If you could change one thing about Equipment/Uniform...

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by Theisey

Careful with asking for position plackets. You'll either have to buy a lot of shirts or find a way to move the PP around based on weather conditions or worse yet if you work multiple positions on different days.

I don't really have an opinion either way on position plackets. However, I know that Honig's sells Velcro that you can sew on to the placket and the shirt.

[Texas Aggie]

Honestly, I've never understood the reasoning behind position plackets on the back. If they want to put it on the front shirt pocket so a coach can know he's yelling at the right guy [/wink], then that's fine. But for the most part, the only people that really care which side the HL/LJ is on or how the defensive backfield is configured already know who goes where.

[JMN]

Why doesn't NASO or someone make it mandatory to sew a US flag on all uniforms? Think it would be a great move, and I know many already have it on their shirts.

[Theisey]

Originally Posted by Mark Dexter

I don't really have an opinion either way on position plackets. However, I know that Honig's sells Velcro that you can sew on to the placket and the shirt.

While velcro works, the few ties I've seen it used the placket looked bunched up and in my opinion looked like crap.
Double stick carpet tape actually worked better then velcro.

I do have an opinion on NFHS officials wearing plackets, and that would be I would not want to see it as a requirement.

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Originally Posted by JMN

Why doesn't NASO or someone make it mandatory to sew a US flag on all uniforms? Think it would be a great move, and I know many already have it on their shirts.

Well, NASO doesn't really have the authority to make anybody do anything - they're mostly an educational and support organization, and to my knowledge they don't do assigning and aren't "in charge" of any officials' associations.

As for the flags... I've never really seen the connection between sports and patriotism, other than the tendency of the masses towards blind loyalty. Our association wears flags, so I wear one proudly. (Well, except that it's on the back of the uniform, which is just stupid. It should either be over the pocket or on the left sleeve.) But if our association didn't wear flags, it wouldn't bother me any.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by The Roamin' Umpire

As for the flags... I've never really seen the connection between sports and patriotism, other than the tendency of the masses towards blind loyalty. Our association wears flags, so I wear one proudly. (Well, except that it's on the back of the uniform, which is just stupid. It should either be over the pocket or on the left sleeve.) But if our association didn't wear flags, it wouldn't bother me any.

If you are going to wear a flag on your sleeve, you should know there is a specific flag for each sleeve. The field of stars should be closest to your heart so if you wear the flag on your left sleeve, the flag would appear as normal. If you wear it on your right sleeve, the flag would appear "backwards" since the star field is in the upper right corner. Our state has us where our patches on the left sleeve so our flag is on the right sleeve. We get comments all the time that our flag is on backwards, but I tell them I bought them directly from the American Legion and that is how they told me to wear it. I've noticed the same is true of any military person I see.

[Texas Aggie]

I vote that flags be taken off ALL officiating uniforms. I'm as patriotic as they come, and I'd rather not deal with it. It causes problems with crews in all sports.

[jaybird]

The "new" look with the flag on the right sleeve facing backward looks terrible and in my opinion, is disrespectful. The field of blue should be in the upper left, as you're facing it.
Located on the pocket (over the heart) is the best location.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by jaybird

The "new" look with the flag on the right sleeve facing backward looks terrible and in my opinion, is disrespectful.

There is nothing disrespectful with having the field of stars facing forward, that is how the flag should be oriented if it is worn on that side.

See Air Force One:



The same concept applies to uniforms.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by jaybird

The "new" look with the flag on the right sleeve facing backward looks terrible and in my opinion, is disrespectful. The field of blue should be in the upper left, as you're facing it.

How do you feel about seeing a flag flying on a pole when the wind is blowing right to left? In case you didn't notice, the union of the flag will be in the upper right.

Look at the photo of the plane, if the union was not on the right it would appear that the flag would be flying with the stripes side attached to the pole.

Also I do not see why flag patches should be displayed on the uniforms of players or officials of any sport. What is the connection between sports officials and patritoism?

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

If you are going to wear a flag on your sleeve, you should know there is a specific flag for each sleeve. The field of stars should be closest to your heart so if you wear the flag on your left sleeve, the flag would appear as normal. If you wear it on your right sleeve, the flag would appear "backwards" since the star field is in the upper right corner. Our state has us where our patches on the left sleeve so our flag is on the right sleeve. We get comments all the time that our flag is on backwards, but I tell them I bought them directly from the American Legion and that is how they told me to wear it. I've noticed the same is true of any military person I see.

You have it right - the ex-military guys in our association all agree, stars forward. (They also complain about having flags on our backs.) The looking "backwards" thing is why I said left sleeve in my previous post.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by The Roamin' Umpire

You have it right - the ex-military guys in our association all agree, stars forward. (They also complain about having flags on our backs.) The looking "backwards" thing is why I said left sleeve in my previous post.

We have ours on the right sleeve because we are supposed to put our state patch on the left sleeve (at least that's what I've been told).