Come to game in uniform....or not?
 

I wonder what other association's policy is on coming to a game dressed out in uniform.

Our association encourages us to come to games in street clothes, and get dressed out at location.

For high school games, I always come in street clothes. I've never been to a high school that hasn't provided us with somewhere to change.

Middle school games are a different story. I come dressed to those. I do carry in my shoes, though.

I always go to a game site in street clothes. I like to show up to the preceding game and watch. No way I'm going to be in the stands with my gear on.

Our associations policy: HS games - change at site; lower level games - come dressed

I dress at site at all games. I do not like to come in dressed and certainly do not like leaving dressed. I do not want to stand out any more than I already will after a game. I know most folks will recognize me even in street clothes but I figure the more I fit into the crowd the better.

We're asked to "dress professionally" for all games, and change at the game site. I wear a tie.

A pet peave
 

At too many of the schools in our area, when we have a female partner, the accomodations for her are lacking or non-existent. So, often, a female official will have to come dressed.
With the newer high schools, they are including facilities for the officials, but still just one officials' room/area. Last year, a female partner met me for our game, and she used the restroom side of the the officials' area, while I used the locker side.
I really wish more respect for our female officials were built into the attitude of those who design the facilities.

Here the facility is 16 years old & we have 2 officials' locker rooms. However majority of the time when we have female officials they are already dressed before arriving at the site. however it doesn't help that periodically the one officials' locker room is used as storage.

+1

I dress professionally for all school games at all levels. Now, my REC games I may wear my pants and just change my shirt and court shoes.

In this area the switch between arriving dressed and dressing on site happens between Freshmen and JV.

I always dress at the game site. We have a few schools where there's no shower provided for us for after the game, but thankfully those are few and far between.

My normal wear in the winter is a pair of khakis or dress slacks and a sweater. It would be a cold day in hell before I wore a tie to a HS game.

yep - another thing WI does right!!!! :D

I saw a guy work a JV game this week in Dockers and white sneakers, though.

That's about my personal line as well.

We don't have an official policy that I'm aware of but for everything below Sophomore/JV, I come dressed. I believe there are some small private schools here where the officials come dressed for all games but I've never been to them so that is just hearsay.

Standard here is to go dressed to everything under varsity level. For varsity, a decent pair of jeans and shirt is all that's required - very few even wear khakis or slacks. I normally wear a nice pair of jeans and sweater or button down shirt.

There is one nearby school most go dressed even for varsity as their facilities just aren't conducive to dressing.

About half the schools I call have good shower facilities, half don't. I bring a towel and/or sweats based on whether I'll be able to shower afterwards or not. I certainly prefer to shower.

i like to look professional and go in nice clothes, because i like to watch games before, and especially after, to learn from the varsity crew......whatever level. but, some of the middle and jr. high schools don't have changing/shower facilities, so those games i go dressed and leave right after. i don't want to sit in the stands in a ref uniform.

i don't go over the top like with a tie or anything, but i show up dressed as a substitute teacher would.

I always dress at game site. Sometimes I might grab something to eat on the way and don't want to worry about spillage. Early morning AAU? Different story.

Some guys come dressed though.

May I suggest that you set the example. If you dress nicer, maybe others will to. I don't think a tie is necessary, but slacks is certainly preferable to jeans.

+1

We've been instructed not to come dressed for any high school games. All the schools provide a private room for us. We've also been instructed to go business casual, although jeans are typically ok for sub-varsity games. I've seen guys come in sweats for a Saturday morning sophomore game, but sweats have been explicitly discouraged.

I haven't done ms games here yet, so I don't know how that works.

Appreciate the suggestion. I would say that I am one of the "nicest" dressed at games. I wear dress shoes, not tennis shoes. I typically wear dark, nice jeans, not every-day. Sometimes I even wear slacks if i had them on for work. I wear a sweater, not a sweatshirt.

I'd prefer we all wear slacks and sweaters or button downs, but I'm also not going to go so far beyond what is typical as to be noticeable.

Slowly, it seems, good changes are happening around here in terms of upping the professionalism of our association. More training, more meetings, more discussion of appearance (including how and when we arrive). But we aren't to slacks and dress shirts for everyone yet.

