Stupid Question

Can anyone tell me the LH rules on earrings? My dd just got her ears pierced and I'm wondering if she can just tape over them on Saturday or if she has to take them out. I figured someone here would know:)

Nose rings, tongue rings and tattoos are all ok in lh, but ear rings are frowned upon. Ppl is the exact opposite ear rings are fine but no tats or other piercings.

DukeGirl wrote:Can anyone tell me the LH rules on earrings?  My dd just got her ears pierced and I'm wondering if she can just tape over them on Saturday or if she has to take them out.  I figured someone here would know:)

Don't know the rule, but will tell you that my daughter played the first three games with them in and the fourth week the ref made her remove them, couldn't even tape over them, this was last year. We could not find the rule, however there is something in the rules that says the ref will make the final decision on if you can play, under uniforms and equipment.

soccerjack wrote:Nose rings, tongue rings and tattoos are all ok in lh, but ear rings are frowned upon.  Ppl is the exact opposite ear rings are fine but no tats or other piercings.

Nice.

EPL Fan wrote:Don't know the rule, but will tell you that my daughter played the first three games with them in and the fourth week the ref made her remove them, couldn't even tape over them, this was last year. We could not find the rule, however there is something in the rules that says the ref will make the final decision on if you can play, under uniforms and equipment.

I agree with EF. I believe that it is up to the ref.

Most leagues will not allow kids with earring because there is a jugular vein behind the ear.  The fear is if the child takes a hard hit with the ball it could puncture the vein.  That's why they will not allow tape. I hope the below image will show the position of the earring and the vein.  During my games I will NOT allow kids to play.  They have to give me an approval from the league.

Good question for the forum.  

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=jugular+vein+ear&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=jugular+vein+ear&sc=0-14&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=5E0CB81B193EDFF84CE8CCBD8405E0EF0B6833F8&selectedIndex=17

The rule is no ear rings period. Weather the ref catches her with them in is another thing. If the ref sees them they are required to ask them to remove them before continuing to play.

I'm thinking most of the responses have been, er, Dads? LOL

Been There Done This. Use flesh colored bandaids and test ahead to make sure they will adhere well if she sweats (some don't stick well once wet). Either use two or "wrap" the bandage part around to the back of the earrring (won't jam into her head at the back this way). The "starter" earrings have those big backers where they don't dig in the back like other earrings anyway--it would be impossible to cause serioius damage the way those starter ones are made. You can also add those little plastic protectors at the back if there is even space for those (usually not). Most refs will be fine if the ears are taped up like this. My DD has played "big" tournaments, SDL and all kinds of games like this with no questions or problems. If it's cooler weather she can add a headband. Bring extra bandaids to game. Girls are entitled to get their ears pierced and have fun--with a sports season that never ends you should not feel bad at all and only a dumb ref (in my opinion) would prevent a girl from playing who is properly taped up.

PS, I would NOT tape up regular earrings (not the starter ones)--those DO have the potential for injury and are easy to just remove. But the clasps on the back of the first set are locked on differently as you can probably see from looking at your dd's.

Just FYI. My son is a ref and they have been told in ref class and association meetings that they can be removed from the ref pool if they are found to be letting girls play with earrings in. There is no question some get away with it but I know they are not suppose to allow them to play until they are removed.

And thanks for the "dumb ref" clarification as he is only doing what his superiors have told him is required to keep his job.

Regards

Dad of dumb (albeit, rule following) ref

futbolfreak wrote:I'm thinking most of the responses have been, er, Dads?    LOL

Been There Done This.  Use flesh colored bandaids and test ahead to make sure they will adhere well if she sweats (some don't stick well once wet).  Either use two or "wrap" the bandage part around to the back of the earrring (won't jam into her head at the back this way).  The "starter" earrings have those big backers where they don't dig in the back like other earrings anyway--it would be impossible to cause serioius damage the way those starter ones are made.  You can also add those little plastic protectors at the back if there is even space for those (usually not). Most refs will be fine if the ears are taped up like this.  My DD has played "big" tournaments, SDL and all kinds of games like this with no questions or problems. If it's cooler weather she can add a headband.  Bring extra bandaids to game.  Girls are entitled to get their ears pierced and have fun--with a sports season that never ends you should not feel bad at all and only a dumb ref (in my opinion) would prevent a girl from playing who is properly taped up.  

