Patent Leather Belt

[BHBlue]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

I have both patent leather and regular. I wear the patent leather on dry days when the dust is dominant and the regular ones during rainy/muddy days. I agree that the patent leather is easier to clean - simply wipe off and they are shiny as new. Our college supervisor and HS interpreter allows patent leather so we wear them. I also wear a belt that matches the shoes. I know that if I were to go to an NCAA regional that I'd need to wear the non-patent leather plate shoes.

Good luck with THAT once someone from the Staff comes to evaluate you and your patent leather.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by BHBlue

Good luck with THAT once someone from the Staff comes to evaluate you and your patent leather.

Well one of our umpires got a regional 2 years ago and he wears patent leather - he was told not to bring them to the regionals! He said that the first day, they made everyone put all their equipment on the table and they went through it and tossed what he couldn't use. He got to keep his cup and chest protector! I'm not really worried about it - like I said, my supervisor allows it. To be honest, this past season I only wore them in a couple college games because we had so much rain and I wore my mudders.

[BHBlue]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

Well one of our umpires got a regional 2 years ago and he wears patent leather - he was told not to bring them to the regionals! He said that the first day, they made everyone put all their equipment on the table and they went through it and tossed what he couldn't use. He got to keep his cup and chest protector! I'm not really worried about it - like I said, my supervisor allows it. To be honest, this past season I only wore them in a couple college games because we had so much rain and I wore my mudders.

Fair enough. However, if you have both, why not wear what is approved by the staff? You never know who is in the stands watching you work. Especially if you're on their "watch list".

Don't get me wrong, I wear non-western cut and pleated pants, work in the Gerry Davis, etc. when working youth and men's ball, but I do not in college. Why? Because the people who set the standards say not to. It is that simple to me.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by BHBlue

Fair enough. However, if you have both, why not wear what is approved by the staff? You never know who is in the stands watching you work. Especially if you're on their "watch list".

Don't get me wrong, I wear non-western cut and pleated pants, work in the Gerry Davis, etc. when working youth and men's ball, but I do not in college. Why? Because the people who set the standards say not to. It is that simple to me.

Take that a step further. We all buy new uniform items regularly. I will only buy that which is universally accepted. Yes, I have non-western pants; but I will not buy any more. And, they are the mudders; or worn when I work rec ball. They are the backups. I don't want to be seen by those I work with being anything but the example of what is correct.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

I'm not really worried about it - like I said, my supervisor allows it.

Well then, it sounds as if your NCAA coordinator refuses to comply with the national standard as well as with the NCAA Umpire Improvement Program, and therefore is doing you, and all the NCAA umpires in your area, as well as the NCAA itself a grave disservice.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Well then, it sounds as if your NCAA coordinator refuses to comply with the national standard as well as with the NCAA Umpire Improvement Program, and therefore is doing you, and all the NCAA umpires in your area, as well as the NCAA itself a grave disservice.

OK, so because I wear patent leather shoes I do a disservice to the NCAA? Nice try! To be fair to my supervisor, I've never heard her say it's OK, she's seen me work and never mentioned anything. I know other guys in the same conferences that wear patent leather and one guy even wears a blue mask.

I go out on the field looking freshly pressed and neat every single game. I know guys that go out and never iron a pant or even put a brush to their shoes - but thank God they aren't patent leather. At least they are following protocol!

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

OK, so because I wear patent leather shoes I do a disservice to the NCAA? Nice try! To be fair to my supervisor, I've never heard her say it's OK, she's seen me work and never mentioned anything. I know other guys in the same conferences that wear patent leather and one guy even wears a blue mask.

I go out on the field looking freshly pressed and neat every single game. I know guys that go out and never iron a pant or even put a brush to their shoes - but thank God they aren't patent leather. At least they are following protocol!

You complete missed the entire point of the post.

By "not saying anything" about the patent leather, your supervisor is failing to pass along to you the mandates made by the entities I mentioned in my previous post, therefore not doing as requested by them. Subsequently, the umpires in your area who are working NCAA ball are not getting the information that they should have, the not wearing of patent leather only being a small part of this information. This is exactly how these types of programs begin to break down. This is where the disservice I mention occurs.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

... I know guys that go out and never iron a pant or even put a brush to their shoes - but thank God they aren't patent leather. At least they are following protocol!

To quote you, "nice try."

From the NCAA umpire manual quoted above in this thread:

If the first impression you give people is sloppy, disheveled or overly casual they will assume these character traits for you....

Your uniform is the only thing in umpiring that you can always get 100 percent right. But you cannot get more than 100 percent. Uniform means alike, the same.

If you do something differently with your uniform–wear a patent leather belt or shoes, press your shirt differently–then you are no longer uniform, and instead of the 110 percent you hoped to achieve, you are now down to about 75 percent. ...

Get your uniform to 100 percent. Clean and polished shoes, clean and unwrinkled shirt, clean and pressed pants, clean and blocked hat, and clean, uncracked and polished belt are the requisites of a uniform at 100 percent. Maintain it there.

Seems to me the NCAA put patent leather in the same category as a wrinkled and dirty uniform, didn't they? That is, a uniform that is less than 100%.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

OK, so because I wear patent leather shoes I do a disservice to the NCAA?

Reading is Fundamental... that's NOT what he said.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Remember way back in post #2 of this thread?

Man, now you've done it.

I guess I need to run out and buy a lottery ticket.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Remember way back in post #2 of this thread?

Man, now you've done it.

I guess I need to run out and buy a lottery ticket.

Get me one, too, Mr Lucky Pants. Powerball's up to $245 mil!