Personal Appearance of College & HS players

Noticing some teams (college) allow facial hair, necklaces, long hair, etc

How is this managed from program to program? Is this a time when some coaches may overlook appearance as long as the effort is there between the lines?
Some of the teams I see with a more open policy on this subject are actually coaches I would have guessed would be more strict.

I'm not advocating for the clean-cut look or badmouthing the more gruff appearance, it's just an observation. How do coaches handle this subject?

 

Good observation EOR...I prefer clean cut but I feel I'm in the minority as dustmop "haircuts" and facial hair "experiments" are more the norm.

 

The decision fits squarely on the coach. I can say this without a doubt. If you play for Coach Allen Osborne, you will not have facial hair or long hair. He has a belief what a ballplayer should look like and doesn't compromise those beliefs.

 

recruiting

is a coach's personal appearance policy for players made clear during the recruiting process?

 

They would have to address that and not too many will post. But, imo, if they feel it is an issue, they will either walk away or address it during the recruiting process.

 

Oz is a good man, young guy, old school...love it.

 

At the high school level it is addressed by many. Best way to "handle" is through returning players passing on expectations and standards. I pose the long/shaggy hair problem as a safety issue - which it legitimately can be.

Trouble is, in today's culture, in public high schools, you can only do so much. I can't tell you how often I say," bout time for a trim Jimmy," which usually gets results. However, Momma threatening the principal to call central office goes a long way nowadays...

 

As a former player.. It had to be the buzzcut, most of the time a shaved face. Maybe some scruff especially if a winning streak was going.

As a coach.. the only thing I really can't stand is when a player doesn't wear his hat right. Pull it down to keep the sun out of your eyes. I can't stand to see hair on your forehead underneath your hat with your bill stickin up at the sky. As far as facial hair, hair length go, I don't really mind. Whatever makes the player feel comfortable and loose. Just wear your hat right -- and also, Don't ever wear it backwards on the ballfield unless its a rally situation.

And pull your sleeves down too, you're not out there sun bathing.

 

today's culture

I just think today we have a culture that is less strict and more accepting of doing your own thing; a form of diversity I think.

Take NCSU football coach Tom O'Brien for example. Ex-marine but you see lots of hair, and other personal styles on his team. I heard him comment once that he was most concerned with what goes on on the field of play not the looks of his players. Now I realize that football & baseball are "different" in what's acceptable, but I think that maybe similar attitudes in baseball are much more common now than back in the day.

I think that coaches have learned to be more accepting of diversity and individualism / more tolerant as long as the "team" concept is not compromised. I'm sure that's a challenge.

That hard line / strict adherence to clean-cut across the entire team I think is much less common from today's coaches. And in many cases these are the same coaches that earlier in their careers would not have tolerated the scuff look.

 

what really bothers me

I am ok with varying styles of hair. But if a player is overweight, he will not play for me.