[RonnieS]

Originally Posted by Libby K

Braids, buns, or doubled-over ponytail folds. Another thing that works is tucking those long ponytails or braids into the collar of your shirt while you're in the pit. (I've had hair down to my waist during competition season before.)

-Slightly-off-topic rant-

Something that hasn't been touched on in this thread that's really important:
Don't EVER touch someone's hair, body, clothes, etc without their permission. (Unless they're about to get in caught in something, or there's an imminent danger. Then, obviously, save them.)

My team was just talking about this over the weekend. I've had students/mentors on other teams, but most often Safety Advisors, grab my long hair and start to hold it back, while I'm simply standing there in the pit - yelling at me to tie my hair back. Dude, seriously? There's nothing happening right now where my hair is going to get me hurt. I've seen it happen to others, and it's happened to me, both as a student and an adult mentor.

It's a serious invasion of personal space, which is something I've noticed our community is sometimes pretty bad at (mascots, 'free hugs', etc.), and it has to stop. It is not your 'right' as Team XYZ's safety captain - and especially not as an event volunteer - to, in any way, get into a team member's physical space in the name of safety.

Talk to them about it. Use your words. Keep boundaries well-respected.

Slightly-off-topic rant over. Continue discussion.

THIS.

Too many people (team safety captains and event volunteers will completely invade someones space and then get mad at the person because they just violated them. I don't see it as a professional behavior to walk up to someone and tell them they need to do something now or grab their hair and put it in a zip tie for them(yes I have seen it). Long story short, be respectful and use common sense when you politely ask someone to correct what you think is a safety concern...
-Ronnie