[RedCashions]

ALL-WEATHER OFFICIALS PANTS: I have had some officials contact our office asking if the KSHSAA has approved or authorized officials to wear the “all-weather” officiating pants that NFL officials can be seen wearing (I don’t know if the NCAA has authorized them at their level). The answer is that the KSHSAA Executive Board has not authorized Kansas officials to wear these all-weather pants. I recommended to the board that this not be authorized for the following reasons:

1. If they were to be approved by the Board as optional, they would essentially be then requiring all officials to purchase them. There would be enough “mixing” of crews during the season which would increase the pressure upon all officials to purchase them so that all officials would be uniform in their clothing. This would be an additional cost to officials, especially those that were just starting out. They already have to purchase a complete officiating uniform and equipment. I don’t believe adding additional costs would be necessary.

2. The fall weather in Kansas is not the same as it is in Buffalo or New York or many other states to the North, Northeast or Northwestern US. The number of nights/days when the weather is so severe that wearing of this all-weather would be justified is minimal here in Kansas.

3. Officials could purchase other undergarments for wear during adverse weather which would provide them the same type of protection as these all-weather officiating pants. These undergarments (unlike the all-weather officiating pants) could be used by the officials as undergarments with other clothing and would have more functionality than the more expensive all-weather officiating clothing.

4. I do not believe that these baggy all-weather pants presents the official in the best way – officials should present an image of a physically fit individual. I do not feel these all-weather pants put the official in the best physically fit image.

Does anyone have list of what states have approved the use of foul weather pants?