Another Hair Beat Controversy

Let's be honest, AYSO refs - on average - are terrible, though exceptions exist. And without competent refs and competent oversight by AYSO (something AYSO lacks across the board) judgments like this with a discriminatory effect are bound to happen even when there's no discriminatory intent on the part of the particular ref.

I call a foul on this one. While it certainly may be true ayso refs are less competent than club refs,you havent been reading because this is not a ref problem. First it’s a laws problem. If you bother to read the original post you’ll see that the laws don’t lay out a dangerous or not dangerous test for jewelry. Even rubber Bands, which are clearly not dangerous, are prohibited. Second it’s an ayso (and other orgs) problem for those orgs unlike Nfhs that insist on enforcing the laws strictly. Ayso only allows a deviance from the rule for medical bracelets and doesn’t for example allow new piercings or Hindu prayer strings. To change things you don’t need to better educate refs. You either have to take it up with the fa, or get the us orgs that oversee soccer to implement a variance.
 
I think this is like the fingernail length question I had. Until the item is being used dangerously by someone, you can allow it. People have elbows, fingers, and cleats that are more dangerous than a hair bead. Why are folks looking for some things that aren't even proven to be dangerous?
Because the rules say so. Rubber bands aren’t as dangerous as cleats or elbows or even the ball but the rules prohibit them.
 
He addressed the safety issue by pointing out that there is no evidence that any safety issue exists. He is asking for evidence that the beads are a safety issue, which certainly seems like a reasonable first step before banning an accoutrement that is specific to girls of one race.
There was no specific ban on beads. The ban was on any and all hard objects other than shin guards and medical bracelets.

Beads were treated the same as watches, hair pins, earrings, nose rings, necklaces, hair clips, and every other hard object worn by kids. In no way were items from one culture singled out for different treatment from items from any other culture.

Which gets to ease of enforcement. Do you actually think AYSO referees are qualified to make quick decisions about which hard objects do and do not pose a safety risk? The simple answer is no. The referees available are not able to enforce a rule that says “only if it is safe.”. They are able to enforce a rule that says “no hard objects.”
 
Now we're talking - a conversation about soccer hair. Alex Morgan's hair piece is soft, softer than hair and clothes. Hard beads should not be used by athletes because it causes too much friction when girls are moving around, causing breakage, especially in a contact sports like soccer. Maybe girls who don't move around much can use these beads for breakage prevention? But most athletes should not be using them to prevent breakage because the hard edges along with the movement of the athlete increase breakage.

Has anyone been hit by fast flying hair with attached beads to it? Yes - it hurts - a lot more than just regular hair flying around. There are beads that are lighter and hurt less, but they still hurt more than regular hair flying around.

Soft beads made out of silk or satin would actually do a better job than the beads people are trying to defend because they prevent more drying out than the current beads do. A silk or satin hair wrap would work better. More moisturizer applied before entering the sun and after exiting the sun would help too.

Refs should decide based on existing rules, not individual decision whether beads are dangerous compared to other jewelry. Until the ref association says otherwise, individual refs are just doing their jobs when they kindly ask girls to remove beads. We've had many girls get pulled off the fields due to jewelry or hair pieces (even small tiny ones) once the Ref notices it. In everyone's opinion, none of those jewelry seemed dangerous but Sometimes refs don't see it at the beginning of the game.

Those news stories posted by GRACE:
The mom wasn't mad because her child had to use over form of hairclips. The mom stated she had alternatives to use. The mom was mad because the ref didn't fully explain why her child had to remove the hard hair clips sticking out of her hair. Some refs can't explain but just know the rules.

The AYSO mom was not mad about the beads. The coach was a jerk and humiliated the kid throughout practice rather than just talk about it privately with mom and child.

These are communication issues, not racial or bead issues.

While some rules were created to form barriers of entry, these jewelry rules were not. The more energy and effort we use to fight these non issues , the less likely we will be able to make meaningful changes to reducing barriers for advancement and equality.