I mean, I do live in the Wild West. :D

Most here wear black wind pants, a solid color t-shirt with a gray or black v-neck pullover and athletic (not game) shoes.

Prior to moving here it was usually Khakis and polo shirt.

Like many who have posted, we always dress at the gym for Varsity level games. There are those that will wear their uniforms to lower level games. But it is frowned upon. Put me in the group of always dress at the gym.

Ten years ago everyone wore slacks and business casual was the accepted dress. Now jeans have made their way in. Those of us over 50 almost always wear slacks. The 40-50 group is about half and half and the ones below 40 probably only own one pair of slacks and those are reserved for weddings and funerals.

IMO, jeans, button-up shirt and no sneakers is fine. That is better than a lot of the AD's around here dress.

Saw JV official last night in far northern WI wearing a collared shirt, lanyard was a black shoe string tied together, black pants with brown belt (complete with cell phone hanging from the belt), and camo shoes. Nearly died laughing. I don't even want to talk about mechanics.

Oh yeah - he was also the AD. :D Unbelievable!!

This is not an association issue as associations cannot dictate every thing we do. But an assignor can and many of them will pull your games if you do this. Always come in street clothes no matter the level. There is snow on the ground during a good portion of the season or the ground is wet, I would never come in cloths and shoes that I plan to work on an indoor court. Not happening.

Peace

I typically change at the site, regardless of the level of ball being played.

For rec games, sweats or shorts (depending on the weather) get worn to/from the game site.

MSHSAA-sanctioned games (JH or HS): slacks (strongly encouraged) of some kind and a nice shirt or sweater, never jeans.

College: slacks (absolute requirement) and a sport coat.

The only time we go dressed to games is for JR. High games. We do so because most often it is hard to find a place to change other than a bathroom that the fans use. I never go dressed to a varsity game. I am almost always dressed professionally (dress pants, polo shirts, sometimes shirt and tie, and for playoffs I wear a sport coat) I also will always shower after my game and be dressed the same way as I entered. We have 2 gyms that do not have showers and I hate going there because I like to shower after my game. When I am at those schools I do bring a pair of sweats for the way home.

Depends...

Most middle schools and a fair number of smaller high schools don't have adequate changing facilities for the officials - for those I go dressed, except for game shoes which I change at the site. Otherwise, I dress business casual (slacks/polo shirt or sweater) and change at the site.

I go to the occasional lower-than-varsity game with my under-stuff on, and put on the stripes, pants and shoes when I get there. To me, you shouldn't be seen in your uniform unless you are on the floor. Varsity and college, go dressed professionally and change in the locker room. At least that's what I do.

Almost without exception, we arrive in uniform at all levels.

I mean, if you're wearing a belt anyway....

;)

JAR's area is different in a number of ways. I couldn't imagine going to any game (other than youth games on the weekend where I'm working 3-4 games) in uniform.

Everything's regional.

Yup. When in Milwaukee...

Belt is part of the uniform.

Probably would look more professional to arrive in a limo, but I have a 4 wheel drive truck. More often than not, it is muddy.

You don't have a driver?

In Milwaukee, I would dress nice and arrive an hour early with my clothes in a roller bag (so that's not a good example). :)

In 1975, maybe. :D

Sorry, sorry, couldn't help myself.

weren't the pants white in 1975? :D

This is true. I just know if he did that here, he would not be working varsity by many assignors and he would be told much more harsh about that practice than we have ever said here.

Peace

Yeah, but Sansabelt slacks were very popular in the 1980's.:)

And if I were told that this was a requirement, I would adjust accordingly. But, as it is, I would be shocked to learn that my current assignor had ever spoken the word "belt" in a basketball discussion. As stated before, I have no problem with a dress code of any kind. I do have a problem with "A belt is not forbidden, but you won't get games if you wear one." And I have a really big problem with "A belt is not forbidden, but you won't get games if you wear one, and nobody will tell you that's the reason."

We tell our officials to wear camouflage so nobody can see 'em coming or going. Cuts down on incidents.

Here, too.

Oh, you'll get games. :D

Dress nice in Milwaukee? A contradiction in terms.

