Officials' appearance.

[Forksref]

I was watching a HS playoff game on Friday night with some other officials. I noticed a couple of things about the appearance of the officials on the field. First of all, I noticed the HL had his flag sticking out of his pocket. Our opinion is that this looks really sloppy. Also, the LJ had shoes that were not all black. I have always been under the impression that shoes should be all black with no stripes or other logos on them.

We believe that appearance is the first step towards being perceived as a competent official.

What do you guys think about these two items?

[Warrenkicker]

I agree about the shoes. One thing I might be able to voice in his defense is that there are very few shoes which are completely black. Perhaps he was unable to find shoes which met all the requirements and fit his feet correctly.

As for the flag I know there are some, maybe even many, out there that state the flag should only be in the front. I still think that this is a point of personal preference. I use my right hand for both flags and bagging loose balls. My left hand carries my whistle when it isn't in my mouth. My second flag is in my waistband in front on my left side. My flag in my back pocket is not visible. Perhaps I could adjust to moving them to different spots but currently I don't see advantage to the change.

Some will state that you show that you are looking to throw the flag when you reach back and then don't throw it. I can understand that point but am just unwilling to change at this point. It may be very important for wing guys and if I worked there perhaps I would change.

[bigwhistle]

Originally posted by Forksref
I noticed the HL had his flag sticking out of his pocket. Our opinion is that this looks really sloppy.

I guess that you are not impressed with the officials in the SEC?

[SWFLguy]

Re: the shoes--- these guys should get a bottle of black leather dye
and dye the parts not black. I did that to my Spot-Bilts, covered up
the logo on the backs and on the tongues. No excuse there !
Re: where to stash flags--- here in SW FL, the high school officials seem to like having a "balled-up corner" and tucked into their waist.
I always put mine in my left front pocket with no cloth showing--
I think it looks better with no yellow showing and I use a flag
with a weighted center-- to reduce the chance of me throwing a
flag into some player's helmet opening. I'm surprised that is not
a concern !
I personally have concern for officials who wear "yellow" pants and
have "brown" piping on their hats. Come on---- break out with some
new gear !!

[Forksref]

I haven't watched much college football, but if SEC officials have their flags sticking out, I am not impressed. A peewee official with his flag not showing and looking clean and "crisp" would impress me more.

I had the honor/opportunity to work a state championship game a few years ago. The supervisor of state officials, before the game, said, "I don't want to see any flags today." It took a few seconds to figure out what he meant: don't look sloppy out there.

As for white on the shoes, SWFL has the right idea. Get some black shoe dye.

We worked a state playoff game last week. It was very cold, like in the mid 30's with a 20 mph wind. We wore jackets prior to the game, but took them off for the game. It looks a heck of a lot better than jackets. We believe that jackets are for precipitation, not cold.

I like to see consistency and 'crispness' in our appearance. Maybe I am old-fashioned.

[Snake~eyes]

Originally posted by Warrenkicker
My second flag is in my waistband in front on my left side. My flag in my back pocket is not visible.

Does that mean you have three flags?

And which one is your primary flag?

[Blind in 1 eye]

I am one not impressed with SEC officials.
Some of the SEC mechanics make my head spin.
They do things the hard way.

any flag showing anywhere looks bad. Carry it where you want but tuck it in.

[Warrenkicker]

Originally posted by Snake~eyes

Does that mean you have three flags?

And which one is your primary flag?

Yes I have three. The third is on the top of my head.

My primary is in my back pocket. My secondary is in my waistband opposite my bean bag. I have never had a problem getting the flag out of my pocket when I needed it.

[Snake~eyes]

Originally posted by Warrenkicker
Yes I have three. The third is on the top of my head.

I didn't think so, the reason I asked is because the way you worded it, sounded like you had three cause you said Second flag, then said and I keep one in my pocket.

I'm thinking of moving from back to the front pocket because I find myself reaching often but then not throwing and I know that this probaly looks bad. Just that the trainer of association says "This isn't the NFL, put your flag in your back pocket." I think I'll talk to him about how it looks when you reach and don't flag.

[Rich]

I must be the only one who doesn't think that white-on-shoes is a huge deal. Actually I know I'm not cause I've had this discussion with some officiating friends.

I work baseball, basketball, and football. My base shoes for baseball have white stripes on them and I wouldn't dream of "dye-ing" them. They are leather and a good clear polish keeps them looking good. My football and basketball shoes have no white on them, but that is a coincidence. After having ankle surgery and having to wear orthotics in my shoes, comfort is number 1 with me. If those comfortable shoes had some white on them, I'd wear them.

