Report to Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Commission
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
YOUTH SPORTS RULE CHANGES REGARDING HAIR ADORNMENTS AND JEWELRY
Body
I. SUMMARY
To stay in line with rules governing high school sports that are provided by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), certain rules governing hair adornments and jewelry were updated in the City of Carson youth basketball, soccer, and flag football rulebooks.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
HOLD discussion.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE any other action the Commission deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
The rulebooks that govern the sports offered by the City of Carson's Youth Sports Section oftentimes lean heavily on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States.
Prior to the start of the 2022-2023 school year, the NFHS relaxed some of their rules regarding hair adornments and jewelry. Specifically, hair adornments, including beads, may be worn by high school soccer and basketball players (and other sports the City of Carson doesn't currently offer) provided they are secured in a bun or close to their head and do not present a safety hazard to the player, teammates, or opponents. There are no rules with hair adornment stipulations in the NFHS rulebook for baseball or softball, and the City of Carson also doesn't have rules in the baseball and softball rulebooks. Also of note, since the City of Carson offers flag football (no helmets worn) instead of tackle football (helmets worn), the rules regarding hair adornments for flag football would follow the same rules as soccer.
In 2023, high school baseball and softball players and coaches were permitted to wear jewelry after the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee voted to remove its prohibition from the rules. Previously, only medical and religious medals were...
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