Jewelry Rule

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Nov 24, 2009
54
0
Chicagoland
I just don't understand this rule anymore. I can see no necklaces or hoop earings but it seems we are taking this way too far. The rule includes benign things like a string friendship bracelts or "live strong" type bands. What does this rule really do? It was my understanding initially it was to prevent injuries to players but how can some of these things really cause injuries?

What's prompting my question was a situation this weekend where one of our players showed up with her nose pierced. Yea I know, she should have known better and I was not happy with her (or her parents) for doing this during our fall season but regardless that's another issue altogether. We only had 9 players so she played but in her 2nd at bat the home ump pointed it out. Yes it's a rule so there was no argument with him. Because she just got it she couldn't take it out and had to be pulled from the game so she was an out going forward, again no issue with the umps enforcement of the rule. But the bigger question is what harm can a nose piercing can do? She has a helmet on when on offense and plays left field on defense. Furthermore, what damage can stud earings do either? I know the college and professional girls where this type of jewerly. Why is it okay for them? They play a much faster game then we do and the risk would be greater, albeit, still extremely small.

Maybe I'm venting but I still don't understand this rule anymore.
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
My own dd is the only one that pushes it on our team. Catching and wearing a helmet, no one usually notices. When I catch her she always comments, "the college girls wear earings, why can't we?"...."because it isn't against the rules in college."

I think phitan necklaces are almost required gear on a baseball team, but if a girl has one on, holy cow, stop the tournament!
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
Somewhere, some how, someone was injured. So, they made a rule. I have heard awful stories like someone's belly button ring getting jerked out by the fence, but then, umps don't know about those, anyway.

Tongue piercings are the one that I personally don't like.

Maybe it is a carry over from when we had to remove our rings in PE class, unless we had an engagement ring. (early 1970's)
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
What rule set are you playing under? FED and USSSA are the only associations I know of with a no jewelry rule. ASA and TCS is umpires discretion as to if it presents a hazard.

In high school ball we are required to ask both coaches in the pregame if their team is legally and properly equipped. I have on numerous occasions had the coach tell me yes while Im standing there looking at one of his captians with earrings, necklace, nose piercing etc.
 
Last edited:
Nov 24, 2009
54
0
Chicagoland
Today was USSSA so yes the no jewelry rule was in effect. But regardless I just don't see the point. Is a stud earring more dangerous than a metal cleet? Obviously not, metal cleets are weapons on the bottom of your feet. Is a pair of glasses safe? Generally yes but no more so than an nose piercing.
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
As an umpire, I couldn't care less what the player wears as long as it is not dangerous to anyone else with an exception or two.

Exposed necklaces and bracelets probably have to go. Rings other than bands are a no. Hanging earrings are a no, studs or clips, no problem. Piercings, in general, are not my problem.

This is an issue that has, IMO, gotten way out of control from umpires going Gestapo on teams to a coach attempting to use it as a strategy. This is why I prefer ASA's method of leaving it up the what the umpire deems dangerous. It will change from umpire to umpire, but it also allows for some common sense to be applied when something different arises.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
I can tell you what danger stud earrings are. A kid gets hit, either with a ball or from a collision with another kid, on the ear. the back post of the stud earring gets imbedded into the head behind the ear, pinning the ear back via the post of the earring.

Its happened and its not fun for the kid.

I think the rules on the non metallic jewelry are pretty silly, but some of it is based on past injury.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
Umps are probably afraid of litigation. Can you see the lawyer now.

Mr Ump were you aware of the rule against jewelry,
Yes
Did you see the noise piercing
Yes
And you let her play with it in
Yes
So did you see your mistake when the ball hit her in the face driving the piecing into her nose which then went into her sinuses requiring surgery to remove?
...
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
Do we really need jewelry on, to play softball, anyway? But, it is one of those rules that was made to keep a girl from wearing those large hoop earrings that can easily get jerked out by an opponent or teammate's hand.

By the way, I certainly thought that it was a hard and fast rule. My DD is almost 25, but she played LL, Pony, ASA, USSSA and H.S. and the umps always had them remove exposed jewelry. If they were caught wearing jewelry during a game, they were tossed. I learn something almost every day, now that I have seen the rule.
 
Nov 24, 2009
54
0
Chicagoland
I can tell you what danger stud earrings are. A kid gets hit, either with a ball or from a collision with another kid, on the ear. the back post of the stud earring gets imbedded into the head behind the ear, pinning the ear back via the post of the earring.

Its happened and its not fun for the kid.

I think the rules on the non metallic jewelry are pretty silly, but some of it is based on past injury.

The scenario you paint seems extremely rare, in fact if it's happened more than once I would be surprised. The impact of the ball or player would probably hurt alot more than an earring. And if it really was that big of a risk then why would they allow it at the college and professional levels? Those games are played at a faster speed with bigger and stronger players that when an impact did occur the collision would be much greater.
 

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