Connecticut, The Land Of Steady Habits ...
 

The CIAC (our state high school sports governing body) doesn't take an opinion on pleats versus flat pants, and neither do our state, and local, IAABO boards. It's left up to the individual choice of each official.

IAABO international did make an unannounced change last year regarding belts: The approved official uniform established by the Executive Committee of IAABO shall be: 1) Long black slacks (beltless and not tapered). (Page 2 of the 2014-15 IAABO Handbook)

Subsequent to IAABO International's change (above), my local board voted (unanimously) to amend our local constitution to read: Article 15: 1) The uniform shall be in accordance with that approved by IAABO, State Board, and (local) Board with the optional addition of an American flag on the back of the shirt - center and one inch below the neckline. An additional option will be that belted slacks may be worn, and if worn, the belt shall be black.

Billy:

Okay. Do you wear belted or beltless and if you wear beltess, what kind?

Does the whole crew have to be the same?

And please tell me that patent leather belts are verboten.

MTD, Sr.

The Constitution State ...
 

When in my little corner of Connecticut:

I wear belted pleated pants for my high school varsity games. I wear belted flat pants for my Catholic middle school games. I don't care what type of pants my partner wears. There are absolutely no guidelines from the CIAC, IAABO International, IAABO State, or my local IAABO board, requiring that both (Connecticut is a two person state for almost all games) officials wear the same type (pleated, or flat) pants.

Same thing for patent leather versus matte shoes, absolutely no guidelines, both officials can have the same shoes, or each can be different.

Officials can work without a lanyard, with a noose lanyard, or with a Smitty lanyard, absolutely no guidelines that both officials hold their whistles in the same manner.

Local guidelines dictate that both officials must either wear pregame jackets, or both will not wear pregame jackets (both must be the same), if, for example, a jacket is accidentally left at home.