I dress on-site but I usually arrive in sweats and a tee shirt. I just assume nobody will notice me beforehand. Never put much thought about other than comfort.

Everybody notices you.

Please, I've been in your neck of the woods: Don't act like it's any better down there. ;)

Ha, rap in Milwaukee is a Lawrence Welk Polka party;)

There are a lot of things not forbidden that I will never do. I do not need a requirement to choose to do what is right or to do what looks the best. You can do whatever you want and look any way you choose to.

And as someone said you will work games. The kind of games or where you work games might be another issue. And if you can live with that then that is up to you. I know what I am going to do and what I will look like. And I am not coming to a game in my uniform. They better find a place to put me, because that is not going to be worn in the winter and mess it up so I look like a slob before the game starts.

Peace

I like to arrive at games and sit on the bench wearing my full uniform. I think it sets a good tone for the evening. Now for games I officiate.................(sorry can't use blue font!)

For some HS games I arrive from work so I am sporting the tie. Our HS association does not allow us to wear Jeans to games but we can wear "nice" sweat suits. It did have to be pointed out to some of our more veteran officials that a Leisure Suit is NOT a sweat suit!! Although it was pointed out that both have bell bottoms!
For college games it is always at least business casual.

Mr. Blackwell Is Watching From Above ...
 

Games assigned by our IAABO board assigner: Come dressed in business casual for night games (junior varsity, and varsity). All high school sites have changing, and shower, facilities. Maybe even a tie for prep school games. For afternoon games (4:00 p.m. freshman, and 3:30 p.m. middle school) come dressed in uniform due to time constraints, and lack of changing facilities at middle schools.

Games assigned by our Catholic middle school assigner: Come dressed in uniform due to lack of changing facilities.

I often drive my 4x4 too.....of course, if it even smells like inclement weather here, SCHOOL CLOSED, GAMES POSTPONED! :mad:

HEY Fullor, be nice, Uncle Lawrence and my wife are (were) family!

Why the attitude, Rut? I thought we had agreed earlier that if it's ok with everyone local, it's ok, period. I wear what I wear and work varsity as much as anybody here. You want to tell me what you will do, what is right, and what looks best. Fine. Move down here and see how you get along. I believe you have stated that you choose not to work girls games or lower level games. Your privilege. You can sit at home, patting yourself on the back about your neat wardrobe, because you will get no games at all.

JAR Dress Code
 

If any of you guys on the forum could see how JAR dressed in real life, you would be thankful he comes to the games in his uniforms.

+1

Unprofessional doesn't even scratch the surface.

I am just telling you what I am going to do and represent. It does not matter where I would live; I am not going to a game looking like a slob, just as I would not do the same on a date or a job interview. Where I live does not change that fact or how professional I would dress.

Also do not try to muddy the water of this conversation about girl's and lower level games. I do not get asked to work those games. And we are not slaves to associations like many here seem to be, we are independent contractors and treated as such.

We have over 6000 basketball officials state wide, they do not need the same officials to work lower level games that work varsity and college games. Lower level games are training grounds for officials to get experience and to be evaluated, not to have some big time veteran to take up a slot that a newer and lesser experienced official can fill and learn this craft. What I wear has nothing to do with what games I would have to work. Unless you have a rule that forbids wearing beltless pants or wearing a specific shirt than I think I would be OK. And since I do not know where to buy a pair of belted pants that I would even like the quality of, I think I would not be looking to wear them anytime soon, so I still would be good.
;)

Peace

Not that uncommon, but you kinda missed the point.

Here, I like the way things are put in perspective. Performance is everything.
Seniority and experience are a lot. Appearance is a consideration, but I think it would have to be shockingly bad to alter one's assignments.

OK, I confess I'm imagining something along these lines:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/32...dc1c67.jpg?v=0

Solution to the belt thing.

À La Larry King ???
 

Three options: Belted, beltless, or suspenders? I would assume that the suspenders have to be all black?

And you are missing my point. I would look the part regardless of what the local standard are or are not. And that would have to do with my feelings, not what someone that hires me always thinks. Not everything is done for an assignment. Most of it is done for my personal credibility.

