Get rid of the "no tights" rule!

[Nevadaref]

Since this is basically a farce and we are seeing so many players wearing tights now, let's just cease with the song and dance that they are "medical," which is BS and everyone knows it, and entirely get rid of the rule prohibiting the wearing of them at both the NCAA and NFHS levels.

[JetMetFan]

I agree, though there's no medical waiver for extended tights in NFHS. What they do now is make socks or knee pads so long they might as well be tights.

I can live with the extended tights in college but just make them the predominant color of the game shorts.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Get rid of the "no tights" rule!

I second the motion. All in favor?

(Many officials wear them. Why can't players?)

[BillyMac]

NFHS Basketball Rules Questionnaire
Have You Seen In Your Area?
1. Leg compression sleeves/calf sleeves becoming a problem.
6. More players being allowed to wear tights.

[Judtech]

I hate when they make us the Uniform Sheriff on Nottingham. Does every player have identical uniforms? Yes. Any sharp or metal objects? No. Lets play.

On a side not Elena D will make me enjoy the WNBA......

[BillyMac]

Full Length Tights

[Altor]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Have You Seen In Your Area?
1. Leg compression sleeves/calf sleeves becoming a problem.

I love when NFHS questionnaires use the phrase "becoming a problem," especially when it pertains to uniforms. What does that even mean?

We had one a couple years ago ask about multi-colored or two different colored socks. Like I care enough about the socks the kids are wearing to decide if it is "becoming a problem." I usually choose No simply because I don't want to add to the list of "you can't wear that."

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I second the motion. All in favor?

(Many officials wear them. Why can't players?)

Players can if they wear long pants like the officials.

Officials can't wear long sleeve undershirts, should we disallow it on the players?

I wear my wedding ring, should we allow players to do so?

[twocentsworth]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Since this is basically a farce and we are seeing so many players wearing tights now, let's just cease with the song and dance that they are "medical," which is BS and everyone knows it, and entirely get rid of the rule prohibiting the wearing of them at both the NCAA and NFHS levels.

Not for nothing, Nevada...but how do you know "for sure" that those are tights?

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Adam

I wear my wedding ring, should we allow players to do so?

Should we allow players to wear your wedding ring?

If you mean should we allow players to wear their wedding rings, I don't think that would make much of a change in HS or MS games, except in some states.

[icallfouls]

I am likely in the minority, but if tights and sleeves are needed to play, then maybe the kid needs a couple more days to heal.

If the NFHS wants us to be the fashion police, they need to quit expanding the list of what is allowed. Otherwise just let it be the AAU free for all it has become.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

Not for nothing, Nevada...but how do you know "for sure" that those are tights?

My sentiments exactly. I have seen players lift these things and they were not tights, they were leg sleeves. I have addressed it with coaches and let them tell me what they are. Then I let them know, they might want to be prepared for when someone wants to see them to make sure they are not tights.

That being said I think the NF needs to stop trying to regulate every uniform issue. As long as they are not dangerous or get some advantage from the usage, why would they care? This was like 15 years ago when they told us not to have socks with logos on them and it was so dumb because kids pick their own socks. Kids buy these items, why do we care if they do not match perfectly to the uniform?

Peace

[VaTerp]

Originally Posted by icallfouls

I am likely in the minority, but if tights and sleeves are needed to play, then maybe the kid needs a couple more days to heal.

If the NFHS wants us to be the fashion police, they need to quit expanding the list of what is allowed. Otherwise just let it be the AAU free for all it has become.

Of course they are not "needed" to play but neither are many other things that kids may choose to wear.

Why as an official do I care what kids are wearing as long as it's not dangerous and does not create a problem for me in distinguishing between teams?

I think the rule disallowing tights is antiquated and not really in the spirit of when the rule prohibiting things extending below the shorts was written.

And with all of the compression apparel out there now it's hard to tell exactly what are tights/sleeves/knee pads, etc. Count me in the camp that applauds any rule change that gives me one less thing to worry about in terms of playing fashion police.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This was like 15 years ago when they told us not to have socks with logos on them and it was so dumb because kids pick their own socks.

The NCAA needs to get this one out of the rule books, too. Every year in February my assignor sends out a reminder to enforce the sock rule (i.e., make the kids roll them down if they have two logos on them) because the NCAAs are coming up and it's going to be taken care of during the tournament. Like two manufacturer's logos on each sock is really too much advertising?

[Adam]

As far as I'm concerned, they should just stipulate that all sleeves need to fit the same requirements as undershirts. Match the predominant uniform color. Short of that, make them match the color requirements of headbands and wristbands. A player wearing a blue jersey and white shooting sleeves creates just a slight advantage in traffic sometimes against a team in white.

Other than that, whether they're tights, socks, or separated sleeves, I'd rather not care.