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Football Officiating => General Discussion => Topic started by: wv ref on August 09, 2015, 11:28:49 PM
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What not obvious things do you keep in your bag that you have found useful and why?, i.e. zip ties, safety pins, extra shoe laces, etc?
Thanks guys!
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dixie cups & mouthwash so I can soak my whistles pregame. Refreshing!!
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Zip ties for the chains.
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Zip ties for the chains.
Zip ties, (electric cable ties) are terrific insurance. Give a couple to your Linesman, to put inside his hat band and he'll never feel they are there, until he may need them, when they very well may "save the day".
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Small, baby wash cloth to wipe glasses, forehead, etc.
Plastic shopping bag (not the cheap grocery or discount store bags) for shoes.
Band-aids, adhesive tape, ibuprofen/naproxen
Black sharpie pen
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Bright orange duct tape to put on middle of chain instead of white tape.
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A small towel and a bottle of Armor All spray for a quick shine on shoes between JV and Var.
I also keep some small metal carabiner clips for fixing the chains should they break. Much stronger than zip ties and quicker than a key chain ring. Especially if you get the kind that have the screw lock.
A new one that I plan on adding to my bag is a small shower head for those HS locker rooms with old showers that don't have the greatest flow anymore.
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Guys already covered it, but the unique ones I have are the bright orange duct tape for the chains and the plastic grocery store bags to put over your feet on wet/cold days. These are invaluable for the cold days. Put a thin ankle sock on, then the grocery bag, then your normal crew sock pulled all the way up.
Have a plastic clip board for the foul report that opens up to have the reports, zip ties, and pens/pencils.
I also have a couple backups of things I sometimes forget. Got an extra pair of socks and an extra pair of compression shorts.
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Fake mustaches for when I want to look older.
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Bright orange duct tape to put on middle of chain instead of white tape.
Except for when the chains are orange. ;)
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Except for when the chains are orange. ;)
Which is why my tape is pink instead of orange...
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A new one that I plan on adding to my bag is a small shower head for those HS locker rooms with old showers that don't have the greatest flow anymore.
You'll need to include a small pipe wrench and plumbers tape or putty to seal the threads
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You'll need to include a small pipe wrench and plumbers tape or putty to seal the threads
Most high school officials I know are just happy to get warm running water.
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Most high school officials I know are just happy to get warm running water.
Worked a school last year with brand new showers, but no water. We cursed (under our breath) and dreaded the thought of the possible stench for the 75 mile drive home. One of our smarter officials realized the water valves had not been turned on ???. The janitor also served as our security, so we summoned him. "I'll be darn, these showers were finished in August and here it is October and you are the first ones to let us know they're not working. yEs:
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In my front pocket. Spare chain clip, spare whistle attached to chain clip, zip ties rubber banded to chain clip.
In my bag, two pairs of shoes. Two pants, two shirts, two sets of socks, spare hat, then in a shaving kit bag three bean bags, three whistles, four lanyards, second set of pocket kit. Needle nose pliers, small tool kit with straight and Phillips head and spare pressure guage plus markers, cards and pencils.
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In my front pocket. Spare chain clip, spare whistle attached to chain clip, zip ties rubber banded to chain clip.
In my bag, two pairs of shoes. Two pants, two shirts, two sets of socks, spare hat, then in a shaving kit bag three bean bags, three whistles, four lanyards, second set of pocket kit. Needle nose pliers, small tool kit with straight and Phillips head and spare pressure guage plus markers, cards and pencils.
AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE!!!
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We call it "bug dope", you might call it Off, insect repellent, or the like. If the field is near a swamp or forest, airborne critters may come a' searching for food and you may be IT. Spray brim of cap and they may look elsewhere.
The swamp or forest may also contain 4 legged critters, and they get hungry ,too. If they come a' scampering/scurrying/lumbering in your direction, you needn't worry about outrunning them, just about outrunning your umpire. An ample supply of sNiCkErS sNiCkErS sNiCkErS sNiCkErS may also help to throw them off your trail until the constable arrives with a horse tranquilizer.
Breath mints are handy if you : (1)have long arguments with disgruntled coaches; (2) are within grinning ;D distance of the prom queen's (a) divorced mom, (b) widowed grandmother, (c) senile great-grandmother.
Ole Mainer proverb : "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." tiphat:
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Everyone laughs at the guy who carries toilet paper in his bag, until the game where they show up and there isn't any paper...
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We call it "bug dope", you might call it Off, insect repellent, or the like.
In my Little League umpiring days, my frequent partner called that "Eau d'umpire".
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BK pretty good!
Been in far too many downpours in Florida. Dry shoes and socks beat wet any day.
I have one really odd quirk, well, maybe more, but one that bugs me to no end.
When it rains ... Drops falling off the bill of my cap. Always bugged me playing baseball or officiating. Can't explain it.
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Zip ties for the chains.
First time Id ever heard of this, so i stuck some in my bag and one in the sweat band of my hat...came in handy last week when our chain snapped. +1
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Baby butt wipes. So useful in so many scenarios.
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Baby butt wipes. So useful in so many scenarios.
I wont even ask LOL
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I wont even ask LOL
That's probably best.