Varsity dress code

[concordref]

Guys,  Who sets the rules in your state what the officials wear on friday night.  My (Ohio) football boss just allowed us to wear black shorts in August and September Friday nights  I was wondering what other states allow.  Our football Director of Officiating Development does not care what the federation office says in there book concerning what officiasl wear.

[HLinNC]

Regional supervisor for sub-varsity, state supervisor for officials otherwise.

When in Rome......

[Atlanta Blue]

Shorts on a Varsity official?  There are NO shorts here for any game at any high school level, set by the GHSA.

If officials in the Deep South don't need shorts, why would officials in Ohio?

I understand, your state says you can wear them, but your credibility would be dead here if you came out in shorts.  Very unprofessional look.

[bama_stripes]

Calm down, AB.

When I first started officiating, we were allowed to wear black shorts (by crew option) until the weather cooled down.  Nobody back then thought it was unprofessional or questioned our credibility.

Personally, I don't think they're necessary anymore, even in the Deep South.  The black pants are much cooler than the knickers/long socks combo were.  And, not everyone has the gams to look good in shorts.

[maven]

Shorts on a Varsity official?  There are NO shorts here for any game at any high school level, set by the GHSA.

If officials in the Deep South don't need shorts, why would officials in Ohio?

I understand, your state says you can wear them, but your credibility would be dead here if you came out in shorts.  Very unprofessional look.

I agree, and my crew will not be using this option. We made that call the day the "Gold Book" was released.

I'm not quite sure who thought this was a good idea. If you like, I can try to find out.


maven

[Atlanta Blue]

When I first started officiating, we were allowed to wear black shorts (by crew option) until the weather cooled down.  Nobody back then thought it was unprofessional or questioned our credibility.

Well, at one point, someone thought this was a good look for officials also, and coaches wore Bike shorts, too, but now we know better!



Save the shorts for Pop Warner games.

[Rulesman]

Funny, but I agree with AB 100%.

[HLinNC]

Easy AB, some time between 1975-78, (Ted Brown #23), somebody in the ACC thought this was a good idea.
Somewhere I've got some old photos from the late 70's - early 80's with HS varsity officials wearing white shorts and mesh back "trucker hats".  Of course leisure suits were cool back then also.

The uniform has evolved.  I know guys that carried the red flag.  The 2 in 1 sock had just made its way down to high school when I started.  Thank goodness I never had to run around like a banshee blowing a tin horn because only the ref had a whistle or waving a one armed dead ball signal because the mechanics only allowed the R to signal TD!

[Ralph Damren]

The Maine Association of Football Officials sets our dress code and shorts are allowed; however, nearly all of the crews wear those spiffy new polecat britches. The General Washington knickers are nearly extinct and the dress worry is not if to wear shorts in August & September but if to wear earmuffs in October & November!

[VALJ]

We have to wear long pants for varsity, but the state gives us the option to wear shorts for JV and below.  Our association have decided to go with black pants for all games we work.  That way, we don't have to worry about some people with the shorts so long that they were almost down to their knees while others were wearing nut-huggers. 

I was against that change at first, but after having gone through a season with the new light long pants every night of the week, I've come on board.

[toma]

We don't wear shorts for high school games. Pop Warner we do. What color bean bags are people using. We've gone to an bright orange, really stand up on the field.

[HLinNC]

Made the switch to blue from white several years ago.

[VALJ]

We're white only.  Not sure if that's an association thing, or a state thing.

[AlUpstateNY]

I don't think anyone pays much attention or cares very much what kind of pants game officials wear, except other officials.  The black pants have worked really well because they're just more comfortable and easier to deal with, but it's harder to pick out wing officials, especially in front of the Team areas.

[concordref]

I had my cew read all of the replies on this subject and they all said that they want to wear the light weight long pants.  So, calm down Atlanta Blue we will look like officials.lol!   The question on flags in our state of Ohio is  black ball gold flags and blue bean bags at all levels of games.  i can see where the orange flags  would show up on the field.

[prab]

In Wisconsin, dress code is set by the State Administrator.  Last year (2013 rules not out yet) varsity crews could wear black pants, white knickers, black shorts or white shorts.  Shorts are fairly common here early in the season.  I regret that this is likely to eliminate many Wisconsin crews from consideration for working games in Georgia. 

[prab]

Wisconsin allows either blue or white bean bags.  Back Judge is required to carry 2 bean bags of different colors.  One for normal use and the other to mark the end of a scrimmage kick for possible PSK use.

[NWA_UMP]

In Arkansas it is set by State director. As an association we voted last year to go exclusively with the black pants, year prior it was a crew to crew option but all members had to match. We have been told this year that 2" stripes are required for all post season games. No positions, flags, numbers, etc...plain 2". My crew will use 2" for Friday nights and 1" for everything else. Shorts are not allowed even for preseason scrimmages let alone games.

[Bob M.]

REPLY: In NJ, the state council (federation of our five state officiating chapters) is responsible for setting uniform expectations.

[TampaSteve]

shorts: it has been a few years but last I checked for FL, shorts were allowed for varsity games, BUT you had to wear those long, striped socks with them. - making the officials look like poorly dressed tourists too.
Because of this, many opted to stick with standard Friday issue.
Conversely though, for MS & JV, many only wear shorts, but with regular ankle socks, as the state, to my knowledge, had no uniform standard or restriction for anything outside of Varsity.

[stevestod]

In Vermont it is up to the crew chief with most opting for black polecat pants, JV and Frosh are after school at 4:00 or 6:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays.  You usually grab what ever is clean, everyone has stripes but mismatched on the bottom. In November toques work well.

[bbeagle]

Everyone except the referee and umpire carry 2 different colored bean bags.

White for normal bean bag use, and Blue to mark the end of the kick. The blue bean bag is very helpful because it reminds us about PSK fouls, and the enforcement is different.

[Roscoe]

Calm down, AB.

When I first started officiating, we were allowed to wear black shorts (by crew option) until the weather cooled down.  Nobody back then thought it was unprofessional or questioned our credibility.

Personally, I don't think they're necessary anymore, even in the Deep South.  The black pants are much cooler than the knickers/long socks combo were.  And, not everyone has the gams to look good in shorts.

Gonna give away what year that was? hah 

[bulldogs1msu]

I have seen officials wearing white socks with the skunk pants.   Don't do it

[NorCalMike]

We just received a email from our association leader yesterday that we can't wear anything but black pants are all high school levels.