose, like the ear, usually allowed. If they can catch/cut an opponent, or a teammate in a collision, probably should be disallowed.

Then of course, you have the myth that they can't be removed. If the umpire feels like it is dangerous, then that should not change the ruling. With most USSSA umpires used to the old rule, I would expect fairly restrictive judgments.

A long time ago, I struggled with the idea that something was not dangerous even though the NFHS said it was. Then I realized they wanted to draw a fixed line for easier management, no subjectivity and no liability exposure.

Fed wording from the online rule book

ART. 12 ... Players in the game are prohibited from wearing Jewelry such as rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, necklaces (including cloth or string types) or other hard cosmetic or decorative items. Religious and medical-alert medals are not considered jewelry. A religious medal must be taped and worn under the uniform. A medical-alert medal must be taped and may be visible. (3-6-1)

It isn't a problem unless you want to make it one. It is real simple, if you believe it is dangerous, it goes. If not, it doesn't.

And yes, there are varying interpretations. My personal view is that unless it is a danger to another, or so obviously dangerous (large hoop earring in particular) to the individual wearing it, it is good to go.