Confront or Leave Alone?

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

In the situation we're discussing, the umpire knows - and then suddenly a band-aid is there where the earring was. Letting it go at this point is irresponsible.

Ouch...

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Manny A

Ouch...

Manny, for the record, I have no issue at all with the way you handled the first one. The second one, though, should have been addressed. I know you don't want to make a big show -and I get that. But unless this was coach's (and player's) very first game ever - they knew the rule and knew exactly what they were doing when they band-aided over it. They were kind of giving you the finger, don't you think?

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Manny, for the record, I have no issue at all with the way you handled the first one. The second one, though, should have been addressed. I know you don't want to make a big show -and I get that. But unless this was coach's (and player's) very first game ever - they knew the rule and knew exactly what they were doing when they band-aided over it. They were kind of giving you the finger, don't you think?

No, I totally agree that I kicked it, Mike. Won't happen again.

[Dakota]

Steve did a very good job of explaining the situation as I see it. Since the thread is about a high school game, my comments are limited to a HS contest played under NFHS rules.

The NFHS does not give umpires any room for judgment wrt jewelry. If you observe it, there is an escalating penalty by rule: 1st offense, team warning; 2nd offense, offending player and HC restricted to the bench.

In no case is a player wearing jewelry to be allowed to play. She may keep her jewelry on (we cannot order her to take it off), but she may not play if she is wearing it.

Speaking personally, unless I have observed or heard something that would inform me otherwise -- see my last sentence in this post , I do not assume a bandaid on the ear (or nose) to be hiding jewelry. I am not so naive as all that, but OTOH, I am not going to personally inspect the player to confirm one way or the other.

In the situation where a player's coach is informed that the player is wearing jewelry (I don't discuss it with the players themselves; I leave that to the coach. I also handle the penalty issues at that time as well - i.e. warning on first offense, etc.), IF that player shows back up on the field with a bandaid covering where the jewelry was, I would certainly again discuss this with the coach; specifically asking the coach to confirm that the player did, in fact, remove the jewelry rather than just cover it with a bandaid.

BTW, I once had a HS player ask me before the game if covering ear studs with a bandaid was permissible!

[CecilOne]

A lot of the problem for the players, the players, is that ASA & PONY allow ITUJ about the danger and the players expect that to carry over to anywhere. As I vaguely remember being 15, I probably would think the same thing.

As coaches usually either faculty with an extra stipend, or travel ball coaches, both of whom are more worried about the lineup and infield drill; neither the players or coaches give jewelry a thought ahead of time.

Sooo, what to do? Maybe, "coach, are your bats and helmets ready to inspect and the jewelry rule enforced?"

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

A lot of the problem for the players, the players, is that ASA & PONY allow ITUJ about the danger and the players expect that to carry over to anywhere. As I vaguely remember being 15, I probably would think the same thing.

As coaches usually either faculty with an extra stipend, or travel ball coaches, both of whom are more worried about the lineup and infield drill; neither the players or coaches give jewelry a thought ahead of time.

Sooo, what to do? Maybe, "coach, are your bats and helmets ready to inspect and the jewelry rule enforced?"

To start, unless you are referring to NFHS, this is a wasted statement that carries zero weight ANYWHERE and how is a coach to know what "jewelry rule" would be enforced since it relies solely on the umpire's judgment?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

To start, unless you are referring to NFHS, this is a wasted statement that carries zero weight ANYWHERE and how is a coach to know what "jewelry rule" would be enforced since it relies solely on the umpire's judgment?

Of course, this topic is about NFHS.

And, it's opinion and an attempt at insight to why this is so common a problem in HS; and a suggestion for trying to reduce it.

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

A lot of the problem for the players, the players, is that ASA & PONY allow ITUJ about the danger and the players expect that to carry over to anywhere. As I vaguely remember being 15, I probably would think the same thing.

As coaches usually either faculty with an extra stipend, or travel ball coaches, both of whom are more worried about the lineup and infield drill; neither the players or coaches give jewelry a thought ahead of time.

Sooo, what to do? Maybe, "coach, are your bats and helmets ready to inspect and the jewelry rule enforced?"

During the pre-game conference (a/k/a grounds rules) ask the coach, "Are your players legally and properly equipped and will they remain so for the entirety of the game?"

If you find a player violating a rule, call the coach out on it.

Umpires need to stop addressing players. Address to coaches for God's sake. People wonder why they find an additional two or three players with jewelry on. Tell the coach and let them handle it. Without missing a beat, they almost always turn to their dugout and say, "Nobody better have on any jewelry."

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by Dakota

BTW, I once had a HS player ask me before the game if covering ear studs with a bandaid was permissible!

+

Only once, that is a pretty regular occurrence for in Michigan, especially at the middle school and JV levels. It is usually followed by the same excuse "But I just got it pierced."

This is where, in my opinion, the schools need to do a better job informing the parents and athletes of the rules well prior to the seasons starting. It needs to be made clear than in ALL NFHS sports (at least as far as I'm aware of) jewelry is illegal and may not be worn. If we have schools addressing this issue before seasons start, maybe we have less of the "I just got it pierced" complaints.

[LIUmp]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

+

Only once, that is a pretty regular occurrence for in Michigan, especially at the middle school and JV levels. It is usually followed by the same excuse "But I just got it pierced."

This is where, in my opinion, the schools need to do a better job informing the parents and athletes of the rules well prior to the seasons starting. It needs to be made clear than in ALL NFHS sports (at least as far as I'm aware of) jewelry is illegal and may not be worn. If we have schools addressing this issue before seasons start, maybe we have less of the "I just got it pierced" complaints.

You don't buy that excuse do you? The kids know the rules - they either forget to take it off, or don't want to. We have to enforce it.

"Coach, if she can't or won't take off the jewelry, please let me know who will be substituting for her."