Rules on headscarves??? Help!

[Jenny]

I have seen girls compete in leggings and shorts at various levels of women's artistic. And for various reasons - religion, Shyness and medical ( eczema ). As long as they match the Leo or are plain black who cares. Lets get the kids out there competing and staying in our sport after they turn teen. Unless they are going to elite level it shouldn't matter. Jeez jobsworths look at the bigger picture!

I haven't come across scarves or head coverings but a high neck leotard would help to cover her shoulders and neck and a sport type hijab tight fitting would seem to be safe and appropriate.

Good luck. Btw I would be tempted to turn my whole team out in black leggings all the same . I would say they are footless tights. Team gym teams turn out that way and they look just as smart. And I am sure the teen girls feel more comfy too. The Leo companies now sell long catsuits for them.

Email every department in BG politely until you get a response.

 

[LucyTRA]

@GymMumInFrance I'd not seen that but I did get directed to the clothing request form, which still really annoyed me. This is not a modification, this is what the code of points says we can wear! If she wanted to wear something completely atypical then I would understand, but she doesn't, and the rest of the girls at this competition should have the option too.

@Jenny thanks for your support! I actually have some pretty severe scarring on my thighs, and while I've always just got on with wearing a Leo there have been uncomfortable times when little kids have come to me and asked about them. These are the kind of rules that drive people out of the sport.

I had a super supportive email from the sports co-ordinator at Uni, she said she was impressed at the action I had taken, and agreed with me on this issue. Apparently BUCS don't like to be contacted by students and they were annoyed that I'd gone to the organiser, and she told them that at least I'm proactive and they should have thought of this and had a policy for it already.

I will keep you all posted of the outcome!

 

[LucyTRA]

Update on leggingsgate...

I received an email from BUCS saying that my gymnast will be allowed to wear leggings (I already knew this) and that 'proof' of her religion will not be required - just her name. I provided it but we are really no further along than we were before... They are still treating her a special case and not giving everyone equal rights.

Sports co-ordinatior at Uni is furious with them and tells me she plans to take this 'all the way' (though exactly WHERE she plans to take it, seeing as we have already been to BUCS and BG, I have no idea) but only after the competition as she recognises that this is a rather large can of worms to be opening.

I'm still in two minds about whether to wear longs myself or turn all of the girls out in leggings so that we match. I can't imagine it going down well AT ALL, but it sure would be funny...

 

[raenndrops]

Update on leggingsgate...

I received an email from BUCS saying that my gymnast will be allowed to wear leggings (I already knew this) and that 'proof' of her religion will not be required - just her name. I provided it but we are really no further along than we were before... They are still treating her a special case and not giving everyone equal rights.

Sports co-ordinatior at Uni is furious with them and tells me she plans to take this 'all the way' (though exactly WHERE she plans to take it, seeing as we have already been to BUCS and BG, I have no idea) but only after the competition as she recognises that this is a rather large can of worms to be opening.

I'm still in two minds about whether to wear longs myself or turn all of the girls out in leggings so that we match. I can't imagine it going down well AT ALL, but it sure would be funny...

I agree that you should all go in matching leggings.
Not exactly the same, but last year, our gymnastics team went to YMCA Nationals. A lot of other teams chose to wear tank leotards they bought JUST for Nationals (it was in Savannah, GA at the end of June - very hot)... well, our team had 2 girls who (for religious reasons) do not wear tank leotards - ever... so our team opted to wear our regular long sleeve leotards so they wouldn't look different. [Before these 2 girls qualified, we had Nationals leotards picked out.]

 

[Jenny]

Nice Team work reanndrops.

And yes I would definitely get the whole team in leggings. Even if it is just to warm up.

Leggingsgate. Love it.

Let's be real here. We are talking about adults really and they should be allowed to cover up through choice if that makes them feel more comfortable for any reason. We want to encourage more adults/ teens to take part. Come on BG be as flexible as your gymnasts!

 

[Kiwi]

I agree that all girls/women should be allowed to cover up for whatever reason, as long as the outfit is safe, and you shouldn't have to prove you are a certain religion to have that right. And what the heck IS the difference between tights and leggings???

 

[fuzi]

And what the heck IS the difference between tights and leggings???

I don't know if it's a regional thing- but in the US, the word tights is usually used to refer to what ballet dancers wear- sheer, thin leg coverings, often with feet, but not always. Tights on the other hand, are footless, made of a thicker material, and opaque. For example, I might wear leggings and a shirt to go for a run. I wouldn't wear tights and a shirt to go for a run, because my underwear would show! Tights, in American English, are usually worn under something else (a dress, skirt, or leotard).

 

[Kiwi]

Okay, that makes sense. But surely there are some that are in between, that is, footless tights that are opaque and slightly thicker than ballet tights. I mean, back in the day when I was young and went to aerobics classes I used to wear shiny lycra tights under my leotard, these were opaque and thicker than ballet tights, but we called them tights, not leggings. I'm sure you can still get that kind of thing, some dancers wear those kinds of tights sometimes. I mean, if 'leggings' are not allowed, but 'tights' are allowed, just call them tights.

 

[LucyTRA]

I mean, if 'leggings' are not allowed, but 'tights' are allowed, just call them tights.

In my mind, they are the same thing. However, the rules for this comp state specifically that nobody will be allowed to compete in tights, which the BG code of points directly says that girls CAN do. The organiser was claiming that the issue of LEGGINGS/leg coverings had not been addressed in the rules or the code of points, which is just complete rubbish to me. Code of points say you can, rules say you can't. But he was getting pedantic and saying that the rules/code say nothing about leggings at all, only tights.

The bottom line is that my one gymnast who really needs to cover up will be allowed to. Anybody else won't be. I'm going to ask all of my girls to wear and warm up in leggings, and we will probably only remove them if the chair of judges asks us to when we go on to compete.

 

[txgymfan]

Bring a copy of that paragraph in the code along with you.

 

[Kiwi]

However, the rules for this comp state specifically that nobody will be allowed to compete in tights, which the BG code of points directly says that girls CAN do.

The rules sound very silly. Surely one of the main points of the dress rules is that tight clothing is required so that body alignment can be clearly seen for judging purposes. So trackpants would be no good, but tights should be fine. What on earth is the point of a rule that says no tights are allowed? I don't see how it would detract from anything, as long as they are fitting enough and either flesh colour or tone in with the rest of the outfit.

I just had a look at our WAG Steps manual and tights are not mentioned. It says leotard and optional shoes/socks, talks about rules for grips and bandages and wrist supports, but there is no mention of leg covering, or head covering. Maybe it just hasn't come up here (yet).