Black Pants Policy for your State

[RedCashions]

ALL-WEATHER OFFICIALS PANTS: I have had some officials contact our office asking if the KSHSAA has approved or authorized officials to wear the “all-weather” officiating pants that NFL officials can be seen wearing (I don’t know if the NCAA has authorized them at their level). The answer is that the KSHSAA Executive Board has not authorized Kansas officials to wear these all-weather pants. I recommended to the board that this not be authorized for the following reasons:

1. If they were to be approved by the Board as optional, they would essentially be then requiring all officials to purchase them. There would be enough “mixing” of crews during the season which would increase the pressure upon all officials to purchase them so that all officials would be uniform in their clothing. This would be an additional cost to officials, especially those that were just starting out. They already have to purchase a complete officiating uniform and equipment. I don’t believe adding additional costs would be necessary.

2. The fall weather in Kansas is not the same as it is in Buffalo or New York or many other states to the North, Northeast or Northwestern US. The number of nights/days when the weather is so severe that wearing of this all-weather would be justified is minimal here in Kansas.

3. Officials could purchase other undergarments for wear during adverse weather which would provide them the same type of protection as these all-weather officiating pants. These undergarments (unlike the all-weather officiating pants) could be used by the officials as undergarments with other clothing and would have more functionality than the more expensive all-weather officiating clothing.

4. I do not believe that these baggy all-weather pants presents the official in the best way – officials should present an image of a physically fit individual. I do not feel these all-weather pants put the official in the best physically fit image.

Does anyone have list of what states have approved the use of foul weather pants?

[Lintner5]

By my records, the states adopting provisions to allow black pants include:
Colorado
Connecticut
Illinois
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

Based on my cartography skills, I'd say most states not lying south of Missouri have adopted the black pants while southern states have been more resistant with noted exceptions of Oklahoma, Tennessee, and North Carolina). Also, I'm uncertain of the black pants status in many states. I know Georgia and Kansas have considered the idea and denied black pants in 2010.

[RedCashions]

Thanks for the info.

[Welpe]

Black pants are allowed in Texas.

[RochesterRef]

In Section V, we are not required to buy the pants. The choice to wear black pants is on each crew, provided that everyone on the crew wears them. We can also wear short sleeves shirts weather permitting, again, as long as we're all uniform. As far as I know, we can wear them wherever, whenever and with anything as long as we all wear the same thing.

[bisonlj]

Allowed in Indiana but must be worn by entire crew and only with long sleeves.

[umpirebob71]

Originally Posted by wang

Valuable information. I’ve never heard of this before and I think they’re awesome!

Take a hike, Wang.

[jemiller]

Hey we even have the option to wear black shorts! As long as everyone on the crew is the same...go figure.

[mbyron]

Black shorts not white is the option for sub-varsity in Ohio next year.

[Reffing Rev.]

In Nebraska by crew option Black pants with white stripe are allowed with long sleeve shirts or jackets, crew must be uniform.

Good to know about Kansas, we have a game across the border toward the end of the season when we would have probably been wearing the black pants...but our crew has decided not to purchase them this year.