All black shoes- NBA version

[HLinNC]

I know the "all black" topic gets bandied about a bit.  I stumbled over this SI article from April about NBA officials difficulty in finding shoes that meet their specs.  I am surprised that adidas doesn't supply as a part of their uniform contract.

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/04/17/nba-referees-sneakers-all-black-rules-guidelines-marc-davis-brian-forte

[theunofficialofficial]

I have always been a fan of New Balances 950 Umpire Shoe. Even though they were originally designed for baseball the small turf cleat on them makes it great for running on a football field. As a BJ I need to be able to run, stop, cut very quickly and can't just use normal running shoes or I am sliding all over the turf fields here.

I am very disappointed that New Balance this year stopped making them. I always preferred the mid(3/4) cut length to help with ankles as well as keep all the stupid little rubber turf pellets out of my shoes.

Found a few remaining pair at Dick's but they warned me they weren't going to be getting any more in.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=45868606

I'm just surprised that the NFL and even NCAA has gone to allowing white on the shoes but at the HS level we don't.

[VALJ]

I can't speak for any other associations, but it took two years of arguments before my association went to black pants.  We'd never finish the debate of "how much white it too much".

Whatever shoes I buy, I take a black Sharpie and color over the white with it.  Once that dries, time to polish them up, with the "scuff covering" polish.  Boom - all black shoes!

[bossman72]

We'd never finish the debate of "how much white it too much".

This is exactly the reason why most states mandate "all black" shoes.

[bama_stripes]

Our state started allowing "some" white for this very reason.  Naturally, a few officials went overboard & were called on the carpet, but for the most part, it's worked well.

[HLinNC]

Our state started allowing "some" white for this very reason.

NC did not too long ago too.  However the regional supervisors got final say on how much was too much.  I go out and buy a sweet pair of the Reebok Zig Cooperstown turf trainers.  RSO whips out his fancy slide show at the association meeting and guess which was the first shoe he said was a no go.  Yup.

Luckily, Reebok made an all-black version too.

[VALJ]

Speaking of shoes as we were recently...  The Zigs I bought last year don't work for me because I couldn't find them in wides, and trying to wear regular width destroyed my feet.  Any suggestions?

[Rulesman]

Speaking of shoes as we were recently...  The Zigs I bought last year don't work for me because I couldn't find them in wides, and trying to wear regular width destroyed my feet.  Any suggestions?

New Balance used to make a wide shoe. A pair I had circa 2010-12 and they were the best pair of shoes I ever owned.

[HLinNC]

New balance is the only manufacturer I know of that has wides readily available.