Originally Posted by ga314ref (Post 825853)

...and we know they're tights, they can't participate while wearing them. We notify the head coach, and they're expected to deal with it.

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap (Post 825860)

Saw the highlights on the Tampa station of a local regional game a couple nights ago. Headband with logo. So, even if you try to enforce it, someone else will not.

Originally Posted by BillyMac (Post 825699)

Prep school game yesterday. Black is warming up before the game. Three Black players are wearing black "leggings". Tights? Long socks? Who knows? My partner and I chose to ignore, which surely makes us part of the problem, not part of the solution. We're just kicking the can down the road to the next "Fashion Police" officials, as previous officials had obviously done to us.

Black is warming up with all players wearing warmup jackets. As the game progresses, and more players take off their warmup jackets, and come off the bench into the game, I note that a few Black players had black arm compression sleeves, and one Black player had a white arm compression sleeve. It was late in the first half by the time I noted this, so I waited until halftime to approach a Black assistant coach and tell him that all the players must have the same color arm compression sleeves to participate in the second half. He says that he'll take care of it, and he did. The black sleeves came off, and the player with the white sleeve kept his on.

As I'm waiting at the division line to administer the throwin to Black to start the second half, the Black throwin player politely asks me about the arm compression sleeves. I reply that they all must be the same color. A nearby Black player asks me about his black "tights". I reply that I wasn't sure if they were tights, or very long socks. Throwin player says to me, "Hey. This is getting weird". He was right, it was weird, and it would have felt weirder with female players.

When it comes to issues of proper uniforms, and equipment, I'm usually a "Fashion Police Son Of A Bit*h". Illegal undershirts? Illegal headbands? Illegal wrist bands? Illegal arm compression sleeves? Go to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.

That's when it comes to proper uniforms, and equipment, above the waist. In the past, I have generally ignored anything below the waist. But lately, tights have become more, and more, popular, among both players, and officials.

How do you handle this issue? When you note these while watching the warmups, exactly what do you say? "You can't wear tights". "Are those tights?" What are those you're wearing?" Do any of you ignore them, as we did yesterday, secretly hoping they are really just very long socks? Are you more "timid" asking girls about this issue? Are we "can kickers", or are we "Fashion Police Sons Of Bit*hes"?

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5251/5...ca118730_m.jpg

Originally Posted by billyu2 (Post 825857)

two girls wearing ribbons. Partner told them the ribbons had to be removed. They complied but of course they came up with "We've worn ribbons the last two years."

Originally Posted by Nevadaref (Post 825896)

Don't make me tell you that you are acting cowardly. Now get out there and enforce the rules as you should!

Originally Posted by BillyMac (Post 825938)

Headbands go around the head. Hair control devices go around hair. There are no color restrictions on hair control devices as there are on headbands.

NFHS 3-5-4-D: Rubber, cloth or elastic bands may be used to control hair. Hard items, including, but not limited to, beads, barrettes and bobby pins, are prohibited.

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

At any rate, I've wondered why some of my brethren don't like dealing with uniform issues.

Originally Posted by olsont1977 (Post 825952)

The thing that drives me crazy as a high school girls coach is having one team follow all the uniform/dress codes and then have another team express themselves with ....... socks. Not white or black shin high socks, but tie-dye knee length explosions of color. And then they trade with each other. We had a game where the top six from another team all had one tie-dye sock up to their knee and then a black or white one up to the shin. At least they all wore the tie-dye one on their left leg. Girls.

Originally Posted by Rufus (Post 825974)

I'm making the transition from sub-varsity to varsity and so am usually the U2 with two more experienced officials. In those situations I will ask if we're being uniform police tonight and follow their lead (i.e., when in Rome). I don't feel great about doing that but at least the subject is brought up.

If I'm the R for any game, however, the uniform rules get enforced as written.

It's interesting that in an avocation that is prone to so much judgment and interpretation for just about everything there can be such an issue with something that is so clearly defined.