Zig Zag Help ???

[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 ...