Where is the rule that talks about not wearing necklaces?

[brentwalker]

Game last night and the umpire gave the team a warning for the batter wearing the popular leather beaded necklaces. he made him take it off and gave the warning to the team somewhat indirectly or at least not very clearly in my opinion.

Any way about two innings later a substitute was made and the batter who came to the plate got to a count of 2-1 when all of a sudden the umpire pulled off his mask and threw the batter out of the game. yes he had on a necklace but it was tucked into his undershirt.

What is the rule #? Does it all fall back on the umpires judgment of safety? or is there an actual rule? This was HS baseball.

[CSThunderCoach]

Not sure about HS baseball, but it is a rule for girl's softball.
First is a warning. Second, is coach ejection, but the player
only has to sit out the remainder of that game. Only exception
is medical alert necklace/bracelet, but even then it must
be taped to body.

[OhioTex]

I found some NHFS references that clearly state for HS baseball No jewlry permitted. Not sure the penalty is consistent though..

NFHS 3-3-1c
No Jewlry Permitted

NFHS 3-2-12

Players prohibited from wearing jewelry. 1st offense a team
warning and jewelry must be removed. Next offender and
head coach restricted to dug/out bench area.

ASA 3-6F
exposed Jewelry judged dangerous by umpire must be removed and may not be worn
during the game. Religious or medical alert bracelets may be worn but must be taped to the
body. If judged to be dangerous by the umpire must be removed and may not be worn in the game.

[jcbeckman]

While searching for the same I found a game where a player was ejected after the team had been warned earlier for another player, and since they were out of substitutes, forfeited the game! So I guess they take it seriously.

[brentwalker]

Thanks, just got my NFHS book over the weekend and will look this up.

[Bryan D Shepherd]

Correct. Jewelry is considered anything that is not part of the team uniform. It doesn't matter if it's a hair tie that you're wearing on your arm, the player must either put it in their hair or take it off.

The reason the rules are so strict about it is because one of the things that is said in the pre-game meeting at the plate with the umpires and coaches "Are your players legally and properly equipped and will remain so throughout the whole game?" Jewelry is illegal and therefore makes a player non-legally equipped. After the warning, everyone should be checking to make sure they don't have any, and if they don't they are just being negligent.

Picture this, if you will: Runner is wearing a necklace, attempts to steal second and the necklace gets caught on something. That necklace will go nowhere and with someone's neck in it, it's going to cause some severe injuries, that WE AS UMPIRES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND OUR LIABILITY INSURANCE (if your league takes it) WILL NOT COVER NEGLIGENCE.

[danmcc]

Bryan, aka Ump,
Welcome to the board, I appreciate your dialogue from an experienced umpires perspective.

Dan

[Bryan D Shepherd]

Bryan, aka Ump,
Welcome to the board, I appreciate your dialogue from an experienced umpires perspective.

Dan

Anything I can do to help parents who don't understand all the rules, I will do.

BTW, is Ump my new nickname? I've been on this board for around 4 hours and I've already had 3 different people call me that.

[danmcc]

3 people is a hat trick so I think it is official. LOL

[Bryan D Shepherd]

hmm...FTM, any chance you could change my name to either Ump or add it to my name already?