Why do officials...

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I'd be more than happy to dispose of this tradition, personally.

+1.

Just another item that needs to be:
1. Purchased
2. Cared for.
3. Carried in an already overloaded bag.
4. ...and attended to after brief use (retireve, fold, launder, repeat)

Another one of those things we do without any discernable good reason. I used to think it was for the benefit of northern officials in a drafty gym, but I don't even think that's the case.

[whistleone]

It's commonplace for officials in our area to have a stamp with our name and state officiating ID number. Without the jacket, we'd have nowhere to put our stamp. Ah crap, our jackets are the official's version of a purse.

[Scuba_ref]

Originally Posted by whistleone

Ah crap, our jackets are the official's version of a purse.

I prefer "European Carry All".

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

+1.

Just another item that needs to be:
1. Purchased
2. Cared for.
3. Carried in an already overloaded bag.
4. ...and attended to after brief use (retireve, fold, launder, repeat)

Another one of those things we do without any discernable good reason. I used to think it was for the benefit of northern officials in a drafty gym, but I don't even think that's the case.

I store the jacket inside out. When I take it off, I turn it inside out and zip it up -- it keeps dust from accumulating on the outside of the jacket. I *never* wash my officiating jacket since I only wear it pregame.

I do carry my needle in the pocket and when I'm the R probably use it 90% of the time, so maybe we do need it.

[Smitty]

My association does not want us to wear jackets. I think it looks sharper to wear a jacket, but I won't miss leaving it in the locker room and having to go back the next day to pick it up. At least once a season...

[oldschool]

I like it to warm me up a little or keep me warm during that famous 20 minutes

[wfd21]

I wear mine so I have a place to keep my glasses to which I need to use, so I can see the numbers in the score book & so I can see to sign it!

[Adam]

Because they only let me wear my pink one for one week in January.

[Scuba_ref]

Originally Posted by wfd21

I wear mine so I have a place to keep my glasses to which I need to use, so I can see the numbers in the score book & so I can see to sign it!

What happens when you need to make a call and your glasses are in your jacket pocket...awkward.

[DLH17]

Originally Posted by smitty

my association does not want us to wear jackets. I think it looks sharper to wear a jacket, but i won't miss leaving it in the locker room and having to go back the next day to pick it up. At least once a season...

btdt

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

+1.

Just another item that needs to be:
1. Purchased
2. Cared for.
3. Carried in an already overloaded bag.
4. ...and attended to after brief use (retireve, fold, launder, repeat)

Another one of those things we do without any discernable good reason. I used to think it was for the benefit of northern officials in a drafty gym, but I don't even think that's the case.

We have a number of crew chiefs who hate them, so they stay in the bag.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

We have a number of crew chiefs who hate them, so they stay in the bag.

And when I'm crew chief, that's the first order of business..."Anybody opposed to leaving the jackets in the bag tonight?" If we get caught, it's a small fine for each crew member...but I haven't been caught in 12 seasons.