Another Silly Uniform Thread
 

In Va we have to wear a patch for all VHSL games. I permanently, and foolishly, patched all of my good HS shirts but just got some new ones for non VHSL games.

I'm not going to permanently patch my new shirts and really don't want to go the velcro route either. I have seen somewhere that some people use name tag magnets. I have a magnet for my work conferences but I wouldnt trust it to be strong enough when I'm running.

Can anyone provide any feedback on this or any other suggestions? If you, or someone you know uses a magnet, where did you find one strong enough and what do you use to attach the other side of the magnet to the patch?

Thanks in advance.

I would have two sets of shirts -- those with patches for the league games and those without for all others. I find "temporary patches" on uniforms to look unprofessional.

Eventually that will be the case. But right now, I only like the fit of 2 of my four patched shirts. I bought 2 new ones and would like to put those in my rotation but don't want to patch them.

And, if you do a temporary patch well, (which is what I'm trying to get help with), nobody can tell the difference unless they examine your shirt WAY more closely than anybody will be doing to mine.

Our patches are embroidered. One can buy a patch and have it sewn on the shirt...but no one here does that -- so you can tell around here if it is a "temporary" patch. I have shirts with a patch...and those without. It is just a cost of doing business and I would not do it any other way.

I've seen the magnet thing work. You may have to check with an office supply store or a craft store for magnets that are strong enough. I had a hard time finding them.
Is it a problem to wear a patched shirt in the non-VHSL games?

I've gone the Velcro route and it works great for me.

The one thing Wisconsin gets right: No patches on shirts at any level. Thank goodness.

I use magnets, as do quite a few of the officials in our association. The ones I have are quite strong - they have two nickel plated rare earth button magnets mounted to a plastic bar, with a matching 1.25"x.375" plate that has double sided tape for attaching to the patch. I use two per patch. The downside is that unless someone is selling them locally, you have to buy them in quantity (like 50-100) from a wholesaler.

If you go the craft store route, make sure the magnets are either nickel plated or plastic coated, otherwise reaction with perspiration may cause staining of your shirt.

That's what I was thinking, going to a office supply/craft store. I do some private schools where I have worn the patch and it hasn't been a problem. In the big Catholic league around here, it would be a problem but I don't work that league right now though I have done some of their teams.

My issue right now is that I would like to wear some of my new shirts in VHSL games but don't want to permanently patch those.

How did you attach the velcro to your shirt? I've seen some guys shirts that appear to have little holes or stitching from where they had the velcro.

Exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks!

ETA- So where did you get yours? From a wholesaler...... I have been looking online and it did seem like they were most commonly available in bulk.

Same for the NCHSAA. Former deputy director hated patches and the new supervisor hasn't gone to them either, thankfully. Our jackets, which we rarely wear, have a patch.

All of my gray shirts had embroidered IAABO patches. Fortunately, the FHSAA patch was larger and I convinced my wife to sew patches on 2 of my 3 gray shirts. I got a blank one and a factory sewn on one, so I am building up that inventory. My zebra shirts are all IAABO save for one, so I have to get one more patchless one. Probably not renewing IAABO as it is $75 a year for 3 more seasons before I can go inactive for $10.

I took a rough head count of who wanted them and then ordered through a local trade show supply company. When all said & done, cost wound up to be about $2 per magnet/plate set including freight. They are reusable season to season - just peel the plates off the old patch, clean the old adhesive tape off and replace with a piece of double sided foam tape (3M or similar), then apply to the new patch.

I use 'em!!!
 

Contact the wholesaler, and ask if they have any returns. I got mine that way. He had some product returned as faulty, but the magnets were still good.

+10:)

I had a friend of mine attach the velcro to the shirt. I think she stitched it under the velcro, so the holes wouldn't show. She also sewed the velcro back onto my patch...whatever she did is solid! :)

Isn't this a business at the end of the day? Buy enough shirts to work the games at the level you are normally assigned and put the sew patches on them. Never liked velcro for that purpose.

In my area we have patches, but many people wear them for any school aged kids games as in most cases it is expected that the officials be licensed. I do not see the big deal with patches or not patches considering that I can only wear one kind of shirt for a HS game and another for a college game. The only shirt I cannot have a patch on is the college shirt. All other games it is optional.

Peace

When in MI I use the velcro strips that have the sticky backs and put one side on shirt the other on patch. Works fine - no stitching. Also no sticky residue as they don't have much glue - but enough that I've never had one fall off.

Fwiw magnets are attractive.

Or, depending on how you look at them, repulsive.

Depends on the polarity, not the perspective. Unless you've found a monopole. :D

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Rumor Has It ...
 

I hear that you can go blind.