Peace

There are many ways to improve one's credibility. I consider the ability to spell and type to be more important than a certain kind of pants.

This. What official's supply store even sells belted pants these days?

Western pockets, flat front, and belt loops. Seriously? Does it have bell bottoms, too?

I don't actually know what Western pockets are. You asked for a store. Just trying to help. :D

It's coming. Two of the newer schools in our area have two equal dressing rooms for officials. Now this wasn't necessarily done to accommodate female officials. Both schools are small and both boys and girls teams come at the same time. JV of one will play in one gym and varsity in another with the officials lockers in between. We have a boys officiating association and a girls association. So most often one crew will use one room and the other crew will use the other room. When there are females on one crew or the other, use of the rooms is split accordingly.

Meanwhile, your female officials should speak up for equal facilities. It is unacceptable for them to be using closets or restrooms. It's getting better for us district wide but only because I have been speaking up about it and encouraging the younger ones to do so as well. We have an association which backs us up on this.

Rita

The female officials shouldn't have to speak at all. Their association should be doing the talking for them on issues like this. If the association isn't, then that's unacceptable imo.

Most of 'em

Unless you use the grey shirts....

I've looked at websites from Honig's, Gerry Davis, Ump-Attire, Between the Lines, and Purchase Officials and Honig's is the only one that has belted pants on their site and those are women's pants.

Rut's point about quality is noted, but I can tell you in the area I worked that used belted pants, the local officials' supply store didn't carry pants at all because no one was buying them there. I tried. Had to get them from Walmart. They looked ok for a few games, but not much beyond that IMO.

Now, there's a Honig's warehouse about 10 miles out of the way on my commute.

Considering what we do is not "measurable" like a lot of things in life, we are judged on many things based on perception. The pants are only one part of that. A lot of other things in how we look matter too. Even as something as if your pants are ironed and creased matter to whether you are professional and look like you care. And if you do not think it does, sit in the stands with someone that evaluates officials and one of the first things that are talked about are what you look like physically and in your uniform.

Peace

I think one thing that's missing here is a lot of times the things that make up the first impression aren't thought about. It may be subconscious, but it doesn't make it less real.

I belong to an organization that runs one of the biggest camps in the state of Illinois on one day. Three retailers come to our camps (in all sports) and Honigs and Gerry Davis are two of the regulars along with a company called Official's Call. I cannot think of a single one of them that brings a single pair of pants with belts. Now if they do they are certainly not front and center, just like when the Baseball and Softball Clinic comes around you do not see other items that would be considered "amateur" in nature in those sports.

Peace

Obviously, that would be one of the first things talked about, because that is the first thing they would see. But I would think (hope) that what they see later would often overshadow uniform issues, whether positive or negative.

"That guy looks sharp, but it's obvious he has never called at this level."

"That guy looks like he slept in that uniform, but he sure knows what he's doing."

I would rather not be either of those, but I'd rather be the second than the first.

I would rather not called either.

I will say this again. The fact that you are just about the only person trying to dismiss the way you look is telling to me.

I do not read anyone trying to act as if what we wear is irrelevant.

Peace

I dismiss everyone's appearance, relatively speaking. My last 2 partners were quite a contrast. One wears beltless pants, is always neat, and in great shape..........and rarely blows the whistle. My partner last night has small white stripes on his shoes and often has his shirt tail hanging out at the end of the night. But the second guy has been around a long time, is totally unflappable, and while he is not my favorite partner, calls the same game every night regardless of the situation.

I'd like to have the first guy pose for the pictures, in both our places, but anybody who has seen both would rather be on the court with the second guy.

False Dichotomy

It's like asking if you should learn the rules or learn how to deal with coaches. Someone asked recently about "the whole package." This is part of the whole package; and deciding to ignore a piece of it may work well in some areas of the country, but not very many.

Not saying ignore it, just saying keep it in it's proper perspective.

It is in proper perspective. You will not get a second chance to prove to people you can do the job if you give them the wrong first impression. To sometimes know that someone can officiate takes a lot longer to find out than what you first show them. And that is like anything in life.

Peace

They need to speak up at the time, saying that it isn't acceptable and then follow up through their association.

Rita

+1