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[Texas Aggie]

I got some helpful responses in a previous post about flags, so lets move on to clothing. A decade ago when I did basketball, it took me a year to learn what brands of clothing I liked and a couple of years to finally put everything together. I'd like, through input here, to try and short-circuit that process.

Caps: I'll start the season off here in Texas with the pro mesh. Can I stay with that all season, or should I go with the regular wool (or whatever they are made of now) at some point when the temp drops?

Shirts: I like the shirts with longer tails that don't come out. The first Honigs shirt I bought (long before they had stores in a bunch of states) had too short of a shirt tail, but the last couple I bought from them were fine. Any specific recommendations on shirts? Also, black or white undershirt under the mesh shirts early in the season?

Knickers: while I have experience with most other pieces of clothing I'll wear, I have no experience with these. Honigs has a basic, a premium, and (I think) some in between. What do I need to look for here? Slash pockets or western? I will most likely carry my flag in my right front pocket, as I did when I did some flag football back in college. Also, is there a trick in having the legs tapered right?

Shoes: Obviously very personal, but anything to specifically watch out for here? I wear Saucony for most all outdoor wear now; do they (Spotbilt owns them I'm told) make a football ref shoe?

Socks: I'm guessing one piece is the rule now, right?

[Snake~eyes]

I'll touch on a few things.

FIrst off about the undershirt, talk to your association, they may require white OR black. We wear black.

For a hat try to get fitted, it looks better(or so they say).

I own both Cliff Kleen and Honigs striped shirts and they are both fine for me. I don't really notice a difference but I don't own any of the promesh shirts. One thing is you want to make sure that your association allows promesh shirts.

As for knickers I only have cliff kleen so I'm not of much help on that. I also have shorts by both companies but the honigs shorts seem to be thicker and harder to see the stripes show through.

Spotbilt does make football shoes, check out http://www.honigs.com When looking for shoes make sure its comfortable, all black(if the logo is white its okay you can dye it) and its really personal preference from there.

Yeap, socks are one piece.

Basically talk to people from your association, ask the head guy about what he recommends for you to get and what the association is or isn't allowed to wear. Some can be stricter than others.

Good luck. Hope I helped a little bit.

[bluduc]

Each chapter in Texas has their own rules. Check with your local chapter.
The Dallas chapter regs. are as follows
Caps: Everyone wears the poly-wool fittted cap at the varsity level, sub varsity some use the mesh hat.
Shirt: Your choice. If you find you have a problem keeping the tail in get a hidden taylor band, thay work well.No one uses the mesh shirt at the varsity level.
Undershirt: Black required.
Knickers: Your choice. I like the western pocket, they look better if you gain or loose weight much. The pockets don't open up . Poly blend won't wrinkle as bad if folded up in your bag as the cotton type does. Cotton will clean up better( grass, mud, blood etc.).
Shoes: All black required or almost black, they can have some white on them.
Socks: one piece.
Dallas allows no shorts at the varsity level, every year sub varsity rules change. Last year no shorts allowed accept for scrimmage games.
Amercian flag on the sleeve at the varsity level.
Some chapters allow shorts so check with yor chapter.
Bluduc.

[SWFLguy]

When I came to SW FL from CNY, I was expecting to
wear shorts for most games. WRONG. They wear black
ones for sub-varsity only, so I couldn't even use my old
white ones. I asked why knickers were the sole choice for
varsity games and was told that it "looked more professional".
I guess it is OK not to "look professional" for sub-varsity ??
We wear black T-s underneath-- I tuck my striped shirt
into a pair of white shorts to keep the stripes from
showing through the white knickers.
Spot-bilts for me for both football and softball (need a new
pair for next fall).
I prefer the thinner nylon tube socks even though they
are short-lived. ProMesh fitted cap. Western pockets
on the pants keep me "slim-looking".
Nylon center-weight flag for this umpire--- which reduces
the chance of me flipping one into a player's face.
At U, I use 2 black elastic indicators-- left hand for down #
and right hand for spot of the snap.
Can't wait for spring ball here !!

[Texas Aggie]

Dallas is where I'll be, so thanks blu.

One thing to clarify: by "mesh" hat I don't mean the '70s style similar to what Andy Roddick wears now (tennis pro). I mean the pro mesh that Honigs sells and I know I've seen NFL officials wear (or at least a veriation of).

blu: I was at the initial Dallas meeting last year (decided not to work then), and I could swear that one of the board members I spoke with encouraged me to get the mesh shirt for the heat. He didn't indicate anything about it not being suitable for varsity. Is that just a crew thing? Same with the hat?

