Shirts with Pre-Printed Flag

Originally Posted by Rich

Why are state patches necessary? If I'm working a HS game, obviously I'm a licensed HS official.

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.

[OKREF]

Oklahoma doesn't require a patch of any kind. The only requirement is that the officials working the game are dressed alike. We can also wear shirts with the panel or without.

[bob jenkins]

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.

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)

[JRutledge]

Anyone can fake anything. I have a few state licenses in my profession and if I knew what I was doing, I could fake a copy of that license. But if you looked me up in a certain database I might not be located as well.

Regardless of if the patch means anything in the bigger picture, it is like many things in life where it is a requirement of the profession. I do not care if we have a patch or not in my state. If it went away I would be OK with that outcome. I just feel the reason we have them is to put one other requirement on those that have fulfilled the requirement. And if you are wearing one, chances are you did something to get it, but like other things in life it is not the final evidence of your licensing.

Peace

[walt]

I have ordered two of the shirts. One with the side panel and one without. It looks sharp new but you can tell it is a printed flag (if that makes sense). I emailed the company and they say their process will protect it from fading no matter how many times it is washed. The Smitty shirts are great.

[LRZ]

FWIW, there was some debate in my chapter about whether the union of the sublimated flag was on the wrong side. Veterans disagreed.

[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.

[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?

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.

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.

[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.

[Mregor]

Originally Posted by 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

No, no difference and all for the same reason. Money. Or to be more clear, separating you from your money. For example, our state association came out with an authorized vendor a few years back. The very next year they made the wide stripes mandatory for football. Mass purchase from the only authorized vendor resulted in $77 + s&h football shirt. Next year, new sole authorized vendor and magically the state logo changed to acknowledge their 50 year anniversary. Result was new shirt purchase from new vendor. Everything is about money or more accurately, separating you from your money.