Question Number: 22177

League Specific 10/6/2009

RE: High School

Denise of Mount Laurel, NJ USA asks...

I was reading up on recent modifications concerning player equipment (i.e. NOCSAE specifications and protective face masks) and was wondering why players are permitted to wear hard medical casts on the arm while playing but not permitted to wear rubber 'livestrong' bracelets.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Never seen a player whose rubber bracelet catches the finger of an opponent as they contest for a ball? Never seen how it can break or sprain the finger of the opponent and/or the wrist of the wearer?

That's good. That means the referees on your games are looking out for the safety of the players and following the laws/rules of the game.

Most referees hate to see casts and braces on their fields because they pose a risk to the safety of the players. Children who are injured shouldn't be risking re-injury by playing with such devices. Children who play with those players in casts or braces shouldn't have to worry about being clubbed with the device - even accidentally. That is why the laws/rules allow for the referee to refuse to let a player with a cast or brace play in a game - regardless of whether it is padded correctly and they have a doctor's note. That refusal can come before play, or during play and it is not subject to appeal.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Jewelry has no purpose in the game other than for adornment. As it has no use, it is banned because of the potential danger.

NFHS allows casts - if properly padded and if there is a signed doctor's release for the player to play - because the cast is to protect the player. Still, as Ref McHugh says, if the referee feels the cast is not properly padded or is being used as a club, the player cannot participate.

Similar reasoning applies to items such as headgear.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Jewelry is for adornment, and is not permitted by high school rules (and all of the soccer world.)

Medical devices (cast and braces) are protection for the players. But, high school rules permit someone in a cast to play only if (1) the cast is covered with at least 1/2 inch foam padding and (2) a medical consent for a player in a cast is present on the field.

Under the laws of the game, referees will decide whether medical devices (casts and braces), which are for the protection of the players, are safe.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Denise
If the referee believes that a player's medical cast is a danger to players then he will not allow it. In my opinion if it is hard then it will not be allowed and I would question the sense of risking further injury to the player by attempting to play in the first place with a hard cast injury.
As regards rubber bracelets FIFA has stated in the laws and I quote
' All items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands etc.) are strictly forbidden and must be removed.. '
I think that FIFA probably feels that by not making exceptions that the jewellery law will be strictly enforced. Having said that there are many referees throughout the world who turn a blind eye to the rubber and leather bracelet issue as they do not consider them to be a risk.
Also FIFA is concerned about political, religious, personal slogans and statements and has stated that it wants players sanctioned for displaying those at the highest level. So there may be an element of that included in the jewellery rule although that is just a personal opinion. You will note that many of the recent additions to the laws are primarily aimed at the elite international player. The most recent is the ban on face masks in goal celebrations.
So referees are instructed to implement the same laws fully at every level and to ensure the game is played in a safe environment and a safe manner. It is up to each ref to do what he/she believes is correct according to the law in these situations.