Black pants question for umpires

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by LDUB

You're assuming that everyone uses the black flags because they don't want to be seen reaching for it. I'm sure some use them because they like the look of them blending in with the pants. And I could see a situation coming up with a fumble where the official reaches for the beanbag but then rules that there was not a fumble.

And I don't think it would take too long for teams to realize that the white ball sticking out of your pants is the flag; it isn't some big secret.

Assuming?

The reason those flags were created were to blend into the color of the pants. This was the reason for the white tipped flag in the first place. Before the white tipped flags, many official would put white tape on the ball portion of the flag so if they reached for their flag (if in their belt) it would not be as obvious as when you would reach for a yellow object. And this is also the reason the flags are suggested in many parts of the country to have them in your belt. It is not as obvious if you reach for your flag and then change your mind what sometimes happens. And no one made these flags with the black on them until the black pants were made available. That is the actually reason the flags were manufactured the way they were, not based on an assumption I am making.

Peace