Belts yes or no

[Randa16]

I have always wore a belt growing up with shorts or jeans, I feel weird if I don’t have one on. When I first started doing basketball I wore a belt because again I always have. Lower level youth games never heard anyone say a word about it. I started doing high school never heard a word from anyone about it. Last week doing a JV game and partner says why do you wear a belt? I said always have why? He goes on a rant how horrible it looks and real refs don’t wear belts. It made me mad but after got me thinking is it that bad? Did I miss something? 6 years and no one ever said a word to me and I know I have seen a few others wearing a belt. So thoughts about it would be appreciated

[VaTerp]

While belts may be acceptable in a relatively small number of communities in America, I've never lived or worked anywhere its been accepted as a practice of even avg level HS officials. In short, do NOT wear a belt.

What is going on tonight? I get home from working a triple overtime game and see threads with officials advocating for wearing belts, backpedaling, and telling coaches they are refereeing the score.....

Really awful/terrible ideas, gentlemen.

[JRutledge]

Peace

[Camron Rust]

I wear a belt.


But it is one that goes INSIDE of my pants and it is made of rubber.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I wear a belt.


But it is one that goes INSIDE of my pants and it is made of rubber.

Best investment I have made in years.

Neat Tuck Active

Peace

[SC Official]

Officiating has lots of unwritten rules.

While a belt might be technically acceptable depending on your area, it’s likely to hold you back no matter how good you are. How many college officials do you see wearing a belt? Same thing goes for facial hair.

Get beltless pants.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I wore belted pants as late as 1994, and still prefer belted pants for non-basketball officiating situations. But when I saw some men's college officials wearing them I tried them and really liked them and how they looked as a basketball official.

I retired from officiating college ball in 2008, and can't ever being told that I had to wear beltless pants for college games. I do know that the OhioHSAA does not mandate what type of pants to wear but it is extremely rare to see an official officiating a VAR game wearing belted pants.

If my memory is correct I think that Connecticut requires belted pants. But I am sure that BillyMac will be along sometime tomorrow to either confirm or deny what I just said about Connecticut.

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

If my memory is correct I think that Connecticut requires belted pants. But I am sure that BillyMac will be along sometime tomorrow to either confirm or deny what I just said about Connecticut.

IAABO International requires only beltless pants (a recent change), no belts allowed. Connecticut is 100% IAABO. My local board has a constitutional amendment that allows two optional variations from the IAABO International mandated uniform, local officials may wear an American flag emblem on the back of their IAABO jersey, and local officials may wear a black belt if they wish. This may not be true for the entire State of Connecticut, it's just my local board.

Local Board Constitution Article 15 - Uniform
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.
2. The uniform shall be worn only by District/Area Board members in good standing.

I wear a belt because it's comfortable, but I would recommend (and do recommend) that young officials wear beltless pants from the get go, it's a more professional look.

https://forum.officiating.com/basket...ml#post1017386

My advice, wear beltless pants, but with the usual caveat, "When in Rome, check your local listings", or something like that.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Best investment I have made in years.

Neat Tuck Active

Peace

Have never seen these before - only the ones that loop around your feet, which people seem to like, but just look goofy, not that these don't. But I find myself re-tucking my shirt in constantly through the game, even though I keep it inside my compression pants. You came through huge with the Vapormax shoes (I now have 3 pair), so I am taking a flyer on these as well from your endorsement. The endorsements by NBA refs definitely help as well.

[Randa16]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Officiating has lots of unwritten rules.

While a belt might be technically acceptable depending on your area, it’s likely to hold you back no matter how good you are. How many college officials do you see wearing a belt? Same thing goes for facial hair.

Get beltless pants.

Lol I got a beard also, guess I am in double trouble.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Randa16

Lol I got a beard also, guess I am in double trouble.

You're fine as long as you don't plan on being a college official.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by Randa16

Lol I got a beard also, guess I am in double trouble.

At the high school level you might be able to get away with it depending on the standards in your area. In South Carolina only a mustache is permitted (statewide policy).

College? Not a chance, as Raymond noted.

I think of belts and facial hair this way: they may or may not hurt you, but they are definitely not going to help you.

[#olderthanilook]

No, it's not a clean look.

[LRZ]

Several weeks ago, I saw a women's college official wearing a belt. I was probably the only one in the gym who noticed.

Randa16, if you are concerned, ask your assigner if wearing a belt will set you back.

[RefRich]

Several years ago I used to wear a belt. I was doing a state playoff game and the evaluators first comment on my eval was:

"I know you are allowed to wear a belt, he did, it didn't look good."

I haven't worn a belt since.