Connecticut Jerseys ...

[BillyMac]

Big controversary, by Connecticut IAABO State Board mandate, all varsity officials will be reguired to purchase new jerseys next year.

The jerseys we've been wearing since 1985 were 100% black and white stripes.

The new jerseys will be black and white stripes on the front and back but will have all black sleeves; very ugly.



This mandate will eventually filter down to subvarsity officials (junior varsity, freshman, middle school).

I only do wash one day a week (Saturday night) so I will need six new jersys. New jerseys are $44 each, that's an investment of $264 (plus tax and shipping), for an ugly shirt.

I will probably start off with four new jersys, and do an exta wash if I need more for the week, and I will slowly add to my inventory every year.

Many Connecticut IAABO officials, in all six local boards, at all levels, are very upset about this controversial decision.

Not all bad, I do like the American flag on the sleeve instead of centered on the upper back (as we've been wearing since 9/11).

Of course, according the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. § 8) the flag should not be used as a "costume or athletic uniform."

However, it explicitly makes an exception for certain groups: Military Personnel, Firefighters, Police Officers, and Members of Patriotic Organizations.

[bwburke94]

Sports officials are not "military personnel, firefighters, police officers, [or] members of patriotic organizations" so this indeed qualifies as flag desecration.

[Raymond]

We went through this in Virginia quite a while back. I believe we only had one source, maybe two at the most.

How many sources are there for these new jerseys and do the sources have relationships with the state high school oversight entity?

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[Nevadaref]

Your new style is the NCAAM shirt. Most states are going to this shirt.
Your laundry schedule is more of an impact than the change in shirt. I suggest buying two and doing a small laundry load of only your basketball clothes three times per week (or less as needed if you don’t have games every day during the season). I usually have games four times per week.

[bob jenkins]

And why not phase it in. e.g., Yr1 new shirts optional; old shirts default; Yr. 2 new shirts default, old shirts optional. Yr 3 new shirts required

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

And why not phase it in. e.g., Yr1 new shirts optional; old shirts default; Yr. 2 new shirts default, old shirts optional. Yr 3 new shirts required

That's the way we did it when we switched from an IAABO International jackets to IAABO local board jackets.

No complaints.

Lots of time to plan the purchase.

[FlasherZ]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Of course, according the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. § 8) the flag should not be used as a "costume or athletic uniform."

First, this particular section refers to using the flag or a part thereof directly as a costume or athletic uniform, not a representation of the flag as a patch fixed upon a uniform.

Additionally, the code says "a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations."

36 USC part B defines a very wide range of organizations considered to be patriotic and national organizations. While the NFHS (and associated state organizations) are not specifically listed in the title, it is clear that it would easily qualify, should the NFHS care enough to make a registration push, similar to Little League Baseball (36 USC 1305), Boy Scouts (36 USC 309), etc.

I've never come across any reasonable person who has had any articulable argument against the respectful display of the US flag by any sports-related organization. There are greater things to worry about, such as what happens when a ball hits the ring, simultaneously teleports into another game halfway across the world governed by FIBA, hits the division line, then teleports back into the front court of a non-IAABO governed game and his a player who had previously been out-of-bounds last season.

[SNIPERBBB]

Always thought this style made officials look like C-3PO in stripes.