Glasses

[M&M Guy]

This very subject was brought up at my conference meeting last night. When I first started officiating about 15 years ago, I was told to wear contacts because glasses didn't look as "athletic", and it helps avoid all the smart-aleck comments from the stands. But last night was one of the first times I'd heard a supervisor actually say there's no problem if you have to wear glasses. It's even ok to wear a neatly-trimmed mustache. These were all taboo 15 years ago. But I think people are starting to realize if you can referee, it really doesn't matter if you wear glasses vs. contacts. Maybe, subconsciously, wearing contacts helps with a first impression the first time you're at a new gym. But if the schools already know you, I don't think they care if you show up with or without glasses, as long as you call the game right.

On the flip side, I still wear contacts for the some of the other reasons mentioned - I have more peripheral vision than with glasses, and I don't have the problem of fogging and having to wipe them off when I sweat. So it seems like it has become a personal preference rather than a "requirement" for moving up.

[Junker]

When I first started, I was told not to wear my glasses because of perception. I choose not to wear them because I don't want them on my face when I'm sweating. About the only time I wear my contacts anymore is when I work out or officiate. I'd say go with what's most comfortable for you.

[JRutledge]

This is personal decision all the way. I can see why you would be skeptical to wear contacts and for good reason. I wear contacts as well. I wear Focus Dailies. I only have to wear them once and throw them away. I only wear contacts when I work games or for special occasions. I do not have to use any solution for these contacts and I love them and they are not very irritating.

It is unfortunate, but perception is reality. If you wear glasses there is going to be an issue if you can see and that judgment from other people will affect how they treat you and might affect what opportunities you receive. Also do not let this one sanitation change what you do. If I am not mistaken the problem with that solution was with one company. Life is not fair, so if you wear your glasses, you might hold yourself back in some way. Just a fact of the game we are in.

Peace

[Texas Aggie]

I wear disposible contacts, but the two week kind. My first set of lenses, 25+ years ago, were hard contact lenses, so anything remotely soft doesn't bother me in the least. The only time I have a problem is if my eyes get dry, and that only happens when I'm not active. I've waterskiied, snowskiied, swam, ridden moutain bikes, etc. in contact lenses and never lost one or had any problem while active. But if I had to wear glasses for whatever reason while officiating, I'd have to quit since I sweat so profusely, I'd be drying off the lenses way too often.

[WhistlesAndStripes]

I have worn glasses for my entire officiating career and it hasn't affected my ability to advance. When I moved to a new area a few years ago, one official in my association was talking to me about how to improve, and one thing he mentioned was my glasses. The whole perception speech and all that. I never even had glasses until I was 23 years old, and when I first got them, I tried contacts and it felt like they were sticking rocks in my eyes. I have since talked to my eye doctor about contacts, but I have a really bad astigmatism on one eye that make contacts virtually impossible. I have considered the Lasik eye surgery, however, with kids needing braces, that's probably not going to happen any time soon.

[CLH]

My advice, overcome the glasses obstacle with sheer ability. We had a guy here in Texas work the Girls State Tournament that had glasses on and did a great job. I'm only 23, but I had to start wearing contacts because my eyes I know are only gonna get worse cuz it runs in my family. But personally, I would never wanna wear glasses, purely because of the perception factor. No NBA guys wear 'em.

CH

[ChrisSportsFan]

M&M, I think we were at the same meeting last night.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by ChrisSportsFan

M&M, I think we were at the same meeting last night.

Were you in St. Louis?