It has been said a number of times that if the UIL really wants to address the issues of uniform problems, jerseys, knee pads, bandanas, uniform attachments, etc, then they need to go to the coaches with a very strong statement about these issues to help clean them up. They never do. I can think of no time the UIL has ever strongly addressed these issues with the coaches directly. Their out, as I see it, is that they say these are the rules and the officials have to enforce them, then look the other way. If they are enforced they will back the officials, hopefully. But, if we do not enforce them, there is no consequence. I have never heard of an officiating crew being called to the UIL to discuss why they allowed a team to wear illegal jerseys, no knee pads, jerseys with cut off sleeves or tied, spats (old issue), non matching socks, oversized towels, on and on. Why? The UIL does not want to get into the middle of that fight. They leave it up to us to call or not call, knowing quite well the current process means the majority will look the other way. No crew ever gets called up by the UIL for allowing these "fashion" issues, although some actually deal with safety to a degree. But, if a crew were to misapply a rule in a game that huge consequences, or said the wrong thing to a coach or player, you bet they would get called up by the UIL, because the coaches expected it and UIL has to show they are large and in charge.
For officials, that's kind of what it comes down to. A couple of years ago, my crew essentially gave up on trying to enforce the knee pad garbage. No matter what we did, there there at least a dozen players on each team with issues. I cannot be the lone ranger. If the crews before me and after me are not taking care of it, how in the world can I take care of it one night and not expect the coach to remember my crew? It is all or nothing with these issues and we must have the backing of the UIL and not allow them to just say the officials have to take care of it, not us. We will tell every coach before each game next year we will enforce the knee pad issue, and we will. But then again, I'm in a chapter that does not allow coaches to pick. It does make a difference.