Nit-Picky question on uniforms

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by WestMichBlue

WMB, you can stop reading this response, now. I will probably just annoy you.

Forget it Tom, you know that I am not going to stay home on this one.

I knew that! I was just tweaking a little bit!

On some of the points you raised.

I believe I stated clearly that the ridiculous enforcement situation is a state deal (but not just MN; I linked to an aritcle, I believe from IL a year or so ago where a state championship was voided due to a uniform violation; I recall one from WI within the last year or 2 also; I recall another - don't remember the state - may be IL, WI, MN, I forget - where a kid had her track and field state championship, and if memory servers, her school's team championship voided due to an after-the-fact protest about the color of her bra, that only became "visible" through her jersey after the heat of the day took its effect). These kinds of rulings are absurd, not rare, and not isolated to one state. NFHS should act to put a stop to it, IMO.

In all cases, these things are decided by state officials, not game or event officials (aka umpires).

The overspecifying has to do with reason. There is a reason ASA wants their logo on the hat. There is a reason my state's ASA association wants their logo on my shirt. Fine. OTOH, if I wear a jacket, it only has to be navy blue. Logo or no logo, doesn't matter. A logo is a trademarked item. I can't just go to the local craft store and buy any ol' iron on letters and make my own ASA logoed hat.

Jersey numbers are not logos. The essential characteristic of a jersey number is that it be visible and legible.

What is the reason for the 1/4" maximum border that is then ignored? Why are shadowed borders illegal? Because the rule writers did not think of them? That is the problem with overspecification. Shadow borders to not make the number less legible; just the opposite. So why are they illegal? Just because they are, apparently.

Instead of constantly trying to stay up to date with teen age girls' sense of fashion, NFHS would do better to specify only the essential characteristics of the uniform and leave the rest alone. If they keep it to the essential, there is no reason for constant updates, since by definition, everything specified is essential. JMO.

And, I do have a problem with forcing a school to buy new uniforms because of a technical, don't matter to no one no how except those looking for a gotcha, violation. So what if the jersey numbers have a shadow instead of a 1/4" border?