Zig Zag Help ???

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

It appears that you have well known guidelines that officials must wear beltless pants. It also appears that your association teaches that to your new officials, and maybe even to your veterans, with same type of continuing education. That's great. I have no problem with that.

We teach otherwise. We rate otherwise. Wearing a belt will not hold anybody back here in my local area (I can't speak for the entire state). Why can't some Forum members wrap their arms around that?

We are independent contractors. You can do what you want. But just like going to a job interview, there are consequences for what you wear. I belong to several associations and have been on the Board of several of those organizations. All of them teach similar stuff when it comes to what pants to wear. And this is not like other sports where you have to buy several items. You basically have to buy 4 things (Shirt, pants, shoes, whistle) as a basketball official. How hard is it to buy something that not only will not cost you a lot of money in comparison?

You do not have to buy down indicators, mask, hat, long sleeve shirts, jacket, ReadyRef or flags on top of your basic uniform.

BTW, this is not a Chicagoland thing. Some of have expectations larger then the area we live. This is the case in all the surrounding states that Illinois borders and areas that others have when they come form other places. There was a guy that moved to this area from out west and no one had to tell him what not to do when it came to his uniform. He fit in just fine.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

All of them teach similar stuff when it comes to what pants to wear.

And that's my point. Follow the state, or local, guidelines that are taught, and you can't go wrong. If I were to move to the Chicago area, I would hope that it would be made very clear to me that I should wear beltless slacks, especially if the number, and level of games, assigned, as well as my eligibility to work post season conference, and state tournament games, would be impacted by my uniform choices.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Ands that's my point. Follow the state, or local, guidelines that are taught, and you can't go wrong. If I were to move to the Chicago area, I would hope that it would be made very clear to me that I should wear beltless slacks, especially if the number, and level of games, assigned, as well as my eligibility to work post season conference, and state tournament games, would be impacted by my uniform choices.

My officiating experience is not limited to or only subjected to Chicago area. I started my career in Central Illinois and until this year I would have worked more than one game in Central Illinois even while living in this area since 1999. If I wore a belt in other parts of the state, someone would have pointed it out in that part of the state too. You are so stuck on things I say having to do with one part of the state when clearly that is not the case. I work college too and people do not wear belts anywhere in college. You would get laughed out of any camp if you did just that. And officials are form Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio in my experiences and no one would dare put on a belt.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I work college too and people do not wear belts anywhere in college.

None of my comments are in any way related to college. I don't work college games. My local association doesn't train for, or assign, college games. Only a very small percentage of officials in my local high school board work college games, although that percentage is slowly increasing, especially for womens college games.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And officials are form Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio in my experiences and no one would dare put on a belt.

Because they were probably taught that, as well as a lot of other stuff about their uniforms (no lanyard, noose lanyard, regular Smitty, extra long Smitty, all black shoes, some white allowed on shoes, Fox 40 whistle, other brand non-pea whistle, different size Fox 40's, jacket styles, patches of various types, anniversary pins allowed on jackets, location of American flags on shirts, or jackets, etc.). How about hair, or facial hair, or wedding bands, etc.? Sure it would great if we all looked the same, but local traditions will prevail until there is some type of national high school association, and I doubt that that will exist before I'm on the wrong side of the grass.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Of course they don't. They'd be stupid to wear one. If an official doesn't do what he is taught to do, then he should expect some consequences.

There are absolutely no consequences if I wear a belt in my little corner of Connecticut, however, I do not expect that that would be true all over the country, or for that matter, all over the State of Connecticut.

OK, you said you never worked the playoffs or a State Final if I am not mistaken. Do you think that might be one of the reasons?

Originally Posted by BillyMac

None of my comments are in any way related to college. I don't work college games. My local association doesn't train for, or assign, college games. Only a very small percentage of officials in my local high school board work college games, although that percentage is slowly increasing, especially for womens college games.

My point is you do what it expected. College is not a completely foregin entity to officiating. I have worked college in 3 sports and what the college guys do, we do at the high school level. There might be some very minor differences like the actual shirt that is worn, but the basics are the same.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Because they were probably taught that, as well as a lot of other stuff about their uniforms (no lanyard, noose lanyard, regular Smitty, extra long Smitty, all black shoes, some white allowed on shoes, Fox 40 whistle, other brand non-pea whistle, different size Fox 40's, jacket styles, patches of various types, anniversary pins allowed on jackets, location of American flags on shirts, or jackets, etc.). How about hair, or facial hair, or wedding bands, etc.? Sure it would great if we all looked the same, but local traditions will prevail until there is some type of national high school association, and I doubt that that will exist before I'm on the wrong side of the grass.

All these things you mentioned have standards or expectations too on some level. And if you wear a mullet you might not get games either. I even work for one assignor that asks his officials to not have a beard or hair on the chin. If you want to work for him, you do it that way or he will find someone that will. Officials want to work in that conference so they do it. It is that simple. We all have choices in life. You can be right and dead at the same time.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

You said you never worked the playoffs or a State Final. Do you think that might be one of the reasons?

Absolutely not. Coaches select all state tournament officials and I guarantee that they aren't looking at belts, or no belts; white on shoes, or no white on shoes; noose lanyard, Smitty lanyard, or no lanyard; properly placed American flag, improperly placed American flag, or no American flag; Fox 40, or smaller Fox 40, etc.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

My point is you do what it expected.

Thanks for agreeing with me. I am doing exactly what's expected of me, as are all 325 members on my local board, some who do what's expected by wearing belts, and others who do what's expected by wearing beltless slacks.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

All these things you mentioned have standards or expectations too on some level.

Which is exactly the point that I was trying to make. Our local standards, in regard to uniforms, are apparently vastly different than most uniform standards all over the country (regions, states, local associations).

"All politics is local." (Former Speaker of the U.S. House Tip O'Neill, 1935)

"The siesto, or afternoon's nap of Italy, my most dear and reverend Father, would not have alarmed you so much, if you had recollected, that when we are at Rome, we should do as the Romans do." (Pope Clement XIV, 1777)

[BillyMac]

I ordered my matte finish Reebok Zig Energy Refs last night. Thanks to AremRed, bob jenkins, and Bad Zebra for suggesting Purchase Officials.

Wait? I hope that wearing matte finish Zig Energy Refs instead of patent leather Zig Energy Refs doesn't create the same problem as wearing a belt versus wearing beltless slacks. Maybe I should cancel my order? I should check this out. Now, who should I ask? The Official Forum? Or my local association? What's an official, here in my little corner of Connecticut, to do?