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

[IceGator8]

The black pants grew on me too. I have thunder thighs so I'd love these in any weather. Knickers are just too tight on me.

[Theisey]

For those favoring black color bottoms, are you talking wearing them all the time?
I'd hate to have to wear black in late August and even in September. (No, we do not wear shorts).

I gotta feeling that the NFL has a lock on that style of uniform anyway, meaning it might not be permitted to filter down to the NCAA or NFHS levels without some big buck$ being made by someone and that wouldn't be the officials.

I would like to see a better sock. One easier to clean and one that looks the same on all officials. Some have so much white showing it's hard to tell if there are any stripes at all.

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[ToGreySt]

Originally Posted by IceGator8

The black pants grew on me too. I have thunder thighs so I'd love these in any weather. Knickers are just too tight on me.

great post...I completely agree, I am in the same predicament, I guess I could just drop 30 pounds though

[IceGator8]

Originally Posted by ToGreySt

great post...I completely agree, I am in the same predicament, I guess I could just drop 30 pounds though

Aside from playing sports as a kid I was also a BMX racer. I used to ride my single speek BMX bikes ridiculous mileages every day. It was during those years that my thigh's grew huge. With that said I could stand to drop 30. lol

I think if pants became part of the uniform you could vary the construction material depending on the season. The pant for the warmer games could be a really lightweight material that doesn't get hot. The pant for the cold games could be fleece lined and waterproof. I just want a little room to layer underneath. For me layering with knickers just isn't an option.

[stevestod]

In Vermont we would love to have a shirt that would be waterproof and warm. Knickers should be the same although I would be in favor of the black pants like in the NFL; I threw away two white pair from last year because they would get clean any more. We play in mud up here.

[SWFLguy]

The more I think about it; I'd say changes will probably
be coming soon as a result of the new NFL gear !!

[Rick KY]

I'd like to see changes in the fabric used to make the uniforms. I'd really like to have the moisture wicking fabric and insulated fabric such as Reebok's Play Dry or Play Warm. Nike and UA also make similar fabrics.

I'd also allow wearing of heavier jackets or pullovers (NFL style) for very cold weather.

[Texas Aggie]

I'd be willing to bet that the NFL pant experiment failed. I doubt they will be back next year and won't catch on (for a lot of reasons) at the lower levels.

[IceGator8]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

I'd be willing to bet that the NFL pant experiment failed. I doubt they will be back next year and won't catch on (for a lot of reasons) at the lower levels.

Care to expand on your statements above?

How exactly did the pant experiment fail? I've read nothing about the pants being discontinued next year. If the officials on the field like the pants then I'd wager they will be hanging around.