Pants: Sansabelt vs. Smitty

[amusedofficial]

I think the reason the unbelted look is preferred, encouraged or demanded.it is not because there is no belt or it meets the hot moms' definition of good-looking, but because among those wearing belts there is a wide variety of styles, colors, widths and buckles that make them non-uniform; it is virtually impossile to achieve a uniform appearance with a variety of belts and pant styles in play

If you have a crew of two or three all wearing belted pants, each belt will be different. There is relatively little style difference among the major suppliers of non-belted pants, save the issue of pleated vs. non pleated which is no more different than baseball players choosing to wear pants to the ankles or knicker-style.

Shoes and lanyards are another matter; all of sports gives leeway for personal preference in shoes as long as basic parameters (i.e. all black, no logos) are met. And you'll never get me to use a lasso-style lanyard while working a game of overgrown adolescents who have flying arms and legs and varyign degrees or coordination. Let them break my clasp, not my neck.

Unbelted pants are, by default as much as style, the uniform and irrespective of how it got that way, its adoption by those working the higher ranks is really the only way to have officials who are uniform and thus professional in appearance. It's not about looking sharp (how "sharp" can one look in stripes) as much as it is about looking like a corps of officials, presumably one held to a set of standards, rather than a bunch of Janes and Joes off the street.

It matters because the evaluation of what we do is so subjective. MickeyMantle could make fun of the K.C. A's kelly green and fort knox gold colors ("they should be holding hands and singing") but three world championships put that issue to bed. We, on the other hand, are judged almost entirely by perception, if we dress in a predictible and unifrom style, our image improves and we are respected as what we are, trained people who take what they do seriously and who have standards that are enforced within the cadre of officials

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

Shoes and lanyards are another matter; all of sports gives leeway for personal preference in shoes as long as basic parameters (i.e. all black, no logos) are met. And you'll never get me to use a lasso-style lanyard while working a game of overgrown adolescents who have flying arms and legs and varyign degrees or coordination. Let them break my clasp, not my neck.

Not everyone agrees that what should be or what should not be on the shoes. I have worn shoes with little logos for some years now and no one seems to care. But shoes are always going to be a personal thing as we all do not have the same needs or comfort level. And considering that you can hardly find a pair of shoes that are all black or leather this is not a universal issue.

Peace

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I have worn shoes with little logos for some years now and no one seems to care.

This is the key to this whole thread. I have worn a belt for 20 something seasons and nobody seems to care. The only time I ever heard pants mentioned at an association meeting, the assignor said something like, "Look professional out there guys. Get some slacks. Don't go out there in wind pants." I assumed this meant that somebody had worn wind pants at some point. As far as all looking alike, one guy expressed an interest in this subject this year. We should all have the same jacket, (we do, I think) and we should all wear the same shoes. He has patent leather. This will never happen.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by just another ref

This is the key to this whole thread. I have worn a belt for 20 something seasons and nobody seems to care. The only time I ever heard pants mentioned at an association meeting, the assignor said something like, "Look professional out there guys. Get some slacks. Don't go out there in wind pants." I assumed this meant that somebody had worn wind pants at some point

Just keep in mind it appears that your area is unusual that way based on this site and based on some experiences of others including myself. Or could it be that no one says anything to you directly, but they say things around you about this issue (or others)? I know the only time I mention this is during trainings with newer officials so they know what is expected of them. Other than that no one needs to mention it because when someone wears belted pants, it is stands out big time. And no one necessarily goes up to that person and points it out. But when you have belted pants I look at that like I look at those that do not apply certain mechanics. No different than I look at a guy that goes to a varsity game in jeans, but that is me.

Peace

[tjones1]

Sorry to spark this thread again... but if you are looking...

Purchase Officials PA has a pretty good deal on Sansabelts: 2 pairs for $79.00.

[VaTerp]

Originally Posted by tjones1

Sorry to spark this thread again... but if you are looking...

Purchase Officials PA has a pretty good deal on Sansabelts: 2 pairs for $79.00.

Damn, that's a pretty good deal. Wish you had posted this yesterday as I just ordered a pair from between the lines.

As for the original topic of the thread, I'd have to say that Smitty's are very good as a cheaper alternative to the Sansabelt but when it comes to quality the Sansabelt's hold up a little better over time.

[RookieDude]

Skipping through some of these posts are amusing.

I am the beltless, patent leather shoe kinda guy...no white logos on shoes.

Heck, I even carry around pleated and non-pleated beltless pants when I really want to match the crew.

I was watching a JV official the other day who was wearing pants that had belt loops with no belt! I gave him some positive reinforcement after the game...then mentioned that he might want to at least get a belt or go with beltless pants...he looked at me like he was insulted.

My first State playoff game...I had a partner (two whistle) that showed up with pants that had loops and HE HAD NO BELT! I asked him if he was kidding...he immediately went to town and bought a belt...sigh...yes, I was in trouble.

How did this kid make it to the State Tourney you ask?

(His Dad was the assignor for a small association in the State...)