Shirts with Pre-Printed Flag

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

If one takes the time to look up U.S. law with regard to the U.S. Flag: Athletic uniforms and officiating uniforms do not meet the criteria to wear the Flag on them.

MTD, Sr.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

If one takes the time to look up U.S. law with regard to the U.S. Flag: Athletic uniforms and officiating uniforms do not meet the criteria to wear the Flag on them.

MTD, Sr.

This is why I do not wear flags on any of my clothing. The Stars and Stripes deserve better.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Don't know about your state but mine has a state-wide athletic association which works with its member schools to regulate and administer athletic events (including the state postseason tournaments), establish standards for athlete eligibility, and determine qualifications for contestants, coaches, and officials.

Every official working a game at a member school must wear the current state association path signifying their approval to work that sport.

Our state is no different than your state. You cannot work a game at any HS level without being licensed by the state.

Our state has a "clean shirt" policy, however, banning the wearing of patches with the exception of an optional flag patch.

I have a drawer full of Illinois patches from when I used to register as a reciprocal official. I can wear them, but that doesn't make me an Illinois official.

[JRutledge]

Is this any different than a state saying which ball must be used in a state? Is it any different than requiring certain procedures to be followed with eligibility of players? Is it any different than what a state might require for what kind of procedure is followed player uniforms? If you live in a state that has none of these requirements, that is great. But I do not see why this is any different than any requirement. I also agree that wearing a state patch does not mean you are licensed. But when you do not wear one, it is certainly noticed, even for us when it is not a sanctioned state game.

Peace

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

even for us when it is not a sanctioned state game.

We don't wear our patches when we do private schools.

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

And how do the participants know that I didn't just borrow the patch, or get a shirt at goodwill that has a patch on it, or I registered 5 years ago to get the patch, but haven't registered since?

Unless the patch is issued every year, then the patch doesn't really show a whole lot more than no patch. (and, we have the same patch requirement here)

New patch every year. Same design but different colors and year number. Guys could wear borrowed patches and maybe no one would know, but our state association found out those officials would be banned.

[Kansas Ref]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

If one takes the time to look up U.S. law with regard to the U.S. Flag: Athletic uniforms and officiating uniforms do not meet the criteria to wear the Flag on them.

MTD, Sr.

*So, are you implying that it is quasi "slanderous" "illegal" and/or "irreverent" to adorn our Ref shirts with the US flag? I see tons of college refs wearing flags and also there's Catholics leaguse here in our state where the refs wear a flag on left sleeve and what looks like a "flueres-de-lile" logo patch on the other sleeve (i.e., it looks like the N.O. Saints helmet artwork sort of).
Are you saying that all of this is not legit perhaps even sacriligious?

[Altor]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

*So, are you implying that it is quasi "slanderous" "illegal" and/or "irreverent" to adorn our Ref shirts with the US flag?

Slanderous: No
Illegal: Yes*
Irreverent: Perhaps
Not as patriotic as people think it is: Yes

It's like when people let the flag touch the ground or get dirty. Or they hang the flag vertically with the union in the upper right. Or leave the flag out all night without a light on it. Or when Bank of America uses it as part of the corporate logo. As I said, the Stars and Stripes deserve better.

*Illegal in the sense that it goes against the Flag Code, which is Federal law. However, there is no penalty outlined in the Flag Code.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Altor

Illegal in the sense that it goes against the Flag Code, which is Federal law. However, there is no penalty outlined in the Flag Code.

Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code: The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, firefighters, police officers, and members of patriotic organizations.

This is a U.S. federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with it and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that punitive enforcement would conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.[

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code: The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, firefighters, police officers, and members of patriotic organizations.

This is a U.S. federal law, but there is no penalty for failure to comply with it and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that punitive enforcement would conflict with the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.[

You know, "should not" does not mean "shall not".

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Altor

Slanderous: No
Illegal: Yes*
Irreverent: Perhaps
Not as patriotic as people think it is: Yes

It's like when people let the flag touch the ground or get dirty. Or they hang the flag vertically with the union in the upper right. Or leave the flag out all night without a light on it. Or when Bank of America uses it as part of the corporate logo. As I said, the Stars and Stripes deserve better.

*Illegal in the sense that it goes against the Flag Code, which is Federal law. However, there is no penalty outlined in the Flag Code.

Altor:

I could not have said it better.

MTD, Sr.

Originally Posted by Altor

It's like when people let the flag touch the ground or get dirty. Or they hang the flag vertically with the union in the upper right. Or leave the flag out all night without a light on it. Or when Bank of America uses it as part of the corporate logo. As I said, the Stars and Stripes deserve better.

*Illegal in the sense that it goes against the Flag Code, which is Federal law. However, there is no penalty outlined in the Flag Code.

While the Flag Code does not recognize a difference between an actual flag versus a facsimile patch or representation of the flag, I personally there is a difference.

As for the legality of the Flag Code, I just think they're more like guidelines.

[Texas Aggie]

Has anyone purchased one of these shirts with the flag imprinted on the shirt?

Yes. 2 Smitty football shirts.

There is no problem with fading, though you should ALWAYS wash shirts on cold and hang dry. DO NOT put shirts in the dryer. EVER. The Smitty shirts will dry in less than 30 minutes.

Also, if your washer has a double rinse function, use it. Your shirts will be much cleaner. Some washers will leave small soap residue in the shirts, and soap attracts dirt -- hence, the shirt get dirtier when worn.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Yes. 2 Smitty football shirts.

There is no problem with fading, though you should ALWAYS wash shirts on cold and hang dry. DO NOT put shirts in the dryer. EVER. The Smitty shirts will dry in less than 30 minutes.

Why?

Dryer sheets? Absolutely not (they clog the channels of wicking fabrics). High heat, no to that too.

But, low heat, nothing wrong with that. There is no reason to not dry them as long as the heat isn't too high and you don't over dry them.

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Also, if your washer has a double rinse function, use it. Your shirts will be much cleaner. Some washers will leave small soap residue in the shirts, and soap attracts dirt -- hence, the shirt get dirtier when worn.

Or just use less detergent and save the water.

Or use one of the following that is designed for high tech fabrics...
Amazon.com: Atsko Sport Wash 1L Bottle (34 wash): Sports & Outdoors

or
http://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Sport-W...4298854&sr=8-2


I use the first one with all my stuff...compression undergarments, ref shirts, ski clothes, basically any thing that has special waterproof or water wicking characteristics.

[SNIPERBBB]

Flag patches here are only worn by armed forces veterans.