I have no problem with your opinion as to the dumb referee remark. Everyone has a right to their opinion.  However, I would rather caution on the side of safety for the kids.  Also, this is a league rule in most league.  If the league says they can play with earrings and they give it to me in writing I'm fine.  No jewelry means No Jewelry.

Put me down as a dumb referee. The LAST thing I wanted to do as a middle was check each kid to see if their earrings were safely shielded. Pretty simple in my house and in games I reffed - no earrings.

In fact they come out for training as well. 4 players, each of whom had pierced ears from a very early age and so far not a single instance of the holes closing in the 1 1/2 hours they need to be out. Now, whether or not I ruined their "fun". I'll have to check with them on that one.   

Old school trick:  

1.) Go buy or find old pair of earring you may not want.  
2.) Get a set of finger nail clippers and cut the top part of the earring off.  
3.) Remove the earrings from you dd's ears.
4.) Replace with stem/post part that you just cut..
5.) Your dd may complain..
6.) No one will notice stem/post part during game
7.) return home and replace stem/post with newly bought earrings.
8.) Repeat the process again every game or weekly until not needed..
9.) Case closed.
10.) No more on this subject..   

** The Stem/Post is the long stick part of the earring.  Also note, the bottom part of the stem/post maybe have a needle point.  Use finger nail clippers to remove the needle point..

If the whole earring discussion is safety of our dd's then I think priority #1 should be the proper use of discipline...yellow cards, red cards. AND LH should do all the paperwork, not the refs. We pay LH quite enought to do that in my opinion. I know this is the 04's topic but when ref's refuse or won't pull the cards out for rough play (not talking about 50/50 situations but pushes in the back, grabbing player jersey's from back, pulling players down, studs up to back of leg, etc) then a few years down the road when the 04's add height, weight and speed there will be way more injuries than worring about the damage an earring can cause. BTW, my dd never plays with earrings so I have no issue with the rule...but am sympathetic to those just getting pierced. Well, for earrings anyway ;-)

Oh, and wait till your first "Meet the Ref" meeting. I challenge some of you parents to politely and with a respectful tone to suggest creative ways to "intice" LH and the Ref community to rethink how they govern discipline. They may not listen to you, but I think we should ratchet up the polite banter about it because I think it's important.

Overheard last year in LH only 5 cards were issued and yet over 80 parents/coaches were ejected. Anybody else think there is something wrong with that...or is it just me?

NTSSA Rule 12.4.4 Dangerous Equipment (8/2014 edition page 109)

A player shall not be permitted to wear anything considered dangerous by the referee. Jewelry that
is considered dangerous to other players must be removed or taped. Hard casts must be covered
with suitable padding. Knee braces with exposed metal hinges must be covered.

FIFA Law 4 (2014-15 edition page 21)

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to
himself or another player (including any kind of [sic] jewellery).

It is the referee job to enforce the rules. Some do so with more discretion and vigor than others. YMMV.

RightWingDad wrote:Oh, and wait till your first "Meet the Ref" meeting. I challenge some of you parents to politely and with a respectful tone to suggest creative ways to "intice" LH and the Ref community to rethink how they govern discipline. They may not listen to you, but I think we should ratchet up the polite banter about it because I think it's important.

Overheard last year in LH only 5 cards were issued and yet over 80 parents/coaches were ejected. Anybody else think there is something wrong with that...or is it just me?

  
I agree. It amazes me what is condoned by the ref, parents and coaches sometimes. Physical play is great but the tripping, grabbing, pushing etc....is called cheating.

