Patches

[BillyMac]

[VTOfficial]

In Vermont, we order our shirts with the IAABO logo on the left chest and an American flag patch centered on the back right below the collar.

Also, we have the option of two shirt styles: traditional black/white stripes and grey with black pin-stripes.

Any other states have the option of different shirt styles?

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by VTOfficial

In Vermont, we order our shirts with the IAABO logo on the left chest and an American flag patch centered on the back right below the collar.

Also, we have the option of two shirt styles: traditional black/white stripes and grey with black pin-stripes.

Any other states have the option of different shirt styles?

Must look pretty silly if refs have different shirts. How can we act as fashion police to teams if refs aren't 'uniform' Do you contact partners as to 'dress code' for games?

[ace]

Originally Posted by fullor30

Must look pretty silly if refs have different shirts. How can we act as fashion police to teams if refs aren't 'uniform' Do you contact partners as to 'dress code' for games?

I'm guessing the standing rule is "All the same" for the floor. All stripes, all grays. Just carry 1 or 2 of each.

I used to carry 2 shirts, flag/no flag. Then this whole wide panel thing came out and people started saying "if all three have them wear them otherwise don't." I've seen so many first year guys with them as they came in a kit that a vendor was selling at the chapter meetings, so during the off season I just bought two of those, and both will carry flags.

To the OP. In Houston it's patchless shirts with the option of an American flag on the left sleeve. Football guys seem to wear patches though...

When i lived in Louisiana it was LHSAA patch on the left chest, IIRC

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by ace

I'm guessing the standing rule is "All the same" for the floor. All stripes, all grays. Just carry 1 or 2 of each.

I used to carry 2 shirts, flag/no flag. Then this whole wide panel thing came out and people started saying "if all three have them wear them otherwise don't." I've seen so many first year guys with them as they came in a kit that a vendor was selling at the chapter meetings, so during the off season I just bought two of those, and both will carry flags.

To the OP. In Houston it's patchless shirts with the option of an American flag on the left sleeve. Football guys seem to wear patches though...

When i lived in Louisiana it was LHSAA patch on the left chest, IIRC

What's the point in having two different colored shirts?

[Texas Aggie]

In Texas we don't wear patches (got away from them in late '80s, thank God). We also seem to moving away from the flag, and I wish we would. I'm as patriotic as they come, but I don't like the flag on the shirt. For one thing, there's no consistency in where it is. Its supposed to be on the left arm. Some have it 2 inches down from the top; others have it 2 inches up from the bottom. Some have it in the middle and crooked. I've even seen it a time or two on the right arm.

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

In Texas we don't wear patches (got away from them in late '80s, thank God). We also seem to moving away from the flag, and I wish we would. I'm as patriotic as they come, but I don't like the flag on the shirt. For one thing, there's no consistency in where it is. Its supposed to be on the left arm. Some have it 2 inches down from the top; others have it 2 inches up from the bottom. Some have it in the middle and crooked. I've even seen it a time or two on the right arm.

I agree with that, flags are all over the place. Although, I recently ordered a shirt from honigs & the invoice states "centered 2 inches from the bottom of the left sleeve".
Why did I work a game at The Pepsi Center with an official who had his flag on the right sleeve?

[Mark Padgett]

For our local kids rec league, we wear Antarctica flag patches since I am the U.S. ambassador to that country. They really tickle when they wave like that.

[BillyMac]

For your information:

U.S. Flag Code (4 US Code 1)
Sec. 8. - Respect for flag
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.

That being said, my referee jersey has a flag patch on the back, I wear a flag patch on my laboratory coat at work every day, and I display the flag at home on every national, and state holiday, as well as every time a Connecticut soldier, sailor, airman, or marine, gets killed in Iraq, or Afghanistan, so far 41 flag displays:

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc...-utility-local

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

For your information:

U.S. Flag Code (4 US Code 1)
Sec. 8. - Respect for flag
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations.

That being said, my referee jersey has a flag patch on the back, I wear a flag patch on my laboratory coat at work every day, and I display the flag at home on every national, and state holiday, as well as every time a Connecticut soldier, sailor, airman, or marine, gets killed in Iraq, or Afghanistan, so far 41 flag displays:

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc...-utility-local

I think our association considers ourselves a patriotic organization.

[inigo montoya]

The flag with gold trim is also supposed to be reserved for military purposes, isn't it?

[Coltdoggs]

Indiana requires the IHSAA patch on left sleeve for all Freshman level and higher.

You don't have to be licensed for JRHS but I suppose it doesn't hurt. I let my license lapse a couple years ago cause I wasn't working HS games but I'm going to retake the test next fall and get my patch again...

One time I heard some fan say about me, "He doesn't even have a patch on" ....I thought to myself, well...he's right but the guy I was workin with did and he was a first year guy and I'm not sure the patch made much difference!

[Adam]

I still have a few shirts without the IAABO patch, and I try to match my partners when working lower level games. I remember hearing a fan yell at me to go back to school and get my patch. I wished I'd brought my patched shirt so I could have changed at half time.

Speaking of patches, just because an official has one doesn't neccessarily mean he/she can officiate. It just simply means they passed a test!!

Working 7th grade a&b games yesterday, my partner comes in fully geared up (IAABO patch & flag on shirt) 2 minutes before tip-off. As I'm changing from my greys to stripes, because he doesn't own greys, I ask him why he's wearing a HS shirt for a MS game? He says so coaches & fans will know he's certified & capable of working the games!

So I'm L & 3 minutes into the game an airball by A3 (visitors) he rebounds his own miss, I got nothing crowd goes nuts, the T comes in with the AT&T travel violation.
Fan says, that's why he has the patch on his shirt.

Perception is reality?

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Coltdoggs

Indiana requires the IHSAA patch on left sleeve for all Freshman level and higher.

You don't have to be licensed for JRHS but I suppose it doesn't hurt. I let my license lapse a couple years ago cause I wasn't working HS games but I'm going to retake the test next fall and get my patch again...

One time I heard some fan say about me, "He doesn't even have a patch on" ....I thought to myself, well...he's right but the guy I was workin with did and he was a first year guy and I'm not sure the patch made much difference!

What's to prevent any guy off the street from buying a uni and purporting to be a ref? In Illinois it's a red flag with no patch. And any high school game at any level where a ref shows up with no patch(I've never seen it) would be under extreme scrutiny from both school administration and fans.

The patch I don't have and can't buy is STATE FINAL OFFICIAL...