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

[FredFan7]

...what would it be? Would you want pants instead of knickers? A gray pinstripe shirt? No hats? Orange penalty flag? Air horn instead of whistle (wasn't that used at one time?)?

If you are a HS official would you want letters on the back of your shirt like college? Or numbers?

Nothing earth-shaking here and no right or wrong answers, just some fun fodder for off season.

I personally think the uniform is pretty good as it is, but I wouldn't mind a position letter on the back of my uniform for HS varsity games.

[mike4486]

black knickers , easier to clean

[goodnews]

I would like to see the pea whistle used the fox 40 just sounds like a basketball whistle to me

[Texas Aggie]

I'd like a sock change. I don't know what exactly to suggest, but something a little more generic that doesn't force me into the crappy selection we have now.

The basic uniform, I don't think, should change. Most of these suggestions are not practical, they are just change for change sake. I'm never in favor of that.

I'd also like to go to shorts in junior high games in September.

As far as the whistle goes, what's stopping you from using the pea whistle?

[RMR]

I'd like it if Under Armour would make a sock with the Northwestern stripe.

[MadCityRef]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

I'd also like to go to shorts in junior high games in September.

As far as the whistle goes, what's stopping you from using the pea whistle?

We can wear shorts on any game in Illinois. Although it's pretty cold by October. You'd think in Texas....

[jontheref]

I like the black pants---I know a lot dont care for them on the NFL level, but they look sharp.

Thats about the only thing on the officials side. On the players side I would luv to see manufacturers to put the "C" on the players shirts. It makes it a bit easioer to find when doing the options for a penalty.

[GFD406]

I like the pants also, I am getting ready to go referee a semi-pro game and it is 37 degrees and getting colder.

[SWFLguy]

The pants should be an option. As we get used to seeing them
on Sundays, they may become acceptible in some form. They would
probably have to come in a different look so as to not infringe on
any NFL copyrights. I still use an Acme pea whistle !
A "C" on captain's shirts isn't practical as many team captains
change game after game. Same for the letters on the back of
official's shirts--many guys change positions.

[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.

[HLin NC]

basketball did.

A black shell type windpant with either no stripe, white piping, or multiple stripe a la adidas. The NFL pant with that wider white stripe truly makes it look like prison pants. I would also want the pants gathered at the ankles with elastic instead of open.

If that doesn't fly, make the knickers down to the ankle like baseball wears now and then just skip the officials stocking/hose.

A pullover type shell jacket, similar to the NFL's new LS shirt, in a striped pattern, that would be wind and water proof.

[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.