Unshaven

[Raymond]

I cannot shave daily. When I was in the military I had a shaving waiver. If I shave more frequently than every 4 days my skin pays the price. Part of my 40% disability from the VA includes pseudofolliculitis.

The area of my face where I can grow a goatee is a lot more sensitive than the rest of my face. So on occasion if I have a heavy schedule I will have a goatee for a high school game. Other times if it is a low visibility game I will have a 5 o'clock shadow. My college schedule is not heavy enough (13 games this season is my career high) yet for it to be a problem at that level but I always come clean shaven for a college game or will shave in the locker room prior to the game.

So don't make assumptions about everybody who doesn't shave. In fact I'm working a regional semi-final tonight with a guy who has always kept a full, short beard since I've known him and he has worked multiple State Final Four games.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I cannot shave daily. When I was in the military I had a shaving waiver. If I shave more frequently than every 4 days my skin pays the price. Part of my 40% disability from the VA includes pseudofolliculitis.

The area of my face where I can grow a goatee is a lot more sensitive than the rest of my face. So on occasion if I have a heavy schedule I will have a goatee for a high school game. Other times if it is a low visibility game I will have a 5 o'clock shadow. My college schedule is not heavy enough (13 games this season is my career high) yet for it to be a problem at that level but I always come clean shaven for a college game or will shave in the locker room prior to the game.

So don't make assumptions about everybody who doesn't shave. In fact I'm working a regional semi-final tonight with a guy who has always kept a full, short beard since I've known him and he has worked multiple State Final Four games.

Sorry, I'm talking about those people who don't, not those who can't. I understand that not everyone can shave daily.

[Toren]

There have been lots of studies done about facial hair vs. non-facial hair as it relates to trust worthiness. These studies have shown: those with no facial hair, have more trust from strangers than those with hair.

As a result, I shave before every varsity contest. I give coaches enough reason to not trust me with my calls, I don't want to add not shaving too

[canuckrefguy]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

I am 57 and shaved everything when I was 35.

Originally Posted by dumbasabrick

TMI

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

What about the gals?

lol

[Eastshire]

Facial hair is a cultural thing and it comes and goes. When the current over 40 crowd gets out of leadership and the current under 40 crowd gets into leadership, neatly groomed facial hair will be of no issue whatsoever. Until then, there will continue to be old codgers who think facial hair is of the devil.

Ungroomed facial hair, on the other hand, isn't acceptable.

I've worn a Van Dyke style beard for 13 years now and as far as I can tell it's had no effect on my assignments.

[Terrapins Fan]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

I've worn a Van Dyke style beard for 13 years now and as far as I can tell it's had no effect on my assignments.

So, you're getting play off games and the best games in your association? State Play offs?

If so, then, you are correct, facial hair has no effect on your schedule.

And BTW, when this under 40 group is in charge, they too will grow up and realize that quality officials for the most part do not have facial. JMO.

Image isn't everything, but it is something.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

So, you're getting play off games and the best games in your association? State Play offs?

If so, then, you are correct, facial hair has no effect on your schedule.

You're assuming I'm good enough to get these games in the first place. I get the games I want in the quantity I want in basketball. In soccer, I work the gambit from the not-so-good games in the area I live in to the good games over an hours drive away and I do get playoff assignments. So yes, as far as I can tell, it's had no effect on my schedule.

And BTW, when this under 40 group is in charge, they too will grow up and realize that quality officials for the most part do not have facial. JMO.

Please. It has nothing to do with growing up. It's culture. That culture is changing. A significant minority of under 40 professionals wear facial hair. Somehow we still manage to be taken seriously, except, oddly enough, by the internet referee corps.

You think quality officials are quality officials because they don't have facial hair? If they all grew ZZ Top beards over night they'd still be quality officials.

If a D1 assignor decided he was only going to assign referees with facial hair, you'd all be falling over one-another to grow a beard.

Image isn't everything, but it is something.

I agree. However, neatly groomed facial hair is no more detracting from your image than neatly groomed hair.

[c'mon mendy]

I have worked girl's varsity games for about 12 years and during that time I have always had a full beard. No one has ever said anything about my beard. I would stop officiating before I shave my beard. Being clean shaven certainly does not make you a better official.

[zm1283]

I shave every day that I have a game, no matter which sport or level it is.

[BillyMac]

I pack an electric razor in my bag and shave before every single game. I hate the feeling of working a game with a seven o'clock shadow.

I believe that the original poster was not only asking about facial hair (beard, mustache, etc.) or whether, or not, the official shaved that day (five o'clock shadow), I believe that he was also asking about the modern style, as worn by sport's, Hollywood's, and music's, most famous: the straggly unshaven almost beard "look". My son wears this look, going unshaven for a few days, not because he's lazy, but because he's going for that "look". I hate it when I give him a kiss goodbye on his cheek, it's not a good feeling. I don't know how his wife stands it?

Here's the "look" as worn by Justin Timberlake:

[JRutledge]

Not everyone has this issue. If I shave the day before I will be fine the next day.

Peace

[ARef]

Nice reference on "The Look" BillyMac. I keep my facial hair trimmed just shorter than this. Early on I had some cristism, but I haven't had anyone seriously complain in years now. I don't have any concerns with facial hair until it gets mountainous, or it is not neatly trimmed.

[Stat-Man]

Although I've had a goatee for the past 9 years, I make sure I shave/groom the day of a game, whether I'm a player, scorekeeper, statistician, or -- as I am now -- an official.

[Terrapins Fan]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

This is what about 5 of our officials look like, but it's not like that every game, it's shave one day, don't shave for 5 or 6 and shave again....Personally, when I was on vacation, I didn't shave for 10 days..unless you are growing a bread, shave. 10 days worth of growth drove me nuts, and I did have a bread in the 80's.

BTW, the lady officials are always clean shaven, at least the facial hair...

We have 52 officials in our board. I believe 1 had a beard, he has had 3 varsity assignments this year, he is a 16th year official. We had one other ( retired 3 years ago ) and his assignments we good, but that is rare.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

This is what about 5 of our officials look like, but it's not like that every game, it's shave one day, don't shave for 5 or 6 and shave again....Personally, when I was on vacation, I didn't shave for 10 days..unless you are growing a bread, shave. 10 days worth of growth drove me nuts, and I did have a bread in the 80's.

Dude, you were Adkins before Adkins was cool. Way to go! No way I could go 30 years without bread.