Im curious, how you enforce the adornment laws. Do you have a pre game pow-wow w/the coaches? And what do you do if a player is still wearing one of those silly arm bands, say around his mid calf? Do you throw him off the field until he is in compliance, or can you call a penalty? Personally, I would love to see a play score, then have the score negated for 'improper uniform'. That would help them learn to follow the rules. Im sad that hardly any other reffs enforce the rules. My hat is off to you for doing so. pd
Posted on 10/11 8:46 PM | IP: Logged
Prior to the game, our crew walks through the players during warm-ups and addresses any illegal items and we look for missing pads that they're required to wear. By doing this, we avoid a lot of problems before the game starts.
At the pre-game conference, we tell the head coach that if a player comes onto the field with his jersey untucked, we're going to send him back to the sideline. So don't be surprised if or when it happens.
If I spot illegal items after the game, I tell the player to remove them. This can happen as more and more teams in our area go back to the locekr room before the coin toss.
If I find missing pads after the game starts, it's a USC foul on the head coach and 15 yards.
Posted on 10/12 10:16 AM | IP: Logged
We need you and about a hundred more like you to be transferred to the SoCal area. I had forgotten about the untucked shirt rules; also, I see a lot of belt tails hanging down about 24-30". ANd many of these are marked w/light and dark stripes, zebra fashion, with a marks-a-lot or some such. I wish a defensive player would bring a ball carrier down by that 'leash'. Then the coach would notice. (Im assuming it is legal to tackle by the excess belt strap.)
Posted on 10/13 4:30 PM | IP: Logged
The excessive belt length is illegal so no reason it can't be used to tackle a runner.
We get some pretty pissed off coaches from time to time, even though we tell them we'll send their players off if they're untucked.
Posted on 10/13 8:09 PM | IP: Logged
Is there a safety or competetive reason for the untucked jearsy?
Not arguing about it or saying it shouldn't be a rule, just wonering why the rules care if a player looks sloppy.
Posted on 10/14 12:03 PM | IP: Logged
It's a matter of personal pride, being part of the team and looking like a team. It's no different than limiting sweatbands, bicep bands, etc. The rule exists in all HS sports. Personally, I wish all schools would purchase football and basketball jerseys thatcan be legally worn untucked, but there aren't very many that do.
Posted on 10/14 1:02 PM | IP: Logged
"It's a matter of personal pride, being part of the team and looking like a team."
Thanks, I was just wondering if there was a reason beyond aesthetic or if there were a less subjective reason for the rule.
Yahoo! Sports
