I had to share this because of it absurdity. There was an incident last weekend at a soccer fields that grew to involving lawyers and threats of injunctions and law suits. The initial emails I saw on it only said “incident” and I know the Ref involved and he can be insistent and hard on players, coaches and parents; nothing bad or outside the laws just short and abrupt. So, I was wondering what he could have done. Each email seem to raise the level to the point that games might not have been played this weekend. Since I had games at that field, I called to assignor. He let me know that everything was resolved. The “incident”? The Ref would not let a girl play who was wearing earrings that were stuck and she couldn’t get off.
Based just on what you said, I don't see any absurdity on the part of the referee. You can't play if you are wearing jewelry. Excuses - e.g. 'my earrings are stuck' don't make it okay.
I find this interesting, what case do the lawyers think they have? or the parents, not really understanding who made the.. accusations/charges? not sure if that is right word though.
Yea, next up will be coaches who don't play your kid. Parents need to relax, and while 99 times out of 100, the earrings wouldn't cause harm, there's always that 1 time. And if that did indeed happen, and it was bad enough, don't you think lawyers would really get involved? The ref is there for the safety of the players, all of the players, not just the kid with earrings. The fact that these parents even thought about getting a lawyer is just plain sad.
Some parents really don't care about the rules. I read somewhere else in the referee section, that a parent still disagreed after seeing proof in the LOTG. They obviously think that earrings aren't dangerous in a contact sport. How would an earring get stuck anyway?
This question has been put to me at least twice this season, in High School games (with a much lower level of tolerance.) I am always tempted to say that I cannot risk the saftey of others who might get a forehead opened up by earrings on a header and risk a lawsuit by crazy parents and overzealous lawyers.
Loctite®. To avoid losing an expensive stone, some wearers will glue the backing on the post. When you take a league assignment you agree to their rules. I sometimes work games for a women's league that allows jewelry if it is taped up. I tell them that I prefer that they remove jewelry, but allow it if they want to tape. It was explained to me by a player that her lip piercing was glued in with Loctite.
Sorry, but what kind of idiot would wear jewelry in ANY contact sport? It could get ripped off. I'm sure they don't mind them causing harm to their opponent. Even if they hit the ground on their ear I bet it would hurt a good deal.
Every player (it seems) in both Latino leagues in which I work matches would qualify. I don't know why they do this, either...I played football and soccer and although I'm not a jewelry kinda guy I had a necklace or two back in the day. Never did I consider wearing it during a game or practice...not out of concern for others but only for myself. A few of the guys out there look like they want to stand in for Mr. T but the leagues want to allow it so I just cringe and look the other way.
Usually with the young ladies, I just tell them in the pre-game that you could get hit with the ball in the ear and drive the earring right through your ear lobe. That tends to gross them out sufficiently that they always are ready to remove it. It's like socks pulled all the way up or rings, or medical bracelets. Take the earrings off, hand them to your coach, he'll put them in his pocket and sometime around the fourth of July he'll find them and give them back. How old where these kids???? Rog