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Breakage Advice

the best way to avoid breakage to ensure that the ends of your child’s hair adequately moisturised and regularly tucked away in protective or low manipulation styles. Afro hair is more vulnerable to breakage when it is damaged by rough handling, chemical use or heat styling. Therefore, the best way to avoid breakage is to treat your hair like silk and keep it from common problems. The key steps are:


  • finger detangle or use a wide toothed comb
  • avoid relaxers and bleached based hair dyes
  • stay away from blow dryers and hair straighteners

It also helps to sleep in a satin bonnet or to use silk pillowcases. Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase leads to breakage for two reasons. Firstly, the cotton will absorb moisture from your child’s hair (this is the same reason that socks are cotton) unfortunately leaving the hair dry and vulnerable to breakage. Secondly because cotton is a rough fabric as they move in their sleep friction is generated between their hair and the pillowcase and Afro hair easily snaps off when it’s not covered up.
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I think this is like the fingernail length question I had. Until the item is being used dangerously by someone, you can allow it. People have elbows, fingers, and cleats that are more dangerous than a hair bead. Why are folks looking for some things that aren't even proven to be dangerous?
Hands are the worse offender. My kid was pushed from behind in a match on purpose after the player was beat by my dd and because of the push on purpose, she broke her foot from that dirty play. Ref only gave a Yellow. I saw it with my eyes. I drove off the field in a golf cart with my dd and took her to ER. "That is a Red card and suspension" and ref just laughed at me when I was yelling at him as we drove off the field. The cleat is also super dangerous, especially if the girl kicks another girl in the back of the leg when ref is not looking on purpose and her old man is seen laughing. I saw that bush league play years ago at a big time tournament and a pal has it on video. It's sic a play :( The beads are a non-issue until they hurt someone. I kind get the feeling that some of these young players with a few beads are scoring lot's of goals too and the parents who have kids with no beads are getting mad and jealous?
 
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In the past I've never allowed bobby pins in players hair. In HS play I'll now allow bobby pins based on the PlayPic D interpretation.

View attachment 13673
Player K is going to have a very hard time heading the ball ref. J looks ok to me. It's not like the girls with beads are using their hair as weapons when they get beat. The girls with no beads trip, kick and push when they get beat and no red cards. Plus, some of their parents pay lot's of cash to make the rules better for their kids. Sorry refs, this does not pass the smell test.
 
Player K is going to have a very hard time heading the ball ref. J looks ok to me. It's not like the girls with beads are using their hair as weapons when they get beat. The girls with no beads trip, kick and push when they get beat and no red cards. Plus, some of their parents pay lot's of cash to make the rules better for their kids. Sorry refs, this does not pass the smell test.

They don't head the ball with the top of their head, it's closer to the forehead.

I think the illustration is perfect, it shows the ones that can be whipped around and cause injury. Again though, my point still stands about even an elbow can be whipped around and cause injury...
 
They don't head the ball with the top of their head, it's closer to the forehead.

I think the illustration is perfect, it shows the ones that can be whipped around and cause injury. Again though, my point still stands about even an elbow can be whipped around and cause injury...
Ok, you got me. No wonder I sucked at soccer and had to play GK for 8 years. I was using the top of my head, dumb me. I still have headaches....lol. Anyway, no top player is going to wear K type beads.
 
Ok, you got me. No wonder I sucked at soccer and had to play GK for 8 years. I was using the top of my head, dumb me. I still have headaches....lol. Anyway, no top player is going to wear K type beads.
Looks like my kid is in violation and can’t play!
 

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Looks like my kid is in violation and can’t play!
Or, she was in violation 8 years ago during the Christmas break.

You sound like a decent guy and devoted father. I’m sure you learned how to rebraid hair years ago. That is nothing you can’t handle.
 
Now we're talking - a conversation about soccer hair. Alex Morgan's hair piece is soft, softer than hair and clothes. Hard beads should not be used by athletes because it causes too much friction when girls are moving around, causing breakage, especially in a contact sports like soccer. Maybe girls who don't move around much can use these beads for breakage prevention? But most athletes should not be using them to prevent breakage because the hard edges along with the movement of the athlete increase breakage.

Has anyone been hit by fast flying hair with attached beads to it? Yes - it hurts - a lot more than just regular hair flying around. There are beads that are lighter and hurt less, but they still hurt more than regular hair flying around.

Soft beads made out of silk or satin would actually do a better job than the beads people are trying to defend because they prevent more drying out than the current beads do. A silk or satin hair wrap would work better. More moisturizer applied before entering the sun and after exiting the sun would help too.

Refs should decide based on existing rules, not individual decision whether beads are dangerous compared to other jewelry. Until the ref association says otherwise, individual refs are just doing their jobs when they kindly ask girls to remove beads. We've had many girls get pulled off the fields due to jewelry or hair pieces (even small tiny ones) once the Ref notices it. In everyone's opinion, none of those jewelry seemed dangerous but Sometimes refs don't see it at the beginning of the game.

