Agree with Stu, local customs are to basically handle them both in accordance with Fed rules. basically there is not much umpire judgement in JO around jewelry

Okay, now that I've got things stirred up :rolleyes:

Yes, I took advantage of the thread hijack referring to an U12 team to chime in.

The "jewelry" rules are very vague and this allows umpires to get creative, sometimes to the extreme, concerning what constitutes a piece of jewelry.

Sometimes I wonder if umpires "declare" something to be jewelry because they truly believe the piece in question is dangerous or whether it just makes their life easier to zap everything.

I don't believe it would be a stretch to state that the reason for such a rule has been obliterated over the years. Some of the reasoning for declaring something dangerous has reached the level of some TWPs.

The only logical reason to eliminate/restrict/forbid jewelry is for the safety of the player(s). Is there really a valid reason to forbid wearing a rubber band/bracelet? How is that going to injure a player?

Personally, I worry more about what will injure an opposing player as opposed to something that may only be harmful to the wearer.

Actually, in JO, BY RULE, it is 100% umpire judgment.

Actually I will be the first to admit that, as Mike stated, it is easier to "zap everything." At least then it is fairly uniform across the board and all coaches are expecting it. My biggest one this season are those rubber band type things that they use to keep their hair back. Many times they will take them and put them around their neck. I tell them if it is in your hair fine but I do not want it hanging around your neck. After reading this I take it many would think I was wrong about that.

Not necesssarily. Would you not make a player wear a headband as it was intended instead of around the neck?

Absolutely, That is my thinking on it.

Player slides into 2nd as 2nd tags. As runner slides fielder's fingers catch into the band. The band could break a finger or wrist. Not worth the risk to me. In fact, I think a regular chain bracelet is safer than the rubber bracelets, at least the chain will break, the rubber ones won't.

You're kidding, right? :eek: What was I saying about TWPs?:confused:

Thank you for proving my point.

Its not easier to conduct continuous person inspections.. its a drag. Sometimes I have partners who are nonstop with the jewelry.. with the perfect tucked shirt.. with this with that.. then they go farther and kind of accuse me as if I need to hold their same OOO "values".

Its easier to allow the "girl tuck" for shirts, especially when batting.. and to maybe not be so observant about jewelry unless it truly is dangerous...

I'm just not into running around nonstop, calling time continuously, and dealing with this stuff ad nauseum.

You know what I'm picky about while these umps are so worried they are conducting under bandaid inspections.. keeping those girls in the dug out so they dont get creamed with a foul ball.. and other issues where I have seen them get hurt.. .not this urban legend 1/1,000,000 type injuries that get dreamed up.

And then, top it off.. these same ump go to a mens game...

Suddenly that stuff is not so dangerous.. because its like a bling festival at those games.

I agree, wade. We can dream up all sorts of circumstances where players can get injured by everything from their necklaces to their shoelaces. Gotta draw a line somewhere.

And yeah, those bling-fests don't last long on my field, either.

No Argument from me
 

I agree with you Mike. :cool: Having said that, the local UIC is also the assignor for both NFHS and ASA JO. I like the guy. I think he does a good job. He said do it this way I do it his way. I get lots of work. I can give up my judgement on this to his ....:)

Aren't these things bracelets?

Could be, but they don't really follow Mr Websters definition of "jewelry" do they?

Have not checked the unabridged version yet but I think they Mr. Encyclopedia and Mr Anthropologist would consider them as bracelets.

Ron

Didn't break her finger when it happened at a game I was watching. But close enough it had to be x-rayed. So, no I'm not kidding.

Then I guess they should also outlaw laced gloves, shoe laces, pull strings on the player's pants, braided hair, shoulder straps....never mind, wasting my breath.

And bases and pitcher plates...