[Edited by Texas Aggie on Apr 10th, 2004 at 01:46 PM]

[bluduc]

T.A., the mesh hats are a crew thing. All crews are to be dressed alike and most crews don't wear them.Sub varsity you see a few.
Same with the micromesh shirts. Some wear them in sub varsity but very few. The heat is not that bad most of the time. With a black undershirt under the mesh it does not help that much.
You might look at getting a striped rain jacket for those three game sub varsity sets in the rain. We always get at least 2 weeks of cold weather (sleet, 35 degree, rain and 40mph wind). Put on everything you can find and cover it up with the rain jacket. I have one long sleeve shirt but my crew have voted if it's cold enough for long sleeve it's cold enough for a jacket so a stiped jacked is nice.If you get one get the reversible one, can wear it on the black side if you pull chains. Spring and fall scrimmags are the hot ones.
They want you to stay out there for 4 hours so they can get their fit throwing over for the season. Can't flag them so we just smile and wait for regular season.
First meeting 4-26. Check the web site.
Bluduc

[Mike Simonds]

I give a thumbs up to Honig's athletic cut knickers. They give you more room in the seat and thighs which is important for us umpires who do a lot of bending over placing the ball, etc.

Also, I always get scolded at least once or twice during each season for placing the ball with my body turned east and west rather than north and south. Our head linesman tells me "the fans are not paying to see your rear-end!" (although a few female friends told me its okay). The Honig's athletic cut seem to allow the normal 5 to 10 pound weight fluctuation I experience during the course of the season and hide those unsightly bulges from the fans.

They are well worth the extra $5 or so over the regular knickers.

Here in Hawaii we started using the Pro Mesh style caps and I love how light weight and cool they are. We still use knickers for all V and JV games (high schools start at 5pm or 7pm after the sun is going down) but shorts for youth and the semi-pro guys who play during the day.

[Edited by Mike Simonds on Apr 11th, 2004 at 03:09 PM]

[ABoselli]

Mike, can you order them in your regular waist size? I always have to get the Cliff Keens one size up.

[Snake~eyes]

Originally posted by ABoselli
Mike, can you order them in your regular waist size? I always have to get the Cliff Keens one size up.

I have no problem wearing my correct size and I have cliff keens but I am one of those skinny linesman lol

[ABoselli]

I'm a 36 waist but always have to buy a 38 in Cliff Keens or else I get the tight thighs and butt and bulging pockets (bet you're glad I wrote pockets). Even with the 38, it's still a little snug. I may go for the athletic Honigs.

[ref18]

Originally posted by Mike Simonds
I give a thumbs up to Honig's athletic cut knickers. They give you more room in the seat and thighs which is important for us umpires who do a lot of bending over placing the ball, etc.

That's not the reason I need athletic cut

I think that the athletic cut pants are great, except that I have the same problem with the pockets, they should make athletic cut with the western top pockets.

[Sleeper]

I got a mesh hat and shirt last year and loved it. It really helps in subvarsity afternoon games in the Texas heat. I wear my mest hat on varsity nights, but not the shirt. I also wear a compression shirt and tights. It wicks sweat and regulates body tempature better. They also help to prevent pulled muscles. I got Mizuno shoes last year and called 130 games on them without any problems. I also use them for my baseball field shoes. My varsity shoes are Converse and I will be trying something different on the next year. I haven't been as happy with the comfort on that pair. I have also had bad luck with Riddell from a durability and comfort standpoint.

Gig 'Em!

Class of '94

[ABoselli]

The pockets still bulge out? That's disappointing.

I have the mesh hats and love them. I mainly like them for the heat in the sun. Conversely, I think the difference between a regular hat and a mesh one is negligible for cooler fall night games. Neither is going to keep you very warm. Keep running - you'll be fine.

Oh, and I also love the mesh shirt. 1000% cooler than the (sauna like) polyester.

[ref18]

I think the reason that the pockets bulge is me, and not the pants though. I'm not exactly the skinniest person.

[Mike Simonds]

Dear AB, you and I sound like we are built kinda similar. I found the Honig's athletic cut will be true to waist size and give you about an inch or so more in the seat and thighs.

I agree that it would be great if the athletic cut came in a western pocket which I prefer over the tailored.

Also, it would be great if they came in odd sizes.

When I'm at 220 lbs the athletic cut is perfect. If I go up to 230 lbs they are snug again.

So the key is to stay at the same weight I guess.