What about hair grooming?

[stan-MI]

Physical appearance should have nothing to do with how well one can officiate a basketball game, but it does. An official must gain the respect of all participants, including coaches, other officials and supervisors, in order to succeed. These people whose respect we must obtain judge us based upon their own biases. Most coaches, officials and ADs are pretty conservative in their grooming and dress. They want the same from other officials. If you are a young official trying to advance, you'd better look the part.

If Tom Rucker were trying to break into D1 officiating today, with his age, weight, limp and pants that don't quite make it to his ankles, he wouldn't get a second look. But no one cared about Rucker's appearance during his last 15 years in the Big 10 because they knew from his first 15 years in the league that he could call the game.