You start the game with your partner, it is rainy, overcast and the temperature is in the 50's. In the middle of the game, the sun comes out and the temperature soars into the 80's. The PU signals to his partner that it is to warm too continue to wear their blue jackets. His partner agrees that it is very warm but
does not want to take his jacket off. What is the accepted procedure, as governed by NFHS, for the appearance of the officials?

WinterWillie,
Obviously, a crew should look alike, but....
Doesn't matter.
You were both proper.
<LI>Maybe he wanted you to suffer.
<LI>Maybe he wasn't properly attired under the jacket.
<LI>Maybe his jacket was hiding something.
You shouldn't get gigged for a 30 degree temperature swing.

mick

Uniforms
 

<LI>Does it state anywhere in NFHS rules that you have to mirror your partner in appearance? Reference?

"Does it state anywhere in NFHS rules that you have to mirror your partner in appearance? Reference?"

Not in the NFHS book (See 10.4 for uniform/equipment requirements). Our State Association, in the Officials Guideline, requires matching uniforms .

WMB

As I am sure most associations require. However, i think in an unusual circumstance like this, it would have been okay for one to call without his jacket.

I think in general you both need to wear the same color. Like both navy blue shirts. I don't have a problem with the field umpire wearing a navy windbreaker while the plate umpire wears a similarly colored shirt.

It surely would not look right if the plate umpire removed his jacket to reveal a red shirt, or light blue, or ....

Same team... same color.

Our chapter here allows one to wear a jacket and one to wear a shirt. They are a little anal about wearing a long sleeved white shirt under the powder blue. If you need a little more protection against the cold, wear the jacket. Absolutely no long sleeved shirts, unless it's under the jacket.

I concur. When I work the plate I work up quite
a bit of heat and typically do not need a jacket
down here. If my BU feels chilled and wants to
wear a jacket-- go ahead !!
The long sleeve undershirt/sweatshirt under the
short sleeved umpire shirt looks-----
HORRIBLE !!! Wear a jacket if you are cold.

Yuck. A long sleeved shirt under a short sleeve. It looks bad in my opinion. Really, I think it depends on where I'll be working that game. If I'm the PU on a chilly day, I usually wear a long sleeve uniform shirt. If I'm a BU, I'll wear a jacket. A jacket seems a bit much behind the dish for me.

It is a mystery to me how a person who's job is to enforce the rules believes the rules don't also apply to them.

Sure, there have been times when circumstances would result in a non-standard uniform, but to do it intentionally just because you wanna? I don't get it.

In PA, for HS, the directive we were given is that all umpires should dress alike. However, the PU can wear a shirt while BU (or BUs) wear jackets. If there is more than one BU, then they all must wear jackets.