I watched some NFL football today -- all the officials I saw looked sharp as can be and I happened to see some flags sticking out and some white on shoes, too. Of course I would rather judge an official by how he carries himself on the field than by some meaningless criteria.

Rich

[Forksref]

I don't view appearance as meaningless. If one official has stripes on his shoes and another doesn't and another has a Nike 'swoosh' that doesn't say much for team uniformity. I would guess that if a professional official has stripes or a logo on his shoes, then the company is subsidizing his shoes. I don't use the NFL as a measuring stick by any means. It's all about money at that level.

A flag sticking out is sloppy looking and not 'sharp'. My crew is a stickler for appearance. AND...I found out tonight that we have been assigned a state semi-final playoff game next Saturday, so we must 'carry' ourselves pretty well on the field. Looking like a team is part of performing like a team. I think our appearance is part of the total package that the state looks for in assigning big games. I believe there are some things that separate some crews from others and appearance is one of them.

[Rich]

Where I work the coaches essentially decide playoff assignments.

When in Rome is all I'm saying. If the local custom is to put the flag up front, do it. If the local custom is to wear all-black shoes, do it. I'm just saying that you can't watch a game on TV and make sweeping judgements based on criteria like this. The local custom may be different.

Congrats on your playoff assignment. I hope it's because you guys CALL a good game, not because you have your flags tucked in.

Rich

[mikesears]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser
I must be the only one who doesn't think that white-on-shoes is a huge deal. Actually I know I'm not cause I've had this discussion with some officiating friends.

I work baseball, basketball, and football. My base shoes for baseball have white stripes on them and I wouldn't dream of "dye-ing" them. They are leather and a good clear polish keeps them looking good. My football and basketball shoes have no white on them, but that is a coincidence. After having ankle surgery and having to wear orthotics in my shoes, comfort is number 1 with me. If those comfortable shoes had some white on them, I'd wear them.

I watched some NFL football today -- all the officials I saw looked sharp as can be and I happened to see some flags sticking out and some white on shoes, too. Of course I would rather judge an official by how he carries himself on the field than by some meaningless criteria.

Rich

Rich,
You aren't the only one. I agree that, "When in Rome . . . ."

In this area, we just want to see the shoes shined. Nobody complains if the shoes are primarily black. I don't buy the logic that we sell ourselves as more consistent by not having white on our shoes. If we want every official looking exactly the same, then every official should wear the exact same brand/model of shoe.

Personally, I think having the flag showing looks tacky (especially when the flag is haning out of the front pocket). Again, when in Rome....

[Rich]

I may be picking your brain for more of these local things soon, Mike.

The key for an official, I think, is to fit in wherever he lives. I've lived a rather nomadic life, so I've had the benefit (downfall?) of officiating in 7 different states. The thing I do when I move to a place is observe, observe, observe. I always go out and watch the top crews work in the first few weeks and see how picky those crews are about these types of issues -- the advantage I have is that I know what to look for.

Some states and associations are really controlling when it comes to things like shoes, flags, bags. I was emailing with one official who told me that anyone that carries 2 flags is looked down upon. I've ALWAYS carried two flags with me, but there I would find out that it isn't done and adjust.

One state I lived in insisted upon baseball umpires carrying indicators out on the field when working the bases.

Other states frown uupon pleated pants, white on shoes, wrong make of pants, number of beanbags, types of whistles, wearing jackets on the field, etc., etc.

I've always wondered whether all that nonsense distracted those associations and its officials from being the best on the field as they can be. I've always saw that stuff as evaluation fodder -- most of officiating is quite subjective, so those "uniform" items become objective items on the evaluation and can serve to weed those not "in the know" out of playoff consideration.

YMMV. And I respect anyone who feels this stuff TO THIS DEGREE is as important as on-field performance. I just respectfully disagree.

Rich

[FredFan7]

I agree, "When in Rome." I officiated in PA, and out east, the finger whistle is used a lot. I'd say 50-50 or 60-40 finger whistle.

Now I ref in Illinois and I'd say that it's 90-10 lanyard, and some new refs are "encouraged" to used the lanyard. Its also encouraged that we put our flags in the front of our pants with only the weight showing, and stuff a second flag in any pocket but completely out of sight. I've never heard of an official not advancing because of this issue, but the vets "encourage" the younger officials to do those things. I think we take our lead from Big 10 officials.

Anyway, if I ever move again, and finger whistles are mandated, or it's holding me back, I'd change. It'd be tough, but I'd change. It would be hard to put my primary flag in the back pocket but I would.

"When in Rome." I agree.

PS--Appearance is part of the overall package but not the only thing. Former NFL ref Bob McElwee carried a finger whistle and had TWO flags hanging out the back and side pockets. I never liked the flag look but it's hard to argue with three Super Bowls.