Full Length Tights

[Scrapper1]

This is, in my opinion, a stupid rule. I can see reasons for a lot of the uniform/equipment rules, even if I don't like having to enforce them. But this one is just stupid. Why?

1) Wearing long pants instead of shorts is perfectly legal. Yet wearing long pants UNDER shorts is prohibited.

2) As others have already pointed out, the rules do not limit the length of socks (thank God!). So you can wear socks that extend up from the foot, past the knee, all the way up the thigh if you want. There's no way to tell just from looking at the player if s/he's wearing tights or very high socks. There's no reason to treat these differently.

3) Leg sleeves are becoming more popular, particularly in the college game. And like socks, these go over the knee and onto the thigh, so that it's impossible to tell if they are sleeves or tights. Yet these, too, are perfectly legal. Why are they treated differently???

I'm submitting a rule change proposal to the NCAA to make tights and leg sleeves legal, as long as they are a single solid color similar to the dominant color of the game pants. No idea if it will get any attention, but I'm hopeful.

[JetMetFan]

My headache is that much larger because boys (NFHS) and girls (modified NCAAW) work under two different codes in NYC. The only positive is I end up reading rule books prior to each game.

Keeping the whole setup straight makes my head spin. Then you add in fellow officials who don't enforce the rules - including some of my partners who've said "I'm not dealing with that" - and the whole thing becomes a mess.

[OKREF]

There is an easy way to tell. Socks and compression tights are two different materials. Also the tights usually have the same padded spot for the knees that arm compressions sleeves have for the elbows.

[Adam]

Also religious reasons.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Wellmer

We talked about this last night, as far as T Shirts under the jersey, can long sleeves be worn? The only thing I found in the rule book was that the sleeves had to be the same length? Anyone have a rule reference?

Assuming you use NFHS rules, legal. Not legal in NCAAW (at least), without medical clearance.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Wellmer

That's what we went with since we couldn't find anything telling us otherwise.

Legal in HS, illegal in college unless accompanied by a medical waiver.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I had this a couple of times this year.

Now, I can think of a few reasons why someone would wear this (skin condition mostly), but overall, probably just like a sleeve - look at me!

A good friend of mine is the father of probably the first or 2nd best girls player in the state. I went to watch some of her play-off game last week and she was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt. I asked him what was up with that and he said it's something she does for home games. I told him to let her know she won't be doing that next year (she's going to an ACC school).

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Not legal in NCAAW (at least), without medical clearance.

I was wondering about that after watching the Baylor/UConn game a few nights ago. Griner was wearing a long sleeved shirt and I had thought I remembered it was illegal in NCAA.

[BillyMac]

Tights? Very long socks? Compression shorts? Leg sleeves? Gimme a break. Please.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by OKREF

There is an easy way to tell. Socks and compression tights are two different materials. Also the tights usually have the same padded spot for the knees that arm compressions sleeves have for the elbows.

My eyes aren't that good.

[SAJ]

Originally Posted by Wellmer

We talked about this last night, as far as T Shirts under the jersey, can long sleeves be worn? The only thing I found in the rule book was that the sleeves had to be the same length? Anyone have a rule reference?

Legal.

I noticed this by the Omaha South kid with the ESPN highlight the other night. I think a few of the players were wearing long sleeves.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by OKREF

There is an easy way to tell. Socks and compression tights are two different materials. Also the tights usually have the same padded spot for the knees that arm compressions sleeves have for the elbows.

I think they put so much on their legs, it is really hard to tell anymore. I honestly do not know why we should have to look for this stuff. This has so many uncomfortable situations this puts us in if we check for these things. I can only imagine what it is like when girls are involved. The NF really needs to get out of this business. This to me is like socks, who cares?

Peace

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

This inconsistency is just silly...

Arms: any length sleeve OK. Compression sleeve OK only if it is medically approved and only a permitted color (and matching).

Why the differences????

You want inconsistencies? Compression sleeves are the arms are illegal in football but medically legal in basketball.

Oh, wait! If the compression sleeve has a pad in it, it then becomes legal!

Tell me how that makes any sense at all.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by OKREF

There is an easy way to tell. Socks and compression tights are two different materials. Also the tights usually have the same padded spot for the knees that arm compressions sleeves have for the elbows.

However, compression sleeves for the legs that extend up under the shorts and compression tights that extend below the shorts, the difference is difficult to distinguish.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I was wondering about that after watching the Baylor/UConn game a few nights ago. Griner was wearing a long sleeved shirt and I had thought I remembered it was illegal in NCAA.

Medical waiver?

Question from a 100% NFHS official: If long sleeve undershirts are illegal in the NCAA, what's to stop the player from wearing a long sleeved uniform jersey?