Strange Case Continued ...

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

It is pretty universal not to wear a belt. We do not have to go around telling people not to do this, they can look and figure that out. But if they need training on the subject we direct them in the right direction.

The better to "pants" the officials on their way out? I gotta learn how this one started.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

The better to "pants" the officials on their way out? I gotta learn how this one started.

There is a pretty universal standard in officiating in multiple sports that you buy things that are fitted. Same in football as no one would dare buy a hat that is not fitted (or adjustable). Same when I was a baseball umpire, you wore fitted hats. And there were other things you just did not do to look or appear like this was a profession, not a hobby. Some things have changed over the years, but not unusual. I wore a belt I believe my first year when I first started and bought pants at Wal-Mart. Quickly was told to not do that to look like you take this seriously and have not looked back. Similar to when they started requiring the collared shirt to go away. I started at the time when this changed within a year and people did not look back.

Peace

[BillyMac]

... when you were through using them, you could plant a garden.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

... requiring the collared shirt ...

For IABBO guys here in Connecticut, it was a gray jersey (no cool black pinstripes back then) with a blue Byron collar and blue piping. And we could wear blue pants if we wanted to (but nobody ever did).

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

The better to "pants" the officials on their way out? I gotta learn how this one started.

Remember, my story is about Connecticut and only about Connecticut.

When I started officiating high school basketball over forty years go, most high school officials wore (black) belted pants. Only exceptions were the guys (it was only guys back then) who also worked college games, they usually wore beltless pants in both their college games and high school games (why waste money on two different types of pants). As the years passed by, many high school only officials noticed that the beltless pants looked pretty sharp and started wearing them, and the percentage of high school only officials wearing beltless pants increased year after year. Several years ago IAABO International outlawed belted pants and made beltless pants mandatory (not sure about the NFHS).

Here in little corner of Connecticut, being the rebels that we are, we decided to be outlaws and we still allow (black) belted pants (old dog, new tricks), but always strongly suggest beltless pants to the young'uns.

And no, we don't allow suspenders.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.