The National Federation of High School Sports finally disqualified the jewelry rule from competition. The NHFS track and Field rules comittee decided to abolish the jewerly rule, and it was accepted by the board of directors of the NFHS. Finally no more worrying about newly pierced earrings, rings on your fingers, bracelets, necklaces, and any other piece of jewelry on your body. The ridiculous rule has been disqualified at last !
Here are few quotes from the Massachusetts Track and Field community...
"I personally think it is one of the best decision we have seen from the NFHS .... we no longer have to have our officials preoccupied with checking the athletes out for jewelry and they can now focus on officiating the various events we have in our great sport. We had no jewelry rule for so long and it did not seem to impact our sport....then the jewelry rule came along and there was all kinds of odd decisions made and controversy with the enforcement of the rule.....good riddance ! "
Frank Mooney, MSTCA Excutive Director
"Clearly, the elimination of the jewelry rule, being the first of the changes announced, shows the priority and anticipated impact of this rule change. It was not unanimously supported across the country or even in Massachusetts which is why it took several years to reach this point. Finally, in 2014-2015, what the majority of those in Massachusetts involved in the officiating and coaching of cross country and track and field believed; that Officials should concentrate their time and energies on competitor performances and that Coaches should continue to focus on preparing and equipping their teams for competition will be what the NFHS rules support and indicate. As a long time and veteran official, I have full confidence in the Coaches of the State continuing to do what they do well and I also believe that all of the student athletes will have better opportunities for fair and equitable competitions as the attention of Officials will be even more focused on establishing and maintaining these conditions."