ASA Blue/Gray

[SRW]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeCubP

Jewelry, other than a wedding band (I'm a newlywed), in my opinion, and the opinion of every other high school sport association that I work, looks unprofessional, and is unnecessary. I have (or had, for the most part) 5 holes in my two ears, and a tongue piercing. I don't wear earrings anymore, but when I started officiating (university intramurals and high shool), they all came out as a part of my getting dressed. I struggled with the rationale of this type of thing when I first started officiating, as I, at that time, had what is commonly now called a goatee, and had bleach-blonde dreadlocks that I could put back in a pony tail, and piercings were a part of my daily adornment. I quickly realized, however, that in order to be taken seriously - especially with my appearance as far younger in age than I actually was - I needed to make some changes to make the kind of impression (with evaluators, coaches, players, spectators, etc.) I wanted to on the field/court - and in order to advance to the next level. The earrings eventually went by the wayside when putting them in and out got to be a hassle (doing it 5 times a week). I got rid of the goatee when I started attending collegiate basketball camps. The dreads went during my first year as well - before I actually started working high school anything.

And yes - I'm talking about "on the field" when I say this: I cringe because it's unnecessary decoration that looks unprofessional, in my opinion - not to mention the door that is being opened for snide ridicule by the high percentage of ignorant redneck (no offense intended to anyone here) men that populate the slow pitch game that I love.

I'm all for personal adornment and decoration. I have many tattoos as well. But I would never get them where they would show while wearing any of my uniforms (other than leg stuff - but as I said - I prefer not to wear shorts whenever possible). I don't feel it belongs there. And I most certainly subscribe to the "if they can't have it, neither can you" philosophy.

Hawk,
A few things for ponderance:
- I agree that excessive ear piercings gives a less professional image. What number is excessive to you? One? Two? Five?
- Why isn't there a mention of Umpire Jewelry in ASA 3-6-F or 10-1-C? It's also not mentioned in section 1 on page 197 of the umpire's manual, either. Why do you suppose that is?
- Does your opinion change if a female umpire comes out with diamond studs earrings? If you're the UIC this weekend, and Male Ump A comes out with a small diamond stud and a small hoop in his left ear, are you going to make him take them out? How about the same with Female Ump B?
- What if the ump can't wear a wedding band, so his wedding "jewelry" is a small hoop earring?

I'm not trying to be a jerk, just playing Devil's Advocate for the sake of discussion...