Those news stories posted by GRACE:
The mom wasn't mad because her child had to use over form of hairclips. The mom stated she had alternatives to use. The mom was mad because the ref didn't fully explain why her child had to remove the hard hair clips sticking out of her hair. Some refs can't explain but just know the rules.

The AYSO mom was not mad about the beads. The coach was a jerk and humiliated the kid throughout practice rather than just talk about it privately with mom and child.

These are communication issues, not racial or bead issues.

While some rules were created to form barriers of entry, these jewelry rules were not. The more energy and effort we use to fight these non issues , the less likely we will be able to make meaningful changes to reducing barriers for advancement and equality.

_______
Breakage Advice

the best way to avoid breakage to ensure that the ends of your child’s hair adequately moisturised and regularly tucked away in protective or low manipulation styles. Afro hair is more vulnerable to breakage when it is damaged by rough handling, chemical use or heat styling. Therefore, the best way to avoid breakage is to treat your hair like silk and keep it from common problems. The key steps are:


  • finger detangle or use a wide toothed comb
  • avoid relaxers and bleached based hair dyes
  • stay away from blow dryers and hair straighteners

It also helps to sleep in a satin bonnet or to use silk pillowcases. Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase leads to breakage for two reasons. Firstly, the cotton will absorb moisture from your child’s hair (this is the same reason that socks are cotton) unfortunately leaving the hair dry and vulnerable to breakage. Secondly because cotton is a rough fabric as they move in their sleep friction is generated between their hair and the pillowcase and Afro hair easily snaps off when it’s not covered up.
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Glad I'm a 1 1/2 all over. Baldref is probably thankful too. Way too much work for me.

In the past I've never allowed bobby pins in players hair. In HS play I'll now allow bobby pins based on the PlayPic D interpretation.

View attachment 13673
Is this serious or satire? Talk about micro managing something that is a complete non-issue.
 
Glad I'm a 1 1/2 all over. Baldref is probably thankful too. Way too much work for me.


Is this serious or satire? Talk about micro managing something that is a complete non-issue.
What makes you think you would know whether it’s an issue?

Do a web search for “hair bead injury” or ‘hair bead eye injury”. Apparently, it’s a thing. Hair bead skull fractures, too. The web has all sorts of low probability events.

Now, is it a common enough thing to justify the rule? That’s why you need the data guys to look at it. Because you and I don’t actually know.
 
Glad I'm a 1 1/2 all over. Baldref is probably thankful too. Way too much work for me.


Is this serious or satire? Talk about micro managing something that is a complete non-issue.
I miss it, but certain aspects I'm glad I'm done with...


Bobby pins and metal clips were expressly a no-no. So it is not satire. Things like that a lot of us "just missed" during pregame inspections....
 
What makes you think you would know whether it’s an issue?

Do a web search for “hair bead injury” or ‘hair bead eye injury”. Apparently, it’s a thing. Hair bead skull fractures, too. The web has all sorts of low probability events.

Now, is it a common enough thing to justify the rule? That’s why you need the data guys to look at it. Because you and I don’t actually know.
I actually saw an article or study on the skull fractures. It was those large plastic or glass beads on the end of ponytail holders and resulted from falls onto a hard surface. Not remotely close to girls with beaded hair playing soccer.

I miss it, but certain aspects I'm glad I'm done with...


Bobby pins and metal clips were expressly a no-no. So it is not satire. Things like that a lot of us "just missed" during pregame inspections....
I get pointy metal objects. I will just say when there are more schematics of how to wear beads than a handball, it seems a little over the top.
 
In the 90s, jewelry was not called out as a violation. Players wore chains, rings, etc.
The intent of the law stated you could not wear something that was dangerous to another player and players debated that chains were not dangerous too. The sentence “potentially dangerous items like a watch or metal bracelets” was added in maybe 1995 and 'jewelry' was added in maybe 1999.
IFAB then started adding examples of jewelry since it was either still confusing or being debated. Intent of the law is still critical here

I understand the pictures above are not from IFAB.
I'm not sure if we need 11 pictures, none, or 2. There will be refs who won’t know how to respond when they see and example not captured.
The decision making test goes back to the intent of what they are doing here which i feel is very clear and even spelled out in the examples, they want beads securely fastened to the head so they are not swaying, whipping, or moving in an uncontrolled manner.

I have spent close to 30 years letting IFAB drive me nuts with how they doing things, or dont' do things.
 
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