And you would be mistaken.

I think it was unnecessary and over-the-top and I wear none of the above. And my shoes are all black. I wear black socks, and I go beltless, :eek:

The reason the standard of all black shoes is stupid is becuase hardly anyone makes all black shoes anymore. And it is even harder to find a leather shoe on top of that. And since shoes are very personal in the style or confort, it is really hard to always get a shoe that fits everyone's needs and then be all-black.

That is why that standard is stupid. I do not care what the rulebook says when they need to get up with the times. And all those rules anyway vary by state which is why I see officials in other states wearing grey shirts or other garments that are not in the rules.

Peace

You make it sound a lot harder than it is...there are several all black shoes out there of many different fits. The only reason to insist otherwise is the "personal in style" reason. And that really isn't a good reason.

I tried to buy some shoes from NikeID.com and even called their number and they could not make a basic shoe for me with leather and all black. You cannot find an all-black shoe in that brand even if you tried to go to a local Footlocker or Champs or any other shoe store. I even told the customer service person that they have to start making shoes available for officials or they will lose a consistent business. The woman was so sweet and said, "I will make sure I tell them that for the future."

And when I say style I am not talking about simply look. Some people wear high tops for example and in the Zigtechs do not make them in that style. Heck I tried to find that shoe in a non-patented leather and could not find them in any other style personally. They do make them in other styles, but they are not sold in the same places. A few people found them in outlet stores by accident. And if you try to buy the Zigtechs now, Reebox is not even making those shoes again until next season. So if you cannot get your size, you are S...O...L.

Despite all this talk, shoes are the most important piece of required uniform item. If you do not have the right shoes, you feet, knees and back can all hurt. If I wear a pair of pants with a belt or without I am not going to be sore for choosing the wrong style of pants. I have to wear orthotics that fit my in my shoes and even with the Zigtechs I had to get a difference size than I normally wear or would wear without them in my shoes. So yes style can matter if you want to find a shoe fits your feet and certain brands do a better job for some people than other brands. If it was up to me, the ReadyRef shoes would still be made and I would have never changed to another brand of shoes. But Converse went under and was bought out by another company and stopped making those shoes all together.

Peace

When In Rome ...
 

And a fine rule it is, for your local association.

Here, in my little corner of Connecticut, we are expected to wear all black shoes, and if you don't, you take a chance on any of 325 fellow officials giving you an average, or maybe a below average, rating on "Appearance" which makes up 10% of a nightly rating.

Maybe, some day, my local board will move into the twenty-first century and allow white logos on the shoes.

Probably only by people that don't know how to officiate their way out of a wet paper bag. But that's probably as unfair of a generalization as yours.

Times are changing and around here, it really doesn't matter if your shoes have some white on them to those that assign the games.

We're talking about shoes, not belted slacks (which unfairly or not, are judged to a different standard in most places) or white socks.

And just to cut you off at the pass, I wear all black shoes because I am rather limited in the shoes I can wear. I'd wear shoes with white on them if they fit me the best, as I do in football.

No you shouldn't. That joke ran it's course about a week ago.

Oh -- I wear all-black shoes, black socks, no belt.

Don't particularly care what shoes my partners wear -- I do think some look "better" (to me) than others. If my "assigner" cared, then I'd care and either wear what was "suggested" or understand and live with the consequences.

When In Rome, Always Listen To bob ...
 

Well put. That should end this thread.