Question Number: 20512

Law 4 - Players Equipment 11/14/2008

RE: Select Under 19

Mike of Gilbert, SC USA asks...

During a U12 Girls game during my player inspection I had a lady with a medic alert medallion on a very little necklace. I informed her to remove this item which she did. The next thing I know I was confronted by her mother who stated that she was a doctor and that her daughter is required to wear this ID at all times. I explained to the mother that USSF law does not allow any kind of jewelry. I also explained that the league also dose not allow any kind of jewelry to be worn by a player. The mother then stated her daughter was a diabetic and she wanted to know if I knew what kind of diabetic she was. Being in health insurance I knew the answer to this one which due to HIPPA laws we are not allowed to ask nor or we pervade to such information.
I informed the mother that her daughter could wear the item and not play or she could remove it and enjoy the game as a player with her team. The mother was not happy with my decision as you might be able to expect.
The necklace was not a choker type but a longer type that I felt could easily be swung and strike and opponent and cause injury say to the eye in a header challenge for the ball or it could get easily broke and lost on the pitch.
The kicker is that each player signs a medical release form with this information, the coach is aware of the condition, the mother is at the game, and I now know as well.
One last thing if this player would have been allowed to play and caused an injury to another player with this item would the insurance I am covered by be voided if I were to be sued?

What is the law on this for Youth Soccer as far as USSF?

I seen Law comparisons on USSF/FIFA, High School, and College vary in what they allow not sure why this is so different.

Thanks far any incite you can offer.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Advice to Referees:
[quote]
4.3 JEWELRY
All items of jewelry are normally considered dangerous; however, referees should consider carefully any item of clothing or jewelry that is clearly religious or medical in nature and permit it to be worn if it is not dangerous and not likely to provide the player with an unfair advantage.
[end quote]

This still gives the referee the option to determine that the medic alert neckless cannot be made safe, in which case the girl cannot play. However, it can be made quite safe if liberal amounts of tape are used. Have her tape the entire chain, leaving only the medallion visible. She won't like it when it comes time to remove the tape after the game, but that now changes her choice: tape the chain firmly, or don't play.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Many players have a medic alert bracelet on their wrists as well as neck. As a COACH I try to ensure any player on my team is looked after so the referee will not be forced to deal with it. On the wrist I have a roll of 1/2 inch foam or the wrist sweat bands that is taped over with white water proof tape or even just clear duct tape. I use a felt marker to indicate it covers a medic alert braclet. Things such as diabetes, allergic reactions to meds etc..., are extremely important and we do not want to strip a youth of their protection these things provide if they are knocked unconscious or faint or appear groggy or nauseated. On the neck I have them shorten the chain so it is finger tight most referees are ok as the chain and tag is not an injury item. We could tape the neck of a player but then if we remove it and we all know of his problem I put the chain in my pocket!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

You should have tried tape in this scenario, exceptions can be made for medical items. If the tape did not make the item safe then you would have to prohbit her participation, but all efforts should be made to allow her to play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

FIFA and USSF are clear that the referee should do everything he can to allow a player with a medic alert medallion to make it safe and allow it to be worn. If it had to stay on a necklace and you felt it unsafe, then you are correct. If it could have somehow been made safe like taping it to the arm, that would have been better.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

As my colleagues have noted, the solution was relatively easy - tape the necklace down so it doesn't swing.

Read the position paper issued by USSF on March 17, 2003 (still good interpretation) regarding 'Law 4, Players' Equipment (Jewelry). This same position is reiterated in the Advice to Referees section referenced above by Ref Voshol.
http://images.ussoccer.com/Documents/cms/ussf/Law4_Jewelry.pdf

If, in the referee's opinion, the carefully inspected medic alert jewelry can be worn without danger to the player or to other players, whether tape is used or not, then the referee has made a decision within the authority given by the Laws, and the insurance coverage cannot be voided (assuming this is an affliated USSF game for which the insurance is intended). If, for any reason during the match, the referee's opinion regarding the safety of the jewelry changes, the item can be prohibited or the player removed.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 20695

See Question: 20899