ASA/jewelry/youth

[Little Jimmy]

I'm working a local rec tourney this week that is using ASA rules with a few modifications (2 EP's, etc). No mention of jewelry whatsoever in the rule suppliment. Before my game the coach comes up to me and tells me that one of his players has a nose stud covered with tape and he wants to know whether she can play. I know that ASA 3-6-F says exposed jewelry "judged by the umpire to be dangerous" can't be worn. I judge her small 1/4" covered area to be acceptable and we play.

I work all kinds of youth ball (Fed, USSSA, NSA ) with each organization specifically stating no jewelry and I follow those rulesets to the letter. I work womens ASA fastpitch where essentially anything goes. But this was the first youth ASA that I've done where their wasn't any addendum or extra rules stating no jewelry. And the tournament director said it was my call.

After the games, a few umps were talking and they all said they would't allow the girl to play on their field. For consistencys sake I may reverse myself next game. My question is does anyone allow youth jewelry in an ASA youth game? The ASA rulebook seems to leave it very open to interpretation. If they specifically wanted no youth jewelry, wouldn't it be phrased that way?

[wadeintothem]

I work a rec league where there is no mention of jewelry so I just follow the ASA standard. But I also went to the league coordinator and asked him what he wanted me to do, and he told me as long as its safe its fine. I'm not big on the jewelry policing. Most umpires are. When the rule is in place, I do enforce what I see, I just may not see it.

If I have a partner who has warned pregame and is a little hard core about it, I will give out friendly warnings, just to save them from a run in with him.

[NCASAUmp]

You're right, ASA does leave it open to interpretation, and I wish more umpires would tighten up a bit on what they judge to be dangerous. Thick gold necklaces that hang down to the collarbone, to me, can be dangerous - if a hand gets in there, it can slice the player's neck if it doesn't choke them first. With earrings, I'm a little lenient. If it's a hoop or has a big stud, it's out. If it's tiny, well... I'll probably let it go. And yes, I hate to say it, but female players (and even some males, too) typically have to take off that big rock their husbands (or wives) gave them. Most of the hardcore female players already take theirs off, but some of the (w)rec(k) players still leave them on.

A little more on topic... What are these girls doing playing ball with jewelry on anyway? There's a time and place for "looking pretty," and the ball field ain't it.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Hell..we even make the kids take off those plastic servicemen bracelets - we are taking NO chances...

[IamMatt]

Of course, ASA offers a supplementary course leading to a Certificate of Jewelery Safety that you have all taken, right?

I am in a profession where protecting ourselves from liability is a huge part of the job, and I would hate to see some lawsuit-happy parent latch on to the fact that "the umpire said it was safe, but my baby took a ball to the nose and her nose stud made the injury worse."

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by IamMatt

Of course, ASA offers a supplementary course leading to a Certificate of Jewelery Safety that you have all taken, right?.

Youre concerned with liability and you take a course that certifies you?

I am in a profession where protecting ourselves from liability is a huge part of the job, and I would hate to see some lawsuit-happy parent latch on to the fact that "the umpire said it was safe, but my baby took a ball to the nose and her nose stud made the injury worse."

Why would anyone ever say that something is safe?

[CecilOne]

While I will go by whichever rules are being used, my struggle is with deciding what is dangerous. With NFHS being my most frequent rules, and them considering everything dangerous, can I really say the same item is not dangerous somewhere else? Even the term "exposed" is a ambiguous, intended for fully concealed necklaces, belly rings, etc.; but not everyone considers taped-over to be non-exposed.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by ASA/NYSSOBLUE

Hell..we even make the kids take off those plastic servicemen bracelets - we are taking NO chances...

I was once BU on a field with a girl whos gma had just died and had given her a necklace before she died (we were told this) that certainly was not unsafe.. perhaps it might get broken and lost.. but nothing that could INJURE anyone (spare me the urban legends).

Yep, you guessed it.. this umpire made her take this off. It was absurd. Jewelry patrolmen .. especially when there is no explicit rule, are just power flexing. Has nothing to do with safety.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Jewelry patrolmen .. especially when there is no explicit rule, are just power flexing. Has nothing to do with safety.

And you know their motives how, exactly?

It seems to me it is more likely they are being excessively cautious than "power flexing." Sheesh.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

My question is does anyone allow youth jewelry in an ASA youth game? The ASA rulebook seems to leave it very open to interpretation. If they specifically wanted no youth jewelry, wouldn't it be phrased that way?

Yes, it would (see NFHS). ASA specifically says EXPOSED jewlery and leaves it to umpire judgment as to whether the jewlery is "dangerous." Taped over is not exposed (technically). I wish ASA would delete the entire rule and leave the issue with parents and coaches where it belongs. If they insist on having a jewlery rule, re-word it so it must be judged dangerous to OTHER players and leave out the one wearing it. Again, that is for parents and coaches (and players when old enough).

[bobbrix]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Yes, it would (see NFHS). ASA specifically says EXPOSED jewlery and leaves it to umpire judgment as to whether the jewlery is "dangerous." Taped over is not exposed (technically). I wish ASA would delete the entire rule and leave the issue with parents and coaches where it belongs. If they insist on having a jewlery rule, re-word it so it must be judged dangerous to OTHER players and leave out the one wearing it. Again, that is for parents and coaches (and players when old enough).

I agree with Dakota.

Delete the entire rule and leave the issue with parents and coaches where it belongs. The level of jewelry we see 99% of the time I would put in the 'un-dangerous' category.

In this day and age, I think it's time to re-word the rule, allow it unless it's something that could hurt the players not wearing the piece concerned or that would be an obvious distraction to the opposing players.

Have each club sign a form stating they understand the risks ... etc. etc..

Some of you will shriek, but we had an ump at a tourny a couple weeks ago that wore an ear-ring ... (male ump, and an older fellow ... gray hair old).

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by bobbrix

... gray hair old

Who you callin' old, punk?

[PaREF]

Originally posted by NCASAUmp:
A little more on topic... What are these girls doing playing ball with jewelry on anyway? There's a time and place for "looking pretty," and the ball field ain't it.

I officiate volleyball, and often work with officials that work other sports. A few years ago one of them related an incident that I still find amusing. He was working a softball game between a local public school and an exclusive private school. He noticed during warmups that one of the players from the private school was wearing earrings and informed her that she would not be able to participate in the game unless she removed the earrings. She kind of gave him a blank stare and he said "you could just give them to someone to hold for you until the game is over".

She replied "Would you have someone hold a pair of $15,000 earrings for you?!"

She sat the bench.