SC Soccer Referee Association

Law 4 and Jewelry
October 7, 2008
 

To: All USSF Referees, Assignors, Instructors, and Assessors in South Carolina

From: Fred Bieber, State Referee Administrator - South Carolina

With the start of the new season, we have received many emails and telephone calls concerning players wearing or attempting to wear miscellaneous items of jewelry. Many times a player, (or the parent of a player) disagrees with the referee's decision to not allow items of jewelry to be worn. Increasingly, jewelry worn by younger players solely for Medical purposes is being encountered.

USSF Referees in South Carolina should read and follow the policies and directives of USSF concerning jewelry and Medical Alert IDs. Most notably, two USSF Policies should be read, clearly understood, and followed by SC Referees. The first Policy concerns Medical Alert Jewelry and Law 4, and is dated October 29, 2001. This policy may be viewed and printed using the following link:
Medical Alert Jewelry and Law 4 - October 29, 2001

The second Policy concerns Law 4, Players' Equipment (Jewelry), and is dated March 17, 2003. This policy may be viewed and printed using the following link:
Players' Equipment (Jewelry) - March 2003

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.

Players may not tape, cover up, or otherwise hide prohibited items. The player must still be prevented from participating in the match if the prohibited item continues to be worn.

The willful refusal by a player to remove illegal equipment (including items of jewelry), having been previously warned that such equipment cannot be worn on the field yet continuing to do so, is considered Unsporting Behavior.

Again, please review, understand, and follow the USSF policies noted above, and direct any questions concerning these issues to me.

 

Fred Bieber, State Referee Administrator for SC
3011 Knightbridge Road
Columbia, SC 29223-2130
803.730.3733
fbieber@usit.net

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10/7/2008