Officials Uniform Problems

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It sounds corny. Sorry. The barrier to entry just isn't that great to warrant a patch. I had a drawer full of them (the IHSA kept sending them when I was a reciprocal official and I kept throwing them in a drawer, but I gave them to someone).

So it trying to wear the exact same shirt because one person does not have a flag or not. Just saying.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

So it trying to wear the exact same shirt because one person does not have a flag or not. Just saying.

Peace

I don't disagree. I was just saying that it's a thing we (my regular partners) do. I wouldn't think less of guys who didn't. Personally, I would have no flags at all, but I had a partner who made a big deal out of it. He's out of the picture, now, so I'll probably never buy another flag patch. It's an unnecessary expense, IMO.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I don't disagree. I was just saying that it's a thing we (my regular partners) do. I wouldn't think less of guys who didn't. Personally, I would have no flags at all, but I had a partner who made a big deal out of it. He's out of the picture, now, so I'll probably never buy another flag patch. It's an unnecessary expense, IMO.

Does he call backcourt end line throw in violations from the division line?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Does he call backcourt end line throw in violations from the division line?

Something like that.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I don't disagree. I was just saying that it's a thing we (my regular partners) do. I wouldn't think less of guys who didn't. Personally, I would have no flags at all, but I had a partner who made a big deal out of it. He's out of the picture, now, so I'll probably never buy another flag patch. It's an unnecessary expense, IMO.

There is a difference between regular partners and doing it with the expectation that you are not going to be professional if you all do not match the exact same shirt. And even with partners whom I work with, I would laugh at them if they expected I was only going to buy shirts that matched them to the string on the fabric and expect me to put on the exact same patch. In football we can do this as we mainly work with the same guys for all of the season. But we do not freak out when a guy comes and works with us for one game. In basketball I work with too many other people to only do something for those reasons and those reasons alone. All I care about is do we have the same uniform in style, not match the shirt.

Peace

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I don't disagree. I was just saying that it's a thing we (my regular partners) do. I wouldn't think less of guys who didn't. Personally, I would have no flags at all, but I had a partner who made a big deal out of it. He's out of the picture, now, so I'll probably never buy another flag patch. It's an unnecessary expense, IMO.

Is it that same partner in the [ahem] video?

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It sounds corny. Sorry. The barrier to entry just isn't that great to warrant a patch. I had a drawer full of them (the IHSA kept sending them when I was a reciprocal official and I kept throwing them in a drawer, but I gave them to someone).

In your case it would sound cheesy

Is Wisconsin's association rather loosely based? I'm not familar with it. As I mentioned, IHSA is a big deal here.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by fullor30

In your case it would sound cheesy

Is Wisconsin's association rather loosely based? I'm not familar with it. As I mentioned, IHSA is a big deal here.

Back to this:

NCAA officials don't wear patches, except in their tournament. I would think the barrier to entry there would be considerably higher than getting high school games.

I've worked in 6 different patch states (PA, TN, LA, WA, MA, IL) and I prefer not having to put a patch on uniforms to work games.

(There are some rec assigners here who pay more for licensed officials, but those people always seem to recognize me (the once or twice a year I do rec) from working their town's varsity games, so I never have to show my card. But they could ask for a card, which would go further to identify a licensed official. I could get an extra patch from just about anyone -- doesn't mean I'm actually licensed.)

For me, the best part is not having to have special stuff for the handful of college games I work every season.

[IowaMike]

Originally Posted by fullor30

I'm going to disagree with you Rich, as it shows you're properly licensed, otherwise any chooch can go to Dick's, buy a shirt and start 'reffing' which some do on maverick park district stuff. It's very noticable here if you don't have a patch. Another patch of pride is a state final patch which the lucky ones wear and it's also worn with pride. The IHSA in Illinois is a very large and strong association which requires a few things to become licensed. It may sound corny, but I'm proud to wear that patch.

I never wear the state patch on my shirt and a lot of guys don't. The only games in Iowa that you have to be certified with the state high school association to work are sanctioned high school games. Middle school games only require one state certified official. It is the responsibility of the school hiring the official (or a conference assigner) to make sure that they are properly certified. If they are doing their job, what you describe above won't happen. You don't have to be certified to work rec league ball here.

I worked varsity ball in Illinois for several years too and never wore a patch there either. It never was a problem. If you aren't certified you should be weeded out by the schools/assigners.

[Smitty]

I wore a patch in Oregon, but no patches in Texas. I love not having to tape a patch onto my shirt. It's more a pain than anything.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by IowaMike

You don't have to be certified to work rec league ball here.

Around here, if you want to work men's wreck ball, you have to be certifiable and you get to wear this shirt.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Around here, if you want to work men's wreck ball, you have to be certifiable and you get to wear this shirt.

I'm guessing that bar is set pretty high in your area.

[Back In The Saddle]

Does ChuckElias know you're using his image?

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Around here, if you want to work men's wreck ball, you have to be certifiable and you get to wear this shirt.

Looks like the one in the back is growing rabbit ears. Not a good thing for wreck ball.