Zig Zag Help ???

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Acceptable and advisable are not always the same.

We get it. Billy likes his belts. No need to bring it up all the time.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

Sadly enough, Billy like to brag that he wears a belt when he officiates basketball. Apparently in his corner of the world, this doesn't brand him as a guy that has no clue how to dress for a game.

It's not bragging. It's a running commentary on the credo, "When in Rome ...", that seems to permeate throughout the officiating world.

What mystifies me, in reference to belts, is how some seem to follow the credo, and accept the fact that belts can be considered acceptable in some, but certainly not all, places ...

Originally Posted by AremRed

I don't see what the fuss is about. My state association has a master document full of uniform requirements for every sport. Under basketball it says "belt, if worn, must be black".

... while others strongly believe that this fashion choice makes someone somewhat less than a good official.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Acceptable and advisable are not always the same.

As I've stated several times, here in my little corner of Connecticut, black belts may be worn, and one's rating, and ranking, and number, and level of games assigned, does not depend on whether, or not, one wears a black belt. Locally, black belts are neither encouraged, not are they discouraged. I've worn a belt for thirty-two years. I'm comfortable in belt, I'm allowed, without penalty, to wear a belt, and the next time I buy pants, they will be belted ... until I'm told that the rules have changed and that we're no longer allowed to wear black belts, at which point I will purchase beltless pants. Same thing applies if I'm ever locally advised that my rating, and ranking, and number, and level of games assigned, will suffer if I continue to wear a black belt, in which case, I'll run to the store and buy beltless pants.

On the other hand, here in my little corner of Connecticut, we consider it completely unacceptable for our members to have any amount of white on an otherwise black shoe. Wearing shoes with white showing could effect one's rating, and ranking, and number, and level of games assigned. Rookie officials are cautioned not to purchase shoes with any white on them, or are advised to "paint over" the white. Yet, I would never criticize another area of the country, nor the officials in that area, where local rules allow some white to appear on the shoe.

I realize that everything in basketball officiating can't fall under, "When in Rome ...", but how an official dresses should fall under local, rather than international, or universal, guidelines.

Until you've walked a mile through my little corner of Connecticut in my 100% black shoes ...

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

It's not bragging. It's a running commentary on the credo, "When in Rome ...", that seems to permeate throughout the officiating world.

What mystifies me, in reference to belts, is how some seem to follow the credo, and accept the fact that belts can be considered acceptable in some, but certainly not all, places ...



... while others strongly believe that this fashion choice makes someone somewhat less than a good official.



As I've stated several times, here in my little corner of Connecticut, black belts may be worn, and one's rating, and ranking, and number, and level of games assigned, does not depend on whether, or not, one wears a black belt. Locally, black belts are neither encouraged, not are they discouraged. I've worn a belt for thirty-two years. I'm comfortable in belt, I'm allowed, without penalty, to wear a belt, and the next time I buy pants, they will be belted ... until I'm told that the rules have changed and that we're no longer allowed to wear black belts, at which point I will purchase beltless pants. Same thing applies if I'm ever locally advised that my rating, and ranking, and number, and level of games assigned, will suffer if I continue to wear a black belt, in which case, I'll run to the store and buy beltless pants.

On the other hand, here in my little corner of Connecticut, we consider it completely unacceptable for our members to have any amount of white on an otherwise black shoe. Wearing shoes with white showing could effect one's rating, and ranking, and number, and level of games assigned. Rookie officials are cautioned not to purchase shoes with any white on them, or are advised to "paint over" the white. Yet, I would never criticize another area of the country, nor the officials in that area, where local rules allow some white to appear on the shoe.

I realize that everything in basketball officiating can't fall under, "When in Rome ...", but how an official dresses should fall under local, rather than international, or universal, guidelines.

Until you've walked a mile through my little corner of Connecticut in my 100% black shoes ...

Do officials with belts work your state tournament?

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Rich

Do officials with belts work your state tournament?

Is that really a deciding factor in your state?

Originally Posted by Rich

Right, he doesn't need to bring it up.

Yeah, he did mention it in the OP. However it was to let us know why he needed some plain leather Zigs. Other guys came in with the jokes, which are old and stale.

Billy is a vet, as many on this board are, and as long as he can run, make calls, and deal with coaches, his minor choice on uniform shouldn't be an issue.

Originally Posted by Rich

Do officials with belts work your state tournament?

Should that even be a factor? No.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

Do officials with belts work your state tournament?

Absolutely. Some of our best officials wear belts. I will admit that, of those top officials, those that are also college officials never wear a belt, and haven't worn belts for about twenty-five years. Of the others that work the state tournament, the older veterans, will wear belts, while up and coming youngsters, especially those with college ambitions, usually don't.

Also, here in Connecticut, state tournament officials are 100% selected by coaches. Coaches care about whether, or not, an official can make the tough calls; whether, or not, an official will work to get into proper position; whether, or not, an official will communicate with the coaches; and will have no interest in whether, or not, an official wears a belt, they probably don't even notice.

I fully understand why some of you care about belts, or no belts, it's part of the guidelines, and expectations, in your local, or state, high school associations. I am assuming that in your areas an official is expected, either in writing, or by word of mouth, to wear beltless pants if they want to move up, including moving all the way up to state tournament games. I get that, and have no problem with that along the lines of, "When in Rome ...".

What I don't get is why many of you can't fathom that, here in my local association, among our 325 members, belts are neither encouraged, not are they discouraged, and one's rating, and ranking, and number, and level of games assigned, does not depend on whether, or not, one wears a black belt.