Undershirt sleeves
 

When it comes to undershirts I've always ruled that players are allowed to wear short or long sleeves, just that one player can't have a shirt with one long and the other short.

A partner today is telling me that all players have to wear either long or short sleeves.

Ruling?

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Semper Ubi Sub Ubi ...
 

Undershirts must be similar in color to the uniform jersey, and shall not have frayed edges. Undershirt sleeves shall be the same length. Note that this rule does not require all players to wear the same length sleeves on their undershirts, but each individual player must have sleeves the same length on the undershirt when worn.

3-5-6: Undershirts shall be a single solid color similar to the torso of
the jersey and shall be hemmed and not have frayed or ragged edges. If the
undershirt has sleeves, they shall be the same length.

3.5.6 SITUATION: Prior to the opening jump, an official notices (a) A1 is wearing an undershirt with sleeves cut off and hemmed at the shoulders. A2 and A3 are both wearing undershirts with normal length sleeves; (b) A4 is wearing an undershirt with a visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark. RULING: All players are wearing legal apparel. (a) The rule does not require all players to wear the same length sleeves on their undershirts, but each individual player must have sleeves the same length on his/her undershirt when worn; (b) A visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark is permitted on the undershirt as long as it meets the logo requirements in 3-6.

Your partner must be pulling from the MSU rule book.

Thanks. I was sure I had it right, but figured I'd put that out there for the hell of it.

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Similar colors - spirit and intent - is black similar to a dark blue jersey? Are shades of red similar? I try to allow players to wear undershirts that are NOT clearly different from the torso of the jersey. I believe the rule is to help officials differentiate opponents for fouls, out of bounds, etc.

In the same manner, I would tell a coach, they appear to be similar to me tonight, but they may not be deemed the same with another crew.

Thoughts?

That would definitely apply to my philosophy as I am color-blind and have a very difficult time distinguishing different hues and shades.

I warncoaches about things other officials may not allow.

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Anyone else bothered by the yellow gloves some KC players wore last night? I kept seeing flags out of the corner of my eye...
:eek:

Of all the uniform police rules there are, a ban on yellow colored gloves and shoes in football would be entirely appropriate.

My ruling is that your partner needs to actually open a rules book and that he owes you a postgame beverage.

Sleeve length can be different for the entire team, but each player must wear the same length of sleeves.

Reason ...
 

Agree.

By custom, in my little corner of Connecticut, we allow illegal undershirts in scrimmages. I've worked preseason jamboree type scrimmages where players from several teams wear reversible practice jerseys (for some reason Connecticut frowns upon real jerseys being worn in scrimmages) and reverse their jerseys (but not their undershirts) depending on which teams are participating that period.

Based on those scrimmage experiences over forty years, I can tell you with 100% certainty that undershirt colors not matching jerseys, different color undershirts on teammates, and same color undershirts on opponents, can turn easy calls into slightly more difficult calls, especially during rebounding action, both for out of bounds, and for fouls.

Can officials call a game with no undershirt fashion police rules in place, or enforcedf? Sure we can.

But it's a little easier to call a game with such rules in place, and enforced, and slightly less likely that a mistakes will be made.

Plus, it's a better look that this is an organized game, played under formal rules, under the guidance of trained officials, and that it is not a playground pickup game.