Jewelry in Girls U-10?

Law 4 is pretty specific:
"A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery)."

I won't bore you with details or try to scare you with horror stories, but it's better for the players not to wear anything of that sort. As a coach, I've advised players who had "starter" earrings (the studs they put in when you first get the ears pieced -- they have to stay in for a week) to tape over them. As a referee, I don't like it, but I'll accept it in a rec league. Otherwise absolutely no jewelery.

 

Law 4 is very clear about this, but MLS and permissive referees make this issue more difficult than it should.

My general rules.

- No ear rings ever. Period.

- No watches, bracelets, necklaces, etc. Period.

- No rings, but in adult leagues I'm not forcing anyone to remove a wedding band. An engagement ring is different if it's a big rock, but I've not encountered that one.

I've been very consistent with this and it helps. If I see it during the game (I do inspect pre-game, but there's always a sneak out there), the player always leaves at the next stoppage to correct the issue. I've had parents of little girls blow up at me, but they know the rules when they sign their little girl up for soccer, and the coach needs to point this out.

I was also involved with a game where the center refused to let a u-15 boys player participate in a game at an end of summer tournament. The kid returned from the Jersey shore with a head full of beads. He looked like he had a bead helmet on. The kid was upset, but only because he realized that he wasted $50.

 

Jewelry

With jewelry (pierced earrings, noses, tongues, eyebrows, lips, et all) I have a standard line. "It is no problem. They only need to come out if they want to play."

The olders will try an pull, but the other referees let me wear them. They offer to tape them... You are the only referee that has made him/her take them out.....

My response..."what part of NO jewelry do you not understand?"

 

Re: Jewelry

Very simple and to the point.

In the entry level courses that I teach (using an idea stolen from another instructor) we have a practical exercise where slips of paper with questions are passed out for various students to ask. The answer to every one of the questions is, "NO!".

The new refs get the point. It's the folks that have been around for 5+ years and never attended a recert clinic (not mentally, anyways ) that still let children play with earrings and the like.

Several local leagues have added casts and rigid splints to the list of proscribed items. Yet they allow exo-skeleton knee braces. I haven't been able to get a rational explanation for that, yet.

I was so happy when the WUSA league rules stated emphatically, "No jewelry". Then in the first game we see Mia and Brandi running the field with their earrings and the like. It makes it tough on us in the field for three games every Saturday. This year both MLS and WUSA players are seen traipsing araound with cotton balls and med tape. WTF?

 

U-18 girls match yesterday. Player shows up with a spot band-aid on her nose. The naive AR2 checking in the team (me) thinks nothing of it. The worldly-wise AR1 asks about it. It never dawned on me that a player would try to play wit a stud in her nose.

Bottom line. We brought it to the ref's attention. The kid didn't play because she wouldn't take out the nose stud.

 

I like a line that I heard another referee state in regards to jewelry.

When confronted with a player wearing pierced ear rings or pierced whatevers, he told them, "you can not play wearing that jewelry."

What I liked about it was that in my legal liability paranoia, I felt that if I told someone to take some item out, removing it may cause infection or bleeding. If I tell them they can not play with it in, THEY make the decision to remove the item and lessen my liablity in this regard. I realize it is a small issue, but why not take the safer route.

 

NO jewelry

My story is about a young lady who played with taped earrings . . . and got hit with the ball on the ear . . . and who is now permanently deaf in that ear because the stud pierced her skull and inner ear. Unfortunately, it is a true story.

 

Why are girls under 10 wearing jewellery anyway?

 

Unfortunately some parents in the states think nothing of GIRLS having tatoos, wearing makeup that is applied with a putty knife and clothing that is immodest to say the least.

 

whoa whoa whoa, what is this? Apparently some people think nothing of imposing their moral standards on the rest of us...but I don't guess this is a discussion for this forum

 

They know the drill, but that never stops them

My big peeve is why parents wait until a week before school starts to have their daughters ears pierced. They then get all upset when asked to remove the earrings. Also, the ears do not close up in a 1 to 1 1/2 hour match.

 

Nat five years ago in a U17 boys match a player had a spot adhesive on his eyebrow. Though he had been hurt and didn't think anything about it. After the match was over, he peeled the adhesive off to reveal he had a ring through his eyebrow. I told him , yep you got one over on me and I asked him if he could remove it? He said no. I asked why would he run the risk of getting a serious cut or injury as well as the risk that he would not be allowed to play? He said the ring was cool and no one had questioned him on it. I entioned yeah, no one mentined it because he was disguising it. He then proceed to change his shirt and he had two more piercings both on his chest.

 

There are some areas that I know better than to ask about.

 

Re: Re: Jewelry in Girls U-10?

I guess I did go out on a limb with opposing the tatooing of 10 year olds.....I guess I am old fashioned!

 

offensive??

Just for Fun IASocFan. The point raised about morality. Could not a tattoo be deemed offensive if it was inapropriate? Is not the opinion of the referee in these matters within the law? Lets say a a DEATH head in the shape of a soccer ball pierced with a sword with "Death to all" written underneath on the forehead on the part of the half orange half green painted players for the halloween tournament ? Luckily written in washable ink I said the yes to the facepaint but no to the image and written material. True story u-14 boys Prince George BC early nineties as I recall. Too anal? Hey I allowed the lightening bolts and stitching!

As to the jewlery question it is unbelievable to the lenghts some people go to pierce their body or place rings in near every orifice or appendage. We had a young girl break her baby toe in a step on tackle and yes, you quessed it, a toe ring.

In the belly, on the breast, in the lip, ear, nose, foot, above the eye, on the nipple or on the lip of the vagina or penis. On the guys it makes want to reach out and rip the silly stuff right off the player. The younger girls makes me wonder if there is a breathing parent at all in the house. Those under 13 who have it, in my old fashioned opinion have way too much freedom afforded for trival pursits. But hey if you yell loud at your child today they get you for abuse. It would be interesting to hear DR Phil's take this one on. )

I make a point of when assigned to youth matches to contact the coaches before hand when possible and confirm the dates and venue but also to let them know NO tape ONLY medical or religious and secured and posing zero risk. The reason is some leagues allow the taping and the non compliance of the law as a law 18 thing. It sets the referees at odds as some will and some will not. The fact that I travel up to 3 hours to a venue I give out my cell number and get a return number in case I run into a problem.

I recently saw a girl with a row of studs about the entire curve of each ear. It was a battle to get them out and put away safe on the pitch. Kids see their heroes on the TV get away with stuff. I get an anal rententive lable for being strict. Should be right in the league by-laws no jewelry is permitted period and make the coach and players directly responsible instead of casting the referee as a bad guy for the lost earing we forced her to take out when a bit of tape could cover it up.

As to the older groups in the recreational leagues. I simply say NO jewlery . If I see it you could be asked to leave and correct . If you injure yourself or another chances are a card will accompany the incident. Adults can make their own choices . I am not a baby sitter nor meat inspector.

Just one more point on a related topic. I refused three players last season to take to the field because I felt their shinguards covered only about half a shin? One was a young lady about 6 ft whose shin guards looked like the were for micro level. In not only refused her entry but cautioned for dissent as she was adamant I had no right to do so. What do you think is a reasonable degree of coverage for safety purposes? 1 to 6 inches below the knees?

 

did a tourney this weekend. two hour weather delay yesterday for one of my games. the refs from Albany (GA) were finished but soaked. there was a dad with three boys all reffing (the mom drove and did directions and managed when they could leave, etc), and another dad and his son. bc dad 2 is soaked he changed his shirts to reveal to the referee room that both of his nipples were pierced. i personally think it's so odd.