New Uniform Expectation for NFHS

[Freddy]

1.6.1 (p.13) New: "No jewelry, except wedding band, shall be worn by officials while officiating a game. Fitness bands, rubber bands are considered the same as jewelry."

Just an FYI for those of you whose states' use NFHS mechanics.

[SC Official]

We use NFHS exclusively, in theory anyway. While it's great that the FED doesn't want FitBits being worn, there's no one in my state that will likely enforce the directive.

[UNIgiantslayers]

I'm glad to see this. I've had a lot of conversations centered around this topic and there were a lot of differing opinions. Good stuff this year and last from the Fed with regard to officials mechanics, uniforms, etc. in my opinion.

[Kansas Ref]

Yes, thanks to the NF for clarifying / enforcing such "jewelry" (i.e., fitbits, spirit bands, multi-colored rubbers, etc...): several guys whom I officiate with wear 2 or 3 multi-colored rubber spirit bands that are dangling on their wrists --not unlike my daughter's faux gold n silver bangle bracelets she buys at the Forever21 store. Just an all around bad look for a mature professional man who is charged with arbitrating a public competitive contest--the optics are not good. However, who is going to enforce it to partner refs? Should it be me, or the coaches?
I know that about twice per season there is an "under-cover" observer from the local association at the games--but that is too infrequent to cause a change in "fashion-behavior". Nevertheless, it's good to see a starting point.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

... multi-colored rubbers ...

Back when I was a hormone driven teenager in high school, during the middle part of the twentieth century, this (above) had a very different meaning than that intended by Kansas Ref.

[Nevadaref]

I know a few guys who wear fitbits around their ankle while officiating. It is covered by pants and even a sock, so it doesn't show. It stil tracks what they desire, so I believe that they have found a workable solution.

[#76]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I know a few guys who wear fitbits around their ankle while officiating. It is covered by pants and even a sock, so it doesn't show. It stil tracks what they desire, so I believe that they have found a workable solution.

This is what I do. It works fine, and no one is the wiser.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I know a few guys who wear fitbits around their ankle while officiating. It is covered by pants and even a sock, so it doesn't show. It stil tracks what they desire, so I believe that they have found a workable solution.

Is that allowed even if IAABO does not specifically endorse it? What if a player does this and we notice it when a sock falls down, or we notice the "bump" under the sock? What if it's not the black, white, beige, or the color of the uniform? What if NFHS says one thing, and IAABO says another? What if we don't notice it during a live ball, but during the dead ball right after a goal?

(That should be enough questions for BM to make sure the board is not so slow.)

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I know a few guys who wear fitbits around their ankle while officiating. It is covered by pants and even a sock, so it doesn't show. It stil tracks what they desire, so I believe that they have found a workable solution.

You can wear it in your pocket and at least accomplish the steps portion of the device. I know I am going to consider doing this for the coming season just for kicks. I use a Fitbit for the entire summer but would never consider using it during the regular season.

Peace

[Scooby]

I put it in my back pocket and it still does a good job of counting my steps.

Though during softball I have been asked if I have a can of chewing tobacco in my pocket. And while umpiring I the high school softball state championship one of the observers asked me to take it out of my pocket because of the perception that it was tobacco. I was able to take it off its band and keep it in my pocket without perception problems.

[LRZ]

For several years after my wife died, I wore her three small gold rings--we called them her wedding bands--on a chain around my neck. If an observer told me I had to take them off, I'd walk off. Those rings were the only jewelry I have ever worn and they were sacred to me.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

What if NFHS says one thing, and IAABO says another?

Never happen in a million years.

[Kansas Ref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Back when I was a hormone driven teenager in high school, during the middle part of the twentieth century, this (above) had a very different meaning than that intended by Kansas Ref.

*ahem, Mr. Billy Mac...; observation duly noted.