Shirts with Pre-Printed Flag
 

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

Purchase Officials Supplies - Smitty MADE IN THE USA Dye Sublimated Shirt

I have always sewed on a patch. I am concerned that the painted one will look cheap and fade over the course of a season. That plus they are like $10 more than a regular shirt. They seem new, so not much in the way of reviews out there. Can anyone share their experience?

I think it's the wave of the future, so get used to it.

The Smitty shirts, in general, are great shirts. I like them a lot better than most. As such, I would expect that the flag would not be a problem.

I think this is something that is going to be common place soon. We already have this done with college football shirts where the placard is put right on the shirt. I am probably surprised this was not done earlier.

Peace

Why is it necessary to put an Americans flag on a ref shirt anyhow? Aren't the state issued nfhs patche all that is needed?
The next step is to put ads for businesses on them no? (like wnba jerzee) :confused:

Well it is not necessary. And if you work in my state, the patch that much go on a shirt is the IHSA patch or embroiled IHSA logo. We cannot put any other patch on our shirt. The flag is optional and must go on the right sleeve (not the left as in the picture).

Peace

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

Not necessarily.

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.

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.

VA has the flag as well as the state patch imprinted on it now. No issues from me so far. (We're just "so techi" here in VA) :rolleyes:

Is it necessary? No. Is it directed? Yes.

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)

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

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.

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