This race official is an IDIOT!!!!! What a freaking MORON!!!!!
This unfair ruling turned a positive athletic competitive experience into a nightmare for both this young student-athlete and her teammates. This ridiculous interp of an OHSAA rule, once again proves that Ohio's State Cross Country/Track & Field Championships do not include Ohio's best high school distance runners. Because of non-existent time standards, some distance runners from more competitive Regionals don't get to compete at the State Track Championships and slower runners from weaker Regionals run in their place. State Championships are where those who have proven to be the best should have the opportunity to compete.
I don't comment on much, but this is totally absurd and this official should be banned. How could anyone interpret this as jewelry? Let's punish the kids who work hard all year because of some jerk who obviously cares nothing about the sport or any of the young individuals in it.
Completely ridiculous. i feel like more officials look for faults in uniform then they actually do during the race. Last year in a Regional Track meet i was tripped and no DQ but if they were to find a stitch of a different color on his uniform he would've been out of there. The OHSAA officials really need to rethink these rules, especially during big meets like this one.
THAT OFFICIAL SHOULD LOSE HIS JOB
Considering the NFHS rules now state the athlete AND coach must be warned(no DQ) on the 1st jewelry infraction, what am I missing here?
As I posted on another site concerning this matter, we must band together as coaches, parents, officals, and fans of track and cross country to communicate to the NFHS rules committee that we have had enough. Enough of the hairband issues, enough of the different colored seam issues, enough of the trying to cover all of the logo issues; if it doesn't affect the race there should be no penalty. If there are penalties, they obviously shouldn't be as drastic as disqualification, for heaven's sake fine the coach, but disqualification for something that is a fashion issue is absolutely, positively ridiculous.
20 years from now these horror stories are going to be re-told to coaches and they are going to laugh at the antiquated concepts that we are living through right now. We all know they are wrong, let's find a way to change them.
Everyone is blasting the official, but honestly, shouldnt the coach know that nothing is to be on the wrist? It is a rule and in the post season, the coach and the athletes should know the rules by now. The official should not be blasted for enforcing a rule.
Beany45Everyone is blasting the official, but honestly, shouldnt the coach know that nothing is to be on the wrist? It is a rule and in the post season, the coach and the athletes should know the rules by now. The official should not be blasted for enforcing a rule.
@Beany45
She took the hairband out during the race and placed this on her wrist...would you have her litter the course? Seriously, the official should have told her to take the band off at the finish line before any coaches could file a complaint and not DQ her. They need to rewrite the roll bock regarding the jewelry issue at the check-in and only have a DQ if during competition the jewelry causes a competitive advantage which needs to be filed by a coach.
I will get off my soap box but this situation was wrong on so many levels.
Unbelievable. To snatch away the hopes and dreams of an obviously talented individual and her teammates is unconscionable. A warning perhaps, but DQ is too extreme. As a parent, does anyone know how to make our displeasure known to the "powers" that be? How do we get this changed and prevent this travesty from recurring?
It's ridiculous how a hair tie means more than the race. Seriously, who cares about a hair tie? I don't understand why these things are such a big deal. Another one that aggravates me is the stitching rule. Why are such dumb rules in place?
Rules like this need to be fixed because this is dumb.
No one likes this rule, plain and simple. But don't blame the offical. It is a rule. It is inforced all year long. As a head coach, you sign a paper the day of the meet that says you understand the rule. Don't scream at the offical for doing his job. And it is not an interp. of the rule, it has been made clear that is the rule, you take it out of your hair, put it on your wrist, it becomes jewlery. She should have left it in her hair, or tossed it to her coach or someone she knew. Is it bad for the sport, yes, is it bad for the team, yeah. But rules are there for a reason, and some suck.
@
Karl_Kauffman
NFHS has
allowed each state the option to warn the coach and individual before the DQ. Many states have chosen to continue with the more strict interpretation of the rule.
@ bigfishsmallpond, @
TriadKaylor
In the 2011-2012 NFHS rule book the contrasting colored stitching has been addressed. It is my understanding that this year it is legal to have a contrasting color as long as it serves a functional purpose and is not simply decoration.
@
Coach_S
Yeah, I know about the change, thanks. Was just trying to give examples of the petty fashion rules that do not in any manner give advantages or disadvantages to runners. I'm glad that rule has changed, maybe more will be on the way.
Sweendog55 is correct. Don't blame the official. My daughter ran in this race and was well aware of the rule BEFORE the race began - in face, at the beginning of the season. While you may not agree with the rule, OHSAA is clear that you must know the rules and abide by them or risk DQ. It is unfortunate that this athlete (and perhaps her coach) were not aware of the rule, but the official did nothing wrong by enforcing it.
This official is completely in the right. As a former OHSAA athlete, our coach ALWAYS made sure we didn't have ANY jewelry or anything this is like it on (and we were guys). Don't blame the official or even the runner, blame the coach for not knowing the rules. Honestly, nothing will happen to the official and I hope it doesn't. It's nice to see them doing their jobs! So maybe parents should talk to their coaches about knowing the rules. Enough said.
No not "Enough Said"! How about common sense...? I enforce Federal Regulations for a living...I spent 20 years as a Marine with orders and regulations as part of my daily life...and every day I enforce rules and regulations using common sense...my daughter is a Senior runner at a D1 school and it is interesting that NCAA officals use common sense when implenting rules...interesting that the Ohio State High School Athletic Commission can't see their way clear to use common sense?!
COME ON EVERYONE, "I AM AS MAD AS HELL AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!!!!"
karl_kauffmanConsidering the NFHS rules now state the athlete AND coach must be warned(no DQ) on the 1st jewelry infraction, what am I missing here?
@karl_kauffman
This previous statement is correct.....the individual cannot be disqualified until the coach has been notified after the first offense. Is there something more to this story?
If this (as it should be) overturned - the officials should be suspended from OHSAA meets due to causing the controversy. We will have 17 teams in the D3 race at the State meet instead of the typical 16 (you cannot call the 5th place team and kick them out).
The most dissapointing part of the story as it seems nobody knew the new jewlery rules, not the officials or coaches involved.
I hope the OHSAA makes this right- please keep up updated!
I just don't see how a hairband would fit the definition of jewelry. I hope the school prevails in their appeal.
Has there been an appeal here?
the officials do tell us tht there is absolutly no jewerly to be worn in the race and they aslo tell us tht hair ties r considered jewelry...
and havasnak is right its not the officals fault it is a clearly stated rule
THIS IS A STUPID RULE!!!!! TO ENFORCE IT THEN WE MUST HAVE SOME REALLY STUPID OFFICIALS !!!!! THEN IF YOU CAN AGREE WITH THIS STUPID RULE THEN YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU TOO !!!!!!
