Maybe HS, but not college.
 

Not the higher you go. You might not see musle men or women, but you do not see fat officials at the D1 level and NBA/WNBA level. Just like you do not see the kind of facial hair that we are talking about here as well.

Peace

Andre Patillo, anyone?

He's got facial hair, he's "festively plump," and he's one of the best in the business. I wouldn't exactly call Ted Valentine "svelte" either. Of course, these two guys have been around for a LONG time, and are probably allowed to let themselves go a little bit. :)

A couple of the best officials in our association wear glasses, too. One of the guys wants to move up to college ball, but he can't wear contacts or have LASIK because he has glaucoma or something. Sucks for him, but that's the way it is...

The African-American stuff has taken this thread way off topic. So this is my effort to bring it back. Grow a goatee in the offseason! It's what I do. Being an official isn't a right, so if you want to fit in/advance, shave. Or find an association that doesn't care about the goatee.

Let's make it more simple
 

Ask yourself the following question:

A D1 college group has asked you to join and work a 14 game schedule. They say the following,

"You can work ONLY if you shave all facial hair except for a small mustache."

Would you join the group?

Facial Hair
 

MJS,

I know what you are going through. I shaved my face,head,legs and underarms. It didn't get me anymore Varsity games. I worked 60 games during the off season, Went to 3 clinics to better myself, and still didn't get anymore Varsity games the next year. Here is something you have to remember. It's not the facial hair or how good of an offical you are it's your abiltiy to be a good *** kisser. When I figured it out and could kiss *** with the best of them I started getting more Varsity games. It's who you know, and who's *** you need to kiss. We call it the home boys club. And when you are in the home boys club you can have your facial hair. But until then keep it off.

Clay

Re: Facial Hair
 

Yikes! I believe that if you work hard, and strive to improve, they will find you.

When I first joined the Navy, beards were allowed by uniform regulation (no War of 1812 jokes please :) ). I remember being told that no successful officer would have a beard. On the enlisted side of the house, beards were more common but could impede advancement to the Chief Petty Officer paygrade. Plenty of CPOs had beards, but people sent pictures to the advancement boards in those days and it could have an impact (advancement below CPO was and is by examination with no board). Even today, mustaches are far more common among enlisted than officers, in large part because any facial hair can impede advancement.

This rule is not written down, there are always some exceptions, but the easiest thing to do is to follow the unwritten guidance if you want to move up. Sounds like you face the same thing.

Re: Facial Hair
 

You got a bad, bitter attitude, dude. I have never been an a** kisser, and have worked hard to advance. True, politics play a role sometimes, as it does with many things in life. But to equate level of officiating with a** kissing is a disservice to the rest of the officials.

I wonder if it wasn't your poor attitude, rather than a lack of aptitude that kept you out of Varsity for so long.

[Edited by canuckrefguy on Feb 10th, 2003 at 08:47 PM]

Re: Fortunately..
 

Long hair, yes, or no, for men? Yes or no, for women!?

Re: Re: Fortunately..
 

Juulie,
Long hair on men, no.
For us womenfolks, it's fine. I pull mine back in a ponytail and hairspray the heck out of it so it doesn't fly around.

I don't want to seem like I'm splitting hairs http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/buck.gif, but I seem to remember reading in the Fed Manual that officials should be clean-shaven.(I don't have my manual with me.) It could be a state thing, though. Either way, facial hair has little bearing on the quality of the official, unless of course they can't see through it...