Keeping your flag in place

[With_Two_Flakes]

Right behind the ball of the flag, I've wound a couple of elastic bands. Kind of a home made ball-type flag. The bands seem to help keep it in place. Before I replace my flag into my pants at the front, I also twist the tail of the flag around and around. That enables me to more easily push the tail of the flag right down into my pants so it stays vertical, only the ball of the flag is showing above the waistband. I wear the flag somewhat to the side so rather than being against soft tissue (my gut!) it is against bone at the top of my hip socket. That seems to help too.
I do wear my belt pretty tight. As with many officials, I wear white compression shorts to stop the stripes showing through and the flag being inside the pants but outside the compression shorts seems to keep it in place pretty well.

Don't recall losing a flag by accident for over 10 years.

If I had a problem with anything, it was beanbags. I now tuck the b/bag behind the belt itself rather than into the pants - it is a little harder to get the bag out, but it stays in place fine.

[parepat]

I have the same problem. I have experimented and found that wearing gray sanitary shorts instead of compression shorts under the knickers helps. I also put it more on the side which helps somewhat. I have a bigger problem w microphones. The fly off my belt all night long. Must be the way I run.

[wisref2]

I use the long-toss flags as a WH and have the same problem. I've tried tightening my belt till it hurts - no good. I've thought about putting them back in my pockets.

I just might try putting them more to the side - that just might work, thanks!

BTW - Beer isn't the answer - and I'm in Wisconsin where beer is the answer to almost everything.

[golfnref]

Back pocket for 54 years. Nothing showing. Has never jumped out.

[JRod37]

I can relate, sort of. Recently I lost a bunch of weight. I went from having little bit of a beer gut to almost nothing. I noticed that until I bought smaller pants and belt my flag would work itself loose and almost fall out about every 3 or 4 plays.

I fixed the problem by buying smaller pants and making sure my belt is tight. Not so tight that I'm uncomfortable, but tight enough to be snug.

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by wisref2

I use the long-toss flags as a WH and have the same problem. I've tried tightening my belt till it hurts - no good. I've thought about putting them back in my pockets.

I just might try putting them more to the side - that just might work, thanks!

BTW - Beer isn't the answer - and I'm in Wisconsin where beer is the answer to almost everything.

From another WI guy....try it anyway.

I have the same set-up as the picture above, minus the pencil on the arm...I do like the idea though. I agree...the patch is a bit ugly. Is that an association patch or an additional MI tag on the left arm, or a flag..?

[wisref2]

Yes, try it anyway. I'm ashamed I didn't say that.

Anyway, had a JV game today so tried the flags off the side. Not perfect, but much better. Probably just have to find the right place. But I had to move my beanbags to where the flags used to be. Only threw my beanbag by mistake once.

Thanks a lot for the hint.

[With_Two_Flakes]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

...the pencil on the arm...I do like the idea though.

Happy to license the idea

Is that an association patch or an additional MI tag on the left arm?

That's the British Association patch.

Those MI patches were a nightmare. Odd shapes are a **** to sew for someone like me with three left thumbs. Glad to hear that they've finally switched to a permanent one, so the next one I sew on (in less than 2 weeks time!! I'm counting down the days till I fly over) could be the last.

[JRod37]

Originally Posted by wisref2

!

BTW - Beer isn't the answer - and I'm in Wisconsin where beer is the answer to almost everything.

I respectfully disagree. Beer is AN answer, but I advise after the game, not before. I'm originally from WI but now stuck in MN.

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by JRod37

I respectfully disagree. Beer is AN answer, but I advise after the game, not before. I'm originally from WI but now stuck in MN.

Good for you....my brother moved full time to Ham Lake (N. of Twins) about 15 years ago. Great place. Trust me...you could be "stuck" in much worse places here in the US. Unfortunately, he has taken on the local sports teams as his own, so now the Viking/Packer games have a bit more meaning to them with me...especially with Mr. Waffle Iron up there.

[JRod37]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

Unfortunately, he has taken on the local sports teams as his own, so now the Viking/Packer games have a bit more meaning to them with me...especially with Mr. Waffle Iron up there.

I want to join you in chastising your brother, but I did it with the Twins. Oh, I still like the Brewers and follow them. But I had a job with the Twins when I moved here 10 years ago, so you get kind of bonded. The wife is a die-hard Twins fan too, so it just makes sense.

Never leaving the Pack! GO PACK, GO!

[Matt-MI]

Two Flakes, where will you be? If it's somewhere in the Detroit Metro area I could probably come see you work and say hello.

[tjones1]

Originally Posted by With_Two_Flakes

If that's you, two questions:
1) Where'd you get the orange bean bag?
2) Is that a pencil on your left arm?

3) Lookin' sharp!

[Matt-MI]

He looks sharp except for that ugly patch that Michigan makes us wear.
(They used to change the colors every year.)

[With_Two_Flakes]

Originally Posted by Matt-MI

He looks sharp except for that ugly patch that Michigan makes us wear.
(They used to change the colors every year.)

Yeah, that was still on my shirt from a trip to Detroit back in 2004(?). Had a game almost as soon as I arrived, so only had time to stick it on the shirt with that iron-on stuff. So it had to stay on my shirt, otherwise it leaves a mark from where the iron-on stuff was.

I'm guessing the MHSAA employee who chose red as a patch colour that year had never mistakenly put a red sock in his washing machine...