[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Of course they don't. They'd be stupid to wear one. If an official doesn't do what he is taught to do, then he should expect some consequences.

There are absolutely no consequences if I wear a belt in my little corner of Connecticut, however, I do not expect that that would be true all over the country, or for that matter, all over the State of Connecticut.

OK, you said you never worked the playoffs or a State Final if I am not mistaken. Do you think that might be one of the reasons?

Originally Posted by BillyMac

None of my comments are in any way related to college. I don't work college games. My local association doesn't train for, or assign, college games. Only a very small percentage of officials in my local high school board work college games, although that percentage is slowly increasing, especially for womens college games.

My point is you do what it expected. College is not a completely foregin entity to officiating. I have worked college in 3 sports and what the college guys do, we do at the high school level. There might be some very minor differences like the actual shirt that is worn, but the basics are the same.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Because they were probably taught that, as well as a lot of other stuff about their uniforms (no lanyard, noose lanyard, regular Smitty, extra long Smitty, all black shoes, some white allowed on shoes, Fox 40 whistle, other brand non-pea whistle, different size Fox 40's, jacket styles, patches of various types, anniversary pins allowed on jackets, location of American flags on shirts, or jackets, etc.). How about hair, or facial hair, or wedding bands, etc.? Sure it would great if we all looked the same, but local traditions will prevail until there is some type of national high school association, and I doubt that that will exist before I'm on the wrong side of the grass.

All these things you mentioned have standards or expectations too on some level. And if you wear a mullet you might not get games either. I even work for one assignor that asks his officials to not have a beard or hair on the chin. If you want to work for him, you do it that way or he will find someone that will. Officials want to work in that conference so they do it. It is that simple. We all have choices in life. You can be right and dead at the same time.

Peace