I didn't even own a jacket until this year... but then again, I haven't worked any varsity games until this year either.

Everyone around here wears them for Varsity as far as I can tell.

I'm not terribly annoyed with it... it's relatively cheap ($45), and it should last for several years if I'm not wearing it outside of my officiating duties.

Yep, definitely a local requirement. For some reason, I prefer it, but I could easily adjust either way.

I like the jacket because I can get cold during the warm up.

Yeah I've heard this one before too. So when we are watching teams warmup, no one knows who the adults are in the black jackets?

I think it's someone silly too but whatever.

I share that though. When I was a student athletic trainer, I asked our AT why the referees wore jackets. he said it was so no one could identify the refs when they enter. I responded that A.) We all know that the serious looking guys who are walking around the court in all black are referees and B.) no one really cares. It's not like soccer where the referees lead the teams onto the field. No player or coach or fan ever says "hey look, it's the ref!" (except probably young children). However, it does help when one works in the inner city where everyone wants to hustle the ref just because they [think they] can. I guess, though, that it is less distracting then the stripes.

Based On My Experience ...
 

It keeps the hot, single, moms from attacking us. The striped shirt is a "chick magnet".

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Our problem here is the "sexy satin" style jackets that draws the hot moms in anyway...it's a real challenge to stay focused when they're throwing themselves at us during warm ups.

So they only hustle in the hood huh?

Politicians, Corporate America & organized crime families couldn't have taught the "art of hustling" aka the *American Way* to those lowlife inner city folks... nah no way!
The fact that we all reside in America today is one of the greatest hustles of All-Times :rolleyes:


I sure hope you're no futuredoc of mine!

I honestly thought his comment sufficiently displayed his cluelessness. Maybe he only works in the inner city. The only time I've had folks try to hustle me is men's rec, and it never matters where the game is.

I have worked in the inner city often and I worry more about going in rural areas than I would ever in most inner city schools. One I blend in, the other I stand out like stain on a clean outfit. And I have never been hustled at any of those games, whatever that is supposed to mean.

Peace

Now that you mention it, I'm not exactly sure, either. Maybe our med student can shed some light.

Of Course, I Always Answer In The Affirmative, Nothing Wrong With Little White Lies .
 

Here, in my little corner of Connecticut, we use the same type of shiny, satin, jackets. Hot, single, moms are always asking me if I was an actor in the movie Boogie Nights. Of course the fact that I have the name, "Dirk Diggler", embroidered on my jacket may have something to do with the special attention that I get from hot, single, moms. I'm not going to tell you that it's unwanted attention.

Seriously Billy?

Peace

Glad it's not just me...
 

I've worked both inner city schools and the 'burbs my entire officiating career and I have no idea what that means either. Thought maybe I was missing out.

+1

Those new moderators sure are going to have their hands full.