Full Length Tights

[rickman5]

I absolutely HATE playing fashion police, but I've seen more and more players wear the full length tights under their shorts and were permitted to wear them throughout the game. How has everyone handled this? Here is what 3-5-7 says:

ART.7... Compression shorts/tights shall be a single solid color similar to the predominant color of the pants/skirt; the length shall be above the knee. Undergarments shall not extend below the pants/skirt.

Does this only apply to shorts or are full length tights that start at the waist and end under the foot an exception?

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by rickman5

I absolutely HATE playing fashion police, but I've seen more and more players wear the full length tights under their shorts and were permitted to wear them throughout the game. How has everyone handled this? Here is what 3-5-7 says:

ART.7... Compression shorts/tights shall be a single solid color similar to the predominant color of the pants/skirt; the length shall be above the knee. Undergarments shall not extend below the pants/skirt.

Does this only apply to shorts or are full length tights that start at the waist and end under the foot an exception?

The rule is pretty clear. I asked a player to remove them last week in a boys varsity game. He left the gym, removed them and nobody else said a word. My guess is that players are wearing them (for God knows what reason) with the knowledge that some officials will let it slide, while some will not.

[bob jenkins]

I make them take them off. I agree that the increasing use is why it's a question on the NFHS survey.

[Rich]

If I can't tell with a quick look, then they're really long socks.

[rickman5]

Originally Posted by Rich

If I can't tell with a quick look, then they're really long socks.

Yeah it's hard to distinguish between the two a lot of the time

[Wellmer]

We talked about this last night, as far as T Shirts under the jersey, can long sleeves be worn? The only thing I found in the rule book was that the sleeves had to be the same length? Anyone have a rule reference?

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Wellmer

The only thing I found in the rule book was that the sleeves had to be the same length? Anyone have a rule reference?

That's all there is about sleeve length. Long sleeve shirts are legal.

[Wellmer]

That's what we went with since we couldn't find anything telling us otherwise.

[Welpe]

A good tenet to follow with NFHS rules is that which isn't illegal, is legal.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

The rule is pretty clear. I asked a player to remove them last week in a boys varsity game. He left the gym, removed them and nobody else said a word. My guess is that players are wearing them (for God knows what reason) with the knowledge that some officials will let it slide, while some will not.

Ditto for me last week. Easy to take care of. No debate or arguments. The coach, in fact, said to the one kid, "See, I told you..."

Next time they say, "But we wore them last game and the officials didn't say anything", Go to the book to see who the officials were and contact them to ask why, if they indeed ignored it, decided to pass the problem along to you.

It's funny how this stuff always seems to get cleaned up in the first round of the post-season state tourney. That's because most know that if they allow some stupid fashion police infraction they might not fare too well in the next state tourney officials' selection process.

[egj13]

I have only see one player wearing the tights...it wasn't in a game I was calling but I do have that team this Friday night. He was out several games with knee issues and when he returned he was wearing them so I don't know if they are for medical or not. I will ask the coach and my partners on Friday though and knowing the coach he will flip a lid.

[OKREF]

I have seen them in probably half the games I have had. Kids see Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook wearing them and just have to wear them also.

[Camron Rust]

This inconsistency is just silly...

Arms: any length sleeve OK. Compression sleeve OK only if it is medically approved and only a permitted color (and matching).

Legs: Only leg lengths shorter than the shorts OK, Compression sleeves unregulated, any length, any color, no matching requirements.

Why the differences????

I think they should be consistent and make them all legal (any length tights/undershirts, compression sleeves OK too) but keep some color requirements....but not necessarily entirely matching.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Long sleeve shirts are legal.

I had this a couple of times this year.

Now, I can think of a few reasons why someone would wear this (skin condition mostly), but overall, probably just like a sleeve - look at me!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I had this a couple of times this year.

Now, I can think of a few reasons why someone would wear this (skin condition mostly), but overall, probably just like a sleeve - look at me!

Or he/she could be covering up tattoos. (Could be a condition the coach put on the player.)