Shoes

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by legend

I wear the new balance 995 in the 3/4 (high top) they have a "turf" bottom but have held up fairly well (3 years old and still look like new) and don't get plugged up as easily because the turf bottom isin't as deep and "grabby" as an actual cleat is. I purchased mine from Officially sports in Pittsburgh. their web site is www.purchaseofficialssupplies.com

Is it possible to color over the white part at the bottom? We have to have all black shoes.

[legend]

Originally Posted by Forksref

Is it possible to color over the white part at the bottom? We have to have all black shoes.

They actually are all black. There is a little bit of the arch support (which is grey) that wraps around the sides from the bottom and is slightly visible. However we also are required to wear all black and these are worn by several of the guys in my chapter. So I wouldn't imagine there being any problem with them.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Forksref

Is it possible to color over the white part at the bottom? We have to have all black shoes.

The NCHSAA recently announced that NC officials would be allowed to wear shoes with up white on them. It's opened up a lot more options.

Just bought these. They make a black/black version as well. The basketball Zigs are the best shoe I've ever worn. Hope these prove to be as good.

Reebok Zig Magistrate

All black shoes is an old, archaic rule that needs to go away for all officials. Nobody cares what shoes an official is wearing, except officials.

[HLin NC]

I bought the turf trainer version of those Reeboks last year. Didn't wear them in a game, naturally, and I am glad I held off coloring them in.

While I applaud us (NC) allowing white to join the 21st century, I hope some among us don't screw it up. Those "clown shoe" Nikes that the ACC wore were just plain old fugly.

[Jim S]

I too wear the New Balance. I have two pairs even tho we work almost exclusively on turf now in Seattle and a quick brush ill bring them right back to looking good most of the time. The lower part can easily be turned black with a Sharpie. They are very comfortable and give great traction on turf fields. Honig's sells them (they bring a truck to our first meeting of the year and more& more of our guys are using them), but check out ShoeBuy.com. They often have sales and you can get shoes at 25-40 % off. Honig's had them on their spring sale.

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

I bought the turf trainer version of those Reeboks last year. Didn't wear them in a game, naturally, and I am glad I held off coloring them in.

While I applaud us (NC) allowing white to join the 21st century, I hope some among us don't screw it up. Those "clown shoe" Nikes that the ACC wore were just plain old fugly.

Personally, I like all-black because some of the white stripes, zig-zags, whatever, look clownish. Also, a "uniform" means all the crew members should wear the same design. I could maybe go with some white if all of the crew looked like a team.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Forksref

Personally, I like all-black because some of the white stripes, zig-zags, whatever, look clownish. Also, a "uniform" means all the crew members should wear the same design. I could maybe go with some white if all of the crew looked like a team.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Is it not uniform to wear the same style in shirt or pants? Because if you look at many different uniform items like shirts, pants or even flags and bags they are different too.

And since shoes are so personal of a feel and not every shoe is going to be sold all black, not sure what the big deal is. The fans or coaches never say a word about our shoes.

Peace

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Is it not uniform to wear the same style in shirt or pants? Because if you look at many different uniform items like shirts, pants or even flags and bags they are different too.

And since shoes are so personal of a feel and not every shoe is going to be sold all black, not sure what the big deal is. The fans or coaches never say a word about our shoes.

Peace

If there are different shirts or pants in our crew I have never been able to tell. I don't care about fans or coaches. We have our own standards of dress. Must be my military experience, but I like a "uniform" appearance. Those shoes that are not sold all black are made black by our crew members to make us look like a team. "Attention to detail," as I heard so many times in the Navy. It pays off.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Forksref

If there are different shirts or pants in our crew I have never been able to tell. I don't care about fans or coaches. We have our own standards of dress. Must be my military experience, but I like a "uniform" appearance. Those shoes that are not sold all black are made black by our crew members to make us look like a team. "Attention to detail," as I heard so many times in the Navy. It pays off.

Actually you can tell the different shirts apart rather easily as well as pants, especially the black style all have a little differences you can notice quickly if you are familiar the styles. Most of the time you do not have to be very close either to tell the differences.

Then what do you do when someone has a shoe that is black because they either had to black them out or the sole of the shoe has gray or black and the other crew members are not so obvious?