They also make and sell at places like Claire's, etc. a little plastic protector for the newly pierced ears. It looks like a little tiny spool with flat "wheels" on either end. It is safe, keeps the holes from closing, and won't fall out. Plus, the sleeve part in the ear is large enough to run an actual earring through if you want to place an earring in as well.

soccerjack wrote:

RightWingDad wrote:Oh, and wait till your first "Meet the Ref" meeting. I challenge some of you parents to politely and with a respectful tone to suggest creative ways to "intice" LH and the Ref community to rethink how they govern discipline. They may not listen to you, but I think we should ratchet up the polite banter about it because I think it's important.

Overheard last year in LH only 5 cards were issued and yet over 80 parents/coaches were ejected. Anybody else think there is something wrong with that...or is it just me?

  
I agree.  It amazes me what is condoned by the ref, parents and coaches sometimes.  Physical play is great but the tripping, grabbing, pushing etc....is called cheating.  

Tripping, Grabbing, and Pushing to the opposing team is a foul.

RightWingDad wrote:Oh, and wait till your first "Meet the Ref" meeting. I challenge some of you parents to politely and with a respectful tone to suggest creative ways to "intice" LH and the Ref community to rethink how they govern discipline. They may not listen to you, but I think we should ratchet up the polite banter about it because I think it's important.

Overheard last year in LH only 5 cards were issued and yet over 80 parents/coaches were ejected. Anybody else think there is something wrong with that...or is it just me?

Do they show the same photo sequence every year? Small girl being mugged from behind by the big girl?

Yes, but they make sure we understand that often times it's the small kid who is the worst offender.


".....uuuuhhh, OK, sure".

Whether it is a rule or not (and it is, as others have pointed out), I personally am very adamant that my daughters and any any other athlete under my supervision not wear earrings or other jewelry at any time while playing, even in practice. As a former athletic trainer, I have treated too many injuries due to earrings. I have seen posts impaled in the head behind the ear, studs pushed through from the front and imbedded in the ear lobe, torn ear lobes, and more. The rule is there because it truly is a potential danger to wear earrings while playing soccer. Why parents and players continually expect refs to make exceptions to a rule that is put in place for their own protection is dumbfounding. It won't hurt for your dd to take her posts out before the game and put them back right after, provided she is vigilant about keeping them disinfected. Of you could be like me and tell dd she can't get her ears peirced until there is sufficient time for them to heal between games and tournaments. My older daughter got hers pierced before competitive soccer; younger dd started academy without pierced ears - she may have to wait until she is in college! (Jk!)

Edited to add: covering or taping is not sufficient to prevent all the types of injuries I have seen. Plus, the ref should not be expected to evaluate your tape job and decide if it is good enough.

wittymgr wrote:NTSSA Rule 12.4.4 Dangerous Equipment (8/2014 edition page 109)

A player shall not be permitted to wear anything considered dangerous by the referee. Jewelry that
is considered dangerous to other players must be removed or taped.

cannot tape earrings. Taping exception is for medic-alert type of jewelry.. anything else for adornment that is deemed unsafe cannot be worn.

upper95 wrote:

wittymgr wrote:NTSSA Rule 12.4.4 Dangerous Equipment (8/2014 edition page 109)

A player shall not be permitted to wear anything considered dangerous by the referee. Jewelry that
is considered dangerous to other players must be removed or taped.

cannot tape earrings.  Taping exception is for medic-alert type of jewelry.. anything else for adornment that is deemed unsafe cannot be worn.

Again I will repeat...

Each referee is responsible for enforcing the rules. Some do this with more attention to detail than others...

The rules are as written. The instructions given to the referees may indeed be as you wrote, however in practice, I see girls playing with taped earrings every weekend.

COMMON SENSE?????????????????? DON'T WEAR ANYTHING THAT CAN CAUSE INJURY EVEN IF ITS ALLOWED. LMAO