In attending my first Officials camps this summer, what kinds of black shorts and brands are out there? Most camps require a black short of some type but othere than the good old "polyester" umpire shorts anybody have any other ideas? Thanks
P.S. Its sad to see the Basketball season coming to a close, as Im not a big baseball fan.

I've got three different pairs of black shorts, from two different manufacturers, made of three different kinds of fabric. All have been acceptable at camps ranging from local HS camps to bigger camps given by D1 guys.

While I have suspected that my choice of shorts is the reason I'm not working D1 yet, the evaluators keep giving me this line about not enough experience/ability/knowledge/presence/fitness/etc. I wish they'd just own up to it and tell me it's the shorts! ;)

If you wear the coaches shorts take a picture and send it to me!

Check Honing's under the football uniforms. They have the black shorts there. Or, buy the pants they sell to wrestling refs, cut part of the legs off, make shorts out of them, and then use the unused fabric to make belt loops on coaches shorts. If you want to go beltless, be sure the coaches shorts are tight, otherwise they slip like crazy.

Are you serious?

I have been to several DI camps and most officials wear black mesh gym shorts like Nike ect.

I hope you take some pants as backups. Most camps I attend require Pants.

I really want to know if he is serious about the coaches shorts. This is 2004! Do not go to a camp and wear those tight shorts. Nike mesh/basketball shorts. Not too long, NOT too short. If anything lean towards long.

I want to know if that guy is serious about wearing coache's shorts.

Well, I've seen some guys wear the coaches pants. I only wear the coaches pants when I work some tournaments during the summer. I haven't been scolded for doing so yet. Matter of fact, I've had some vets compliment me on my shorts and sneer at the younger guys who prefer the Nike mesh shorts or similar. The vets who have this reaction say that wearing the mesh shorts put us on the same level as the kids, which is what we're supposed to avoid. I'm just listening to some of the vets I've worked with.

don't go overboard
 

I agree, Just a good mesh short. Summer can get hot and comfort is important when running off and on all day long.

tomegun, not to criticize you, but what would you say to a camp director who says no mesh shorts? You going to say the same thing you just said to me? If I were going to a camp, I'd probably take a pair or 2 of the mesh shorts, as well as my trusty "coaches" shorts, just in case the camp director has a temperment for the older stuff.

Footlocker, Champs or even Sportmart.
 

You can go to any sporting good store and pick up a pair of all black shorts. Get them a little baggy and a little long. And whatever you do, wear white socks not black. Do that last one for your sake. :D

Peace

First of all in all my years I've never heard of specifying which type of shorts to wear. I guess if someone told me to wear those tight ___ coaches shorts that would be one mark against me. If you would wear those to the camps I've attended that allow shorts in the past 5 years someone would be telling you to get some different shorts. I don't think you are being critical of me but most campers and camp directors have changed with the times. Remember when the majority of officials wore runnin refs? Now the shoes aren't even all black (an air bubble, a little white, a little gray). I don't want to start a big thing but do you still wear a belt? Do you still wear runnin refs? I'm not concerned with being on the same level with the kids because I will be on the court with a black and white shirt and my whistle. We are basketball refs so what is wrong with wearing basketball shorts? If you've noticed guys wear basketball shoes now too.

I'm mostly joking about this but I wouldn't mind a picture if you are really going to wear those shorts!

Even the camps that 'allow' shorts, I think you will look more professional in the pants. Of course, if EVERYBODY is wearing shorts you don't want to be a sore thumb either, but if there is some of each go with the pants.

No, I wouldn't wear coaches shorts, since I still have nightmares from high school and watching my coach back then wear the damn things. It wasn't always a pretty sight, especially when he didn't have time to tan his legs before 3-a-days in August. (shuddering). I prefer the shorts I was able to create from the wrestling refs pants, since I put a little extra length in them. These shorts are great for doing scrub games in football, so I don't have to buy extra clothes for each sport, so on on on and on.