Quote:
Originally Posted by JRutledge
No where in this conversation or in the new rules is there anything about undershirts.
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New rules? You are correct. No reference to undershirts.
Conversation? You are incorrect, even if it's only me.
Question was asked:
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRutledge
... why do they care what color stuff is?
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An answer was offered:
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyMac
To be able to easily identify teams, and numbers.
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One could speculate that another possible reason is that the NFHS wants to prevent a motley mix of uniform, and equipment, colors that could possibly take away from the integrity, and dignity, of the game.
Undershirts can be "stuff", especially to those officials who hate being "Fashion Police", and who may consider color restrictions on undershirts to be frivolous (we have a few of these officials here in my little corner of Connecticut). Perhaps if you had added a modifier, i.e., "this stuff", instead of just, "stuff", then I may not have used undershirts as an example of a necessary color restriction based on the scrimmage example that I stated.
It appears that the NFHS believes that allowing a variety of colors for wrist bands, headbands, and sleeves, may make it more difficult for officials to "easily identify teams, and numbers", just as they probably believe the same problem exists for a variety of colors for jerseys, and undershirts.
My general point, not specific to just undershirts, is that there could be, in theory, a continuum that runs from total freedom from any color restrictions (Dr. Naismith’s original
Thirteen Rules Of Basketball), which we can all agree would be difficult to officiate, to color restrictions for everything worn from headbands, and hair control devices, all the way down to underwear, shorts, compression shorts, socks, and shoes ("Fashion Gestapo"), which we could all agree would be unbelievably burdensome to officiate.
The NFHS has decided on color restrictions for uniforms, and equipment, that lies somewhere along that continuum.
It's where the NFHS draws that line in the "continuum sand" that we continually debate here on the Forum.
Many, including me, could argue that color restrictions on wrist bands, headbands, and sleeves, go a little too far, and should be outside the realm of game officials (but I'm still enforcing the rule).
A few, not including me, may argue that color restrictions on undershirts go too far (and sometimes choose not to enforce said rule).
Bottom line, the NFHS does have to "care what color stuff is", to be able to easily identify teams, and numbers, and, possibly, to protect the integrity, and dignity, of the game.
The devil is in the detail.
I remember when the only NFHS color restrictions were home team light (not just white) color jerseys, and road team dark color jerseys. Period. Over the three and a half decades that I've been officiating, the NFHS has expanded their definition of "stuff" to the point where, recently, they sent out a survey asking opinions on further expanding the definition of "stuff" to include socks.
When does the madness stop? Someday, in the future, the NFHS may limit the basketball to an exact, specific, color. Wait? I'm being told ... What? Pantone Matching System Orange 151, Red-Orange 173, or Brown 1535? What the hell does that mean? ... Never mind.