The point is we can nitpick all these things. I just know that I am not going to wear a shoe you like because they feel good on your feet. As stated before, no one cares about this but officials. And if we all have to be the same, we better buy everything from the same company or order the same brand or we will not be perfectly uniformed.

Peace

[jchamp]

Originally Posted by Forksref

If there are different shirts or pants in our crew I have never been able to tell. I don't care about fans or coaches. We have our own standards of dress. Must be my military experience, but I like a "uniform" appearance. Those shoes that are not sold all black are made black by our crew members to make us look like a team. "Attention to detail," as I heard so many times in the Navy. It pays off.

On the football field it works to a fault. Unfortunately, the officials community is too small of a market to demand many manufacturers cater to our needs. But that aside, the DoD has varying allowances for the nature of member's equipment in garrison. It's hard to find boots that don't say "Belleville" on them, and my last DO always had sunglasses with a giant Wiley-X logo on the side. Even in a deployed environment, way out in the sticks, the Army's grunts and even the snake-eaters types personalize their equipment or customize it a little to make it work better with their bodies. This even includes colors on weapon components (analogous to flags/whistles, etc.) This does include wearing glasses, footwear, or MOLLE attachments that have logos on them. I've never heard of a Specialist getting even a "counseling" session for it. ... Probably also helps that at those places, you almost never seen anyone above O-4.

Point is, while the military example on the surface (for planned formations) works quite well, once you get into the day-to-day operations, the military example breaks down quicker C-5 in the Med.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Forksref

Personally, I like all-black because some of the white stripes, zig-zags, whatever, look clownish. Also, a "uniform" means all the crew members should wear the same design. I could maybe go with some white if all of the crew looked like a team.

Uniform? Team? How many teams have you seen wear all the players were wearing the same shoes?

Officials wear different belts, different styles of shirts, pants, different Northwestern style socks. Some wear lanyards, other finger whistles, different types of flags, bean bags and down indicators.

Personally, I don't think it matters whether two officials has a Nike Swoosh on their shoes while the three others have the Reebok stripes. It's just black and white. As I said, I've purchased a pair of the Zig Magistrate shoes. While I'm not crazy about the white sole, they shoes feel great!

To each his own.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

All black shoes is an old, archaic rule that needs to go away for all officials. Nobody cares what shoes an official is wearing, except officials.

I totally agree. And my crew for the State Finals last year wore the Adidas version of shoe that was common in the "Alliance" (Group that assigns the Big Ten, MAC and MVC) at the college ranks and was worn often. Not a single person said a word to us about what shoes we wore or even complained that we were not following NF or IHSA procedures. I am starting not to care one bit about what color the shoes have on them and I am a little old school too.

Peace

[HLin NC]

After yesterday I can recommend to NOT wear any Air Max styles from Nike, at least during a extreme heat wave . We were on turf in a passing league tourney and one of the guys on the crew had a pair. It got up to 114 on the field at some point. His little air pockets were swelling up in the soles.
He would put ice on the lid of his cooler during breaks and soak his heels.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I totally agree. And my crew for the State Finals last year wore the Adidas version of shoe that was common in the "Alliance" (Group that assigns the Big Ten, MAC and MVC) at the college ranks and was worn often. Not a single person said a word to us about what shoes we wore or even complained that we were not following NF or IHSA procedures. I am starting not to care one bit about what color the shoes have on them and I am a little old school too.

Peace

I like those Adidas Turf Hogs but shyed away from getting them because at the time I only saw collegiate officials wearing them and didn't want to stand out as a poser.

I have a pair of NB 995s that are two years old and holding up well still. I use them for both football and baseball. I'll probably replace them after this football season. I tried on the Reebok Magistrates but they are too narrow on my feet unfortunately.

I do want to try the NB 950s but not thrilled about the MLB logos on them for football.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I like those Adidas Turf Hogs but shyed away from getting them because at the time I only saw collegiate officials wearing them and didn't want to stand out as a poser.

Well I was given my shoes. The "Alliance" gave guys working D3 their shoes for free and they did not fit my crew chief, so I took his. I loved them and wore them most of the season. I also work college football so those were the shoes that most wore. Sometimes you have to wear what feels good to you and not everything is for another motive, especially when it comes to shoes.

Peace