NFHS Jewelry Rant

[wadeintothem]

I can also really empathize with you..

And I've also seen injuries - I've seen a pitcher get her face crushed, I've seen a player in the dugout get smashed and taken off in our ambulance, a good friend and umpire had a stroke in middle of a tournament... the list goes on as I'm sure it would for each of us.

This is a dangerous sport. Period.

Things do happen and I'm sure there are regrets.. and I'm sure each each of our life experiences affect what we do...

So that is said, and I understand that..

In terms of an overall approach for ALL umpires to your cocern - it is still over the top.

For you, it may indeed be your passion.

That doesnt make it my passion, even if I can empathize with why you would feel the way you do.

Although it does kind of twist on me you would allow medical or religious necklaces - it seems to me they can kill/injure just as easily....

In any case, in NFHS ball the rule is clear so if you see it, you must take care of it.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Although it does kind of twist on me you would allow medical or religious necklaces - it seems to me they can kill/injure just as easily...

Because rules say they may be worn and they must be taped. If I were king of the world they would wear the bracelets, taped down with the info visible. Much easier to get to the information in an emergency. A taped down necklace may not be as readily seen....

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

Because rules say they may be worn and they must be taped. If I were king of the world they would wear the bracelets, taped down with the info visible. Much easier to get to the information in an emergency. A taped down necklace may not be as readily seen....

Awesome - thats about where my passion for this issue ends as well.. right where the rules end. If I see it in NFHS, it gets addressed. If I see it in ASA and its dangerous, it gets addressed.

I think we are on the same page then.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Awesome - thats about where my passion for this issue ends as well.. right where the rules end. If I see it in NFHS, it gets addressed. If I see it in ASA and its dangerous, it gets addressed.

I think we are on the same page then.

Just because I'm passionate, in the opinion of some over the top, doesn't mean I am insane.

Well, not totally. Today. Yet.

[CajunNewBlue]

like we all haven't heard/done this before....

Umpire: time!
Umpire: number 15 you cant play with that jewelry on. (so player runs to dugout to remove)
Umpire: coach.. come see. (coach makes a face like his/her bucket (which of course, is in the dugout) is stuck up his/her butt)
Umpire: coach, that's a team warning for illegal equipment, jewelry in this case.
Coach: why you gotta be a d!ck? the last umpires didn't nitpick on the jewelry and we had a great game... wish we had them. (while umpire makes note of team warning on lineup card) (and of course the peanut gallery is chiming in "just let em play, blue" and "nice work ya hero")
Umpire: jewelry is illegal coach, lets play ball.
Umpire to himself: wait till i find out who worked that last game(s)... making me look like a bad guy for enforcing the rules!!

whatever, call your game.

btw: did i miss any steps?... as i never called a jewelry timeout before... J/K

[NCASAUmp]

All umpires are fighting this issue, and I'm not talking about jewelry. It's "the other umpire." We've all seen them, some of us automatically know who it is, and every organization has them. Sadly, there are no exceptions.

This is how I tell it. The rules are there because someone wiser than I believes that the sport should be conducted this way. My opinion on whether or not these fellas or ladies are correct is irrelevant. If the book says I shall or must do things a certain way, then damn it, I'm going to do it.

I do not like starting in B with no runners on base (remember: I do SP, not FP or Modified).

I do not like getting in the set position behind the plate. It makes me miss more of the 12'+ high pitches.

I could go on and on about what I do or do not like in the rule book or the umpire manual.

But the bottom line is that is not my decision to make, nor is it yours. My gripes go up the chain of command, not down to the coaches or players. If the book has a rule about dangerous jewelry, then so be it - I will enforce it to the best of my ability.

And according to ASA, medical bracelets may be worn. However, if they are, they must be taped to the body with the medical information visible.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I do not like starting in B with no runners on base (remember: I do SP, not FP or Modified).

Only voted, and yes there was a vote, for this after discussing with umpires from different parts of the country where the mechanic was tested. If don't properly, it actually makes the umpire's job easier and allows better coverage of more plays.

I do not like getting in the set position behind the plate. It makes me miss more of the 12'+ high pitches.

Worst slow pitch mechanic change in my 20+ years of working softball. Just a note, going set is not, nor should it be, a problem. Going set PRIOR to acertaining the legality of the pitch is the problem.

I could go on and on about what I do or do not like in the rule book or the umpire manual.

Nah, that never happens

But the bottom line is that is not my decision to make, nor is it yours. My gripes go up the chain of command, not down to the coaches or players. If the book has a rule about dangerous jewelry, then so be it - I will enforce it to the best of my ability.

And according to ASA, medical bracelets may be worn. However, if they are, they must be taped to the body with the medical information visible.

According to ASA, ANYTHING the umpire does not determine as dangerous may be worn which is fine by me.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue

like we all haven't heard/done this before....

Umpire: time!
Umpire: number 15 you cant play with that jewelry on. (so player runs to dugout to remove)
Umpire: coach.. come see. (coach makes a face like his/her bucket (which of course, is in the dugout) is stuck up his/her butt)
Umpire: coach, that's a team warning for illegal equipment, jewelry in this case.
Coach: why you gotta be a d!ck? the last umpires didn't nitpick on the jewelry and we had a great game... wish we had them. (while umpire makes note of team warning on lineup card) (and of course the peanut gallery is chiming in "just let em play, blue" and "nice work ya hero")
Umpire: jewelry is illegal coach, lets play ball.
Umpire to himself: wait till i find out who worked that last game(s)... making me look like a bad guy for enforcing the rules!!

whatever, call your game.

btw: did i miss any steps?... as i never called a jewelry timeout before... J/K

My personal fave was the mom who complained because she just paid over 1,000 buckaroos for her DD's necklace and if SHE had to keep it in her purse instead of around her DD's neck WHILE SHE WAS PLAYING, it was ON ME if she lost it.
(The mom wasn't hot, either...two big strikes.)

[CajunNewBlue]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

(The mom wasn't hot, either...two big strikes.)

doesn't that just suck?

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

My personal fave was the mom who complained because she just paid over 1,000 buckaroos for her DD's necklace and if SHE had to keep it in her purse instead of around her DD's neck WHILE SHE WAS PLAYING, it was ON ME if she lost it.
(The mom wasn't hot, either...two big strikes.)

You could have offered to keep the necklace in your pocket and if the DD remembered to get the jewlery back after the game, it would remain hers.