Last week, twenty-six high school cross-country runners in Virginia Beach were disqualified at a meet for wearing Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG bracelets. The rules governing scholastic sports in Virginia forbid jewelry of any kind, and the bracelets were determined, albeit after the fact, to be jewelry.
Having competed in cross-country and track in high school and college (for a bit, anyway), I will tell you that this is 100% the coaches' fault. They were made aware of the jewelry ban at least three times:
Linda Babb, Kellam High school’s athletic director and the administrator who oversees Beach District cross country, said she twice issued warnings to coaches about the “no jewelry” policy. She added that coaches received copies of the rules at the beginning of the season and were e-mailed prior to Wednesday’s meet with reminders that the rule would be enforced.
The wise coach errs on the side of caution and makes his/her athletes take off anything that might be construed as violative, even a yellow rubber bracelet. I mean, why try to beg forgiveness afterward? Just play it safe. Yet, to hear the coaches tell it, it's everyone else's fault:
“It’s the stupidest rule I’ve ever heard,” Bayside coach Lanny Doan said. “We’re talking about a rubber band. It’s not going to harm anyone.”Ocean Lakes coach Mike Nestor said that no warning was issued to runners at the start line Wednesday at Sportsplex, adding that his girls team lost because of the disqualifications.
"Basically, we lost because of a cancer-support bracelet,” Nestor said. “This is a friendly sport. I’d rather be told kids had to take them off before they run than told 'Gotcha!’ afterward.”
Even Sacramento Bee columnist Ray Ratto piled on, in his typical ham-fisted, witless style.
The problem is that people are quick to judge these things on merit. Your gut reaction is that since the LIVESTRONG bracelets help cancer survivors they are good and should be tolerated. That's nonsense, and the officials know it:
Ken Tilley , executive director of the Virginia High School League , said a finger or hand from an opposing player could get stuck in the bracelet.“We’re not contesting the cause – the issue is a wristband, whether it’s save the whales, LiveStrong or gay rights” Tilley said.
People wear all kinds of jewelry. How are you going to tell this kid that he has to take off his gold chain and crucifix even though these kids over here are allowed to wear their Lance Armstrong bracelets? Rules are made for a reason; coaches owe it to their athletes to know the rules and make sure the athletes unquestionably abide.
FWIW, ten of the athletes had their results reinstated.
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