NFHS equipment check

[dlsumpntx]

NFHS 3-2-12 says "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." Some of my friends and I are debating whether or not “(including cloth or string types)” applies to just necklaces, as it would appear how the sentence is written, or to all jewelry. The issue is whether or not string and other bracelets that are not "hard cosmetic" are prohibited. Thoughts?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by dlsumpntx

NFHS 3-2-12 says "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." Some of my friends and I are debating whether or not “(including cloth or string types)” applies to just necklaces, as it would appear how the sentence is written, or to all jewelry. The issue is whether or not string and other bracelets that are not "hard cosmetic" are prohibited. Thoughts?

As someone who officiates NFHS basketball (and officiated NFHS soccer) and umpires NFHS baseball and softball and has friends who officiate NFHS football, volleyball, soccer, and swimming and diving. As far as the NFHS is concerned: No matter what the sport, no jewelry means no jewelry and the best definition of jewelry is: If you weren't born wearing it, it is jewelry.

MTD, Sr.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

As far as the NFHS is concerned: No matter what the sport, no jewelry means no jewelry and the best definition of jewelry is: If you weren't born wearing it, it is jewelry.

MTD, Sr.

I really do dislike that application. People are not born with braces on their teeth, eyeglasses on their face, or insulin pumps in their back pockets. We wouldn't disallow a fielder to wear sunglasses, even if they were adorned with rhinestones.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

I really do dislike that application. People are not born with braces on their teeth, eyeglasses on their face, or insulin pumps in their back pockets. We wouldn't disallow a fielder to wear sunglasses, even if they were adorned with rhinestones.

To quote Justice Potter Stewart: "I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the motion picture involved in this case is not that."

MTD, Sr.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by dlsumpntx

NFHS 3-2-12 says "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." Some of my friends and I are debating whether or not “(including cloth or string types)” applies to just necklaces, as it would appear how the sentence is written, or to all jewelry. The issue is whether or not string and other bracelets that are not "hard cosmetic" are prohibited. Thoughts?

We can pretty much always assume that rule books are poorly written and poorly edited; even when published by an education based organization.
I think you know the parentheses apply to all items and NFHS allows none of them.