Documentation on A.S.A. Umpire Dress Code
 

I've looked high and low, emailed and called ASA officials and have yet to get an answer other than "it's just a known fact". After seeing some of the items worn a weekend or two ago, I would say that it's not that well known.

Where can I find written documentation of the official ASA Umpire dress code for championship play?

I'm looking for information on Indiana but anything would be great.

ASA Rule 10-5.

But, you should also check with your state commissioner and your local umpire association.

Have you checked with your Indiana UIC?


and not to open a can of worms... but is there something you wear/want to wear that you have been told you cant wear in championship play?

Ha! That pretty much spells it out.

"High and low" indeed.

Dangit!! I knew as soon as I posted this that I had read it in the 2008 book and was just overlooking it in the 2009. Lookin' dumb again? :(


and to answer one of the questions above, it's not something that I want to wear, it's things that I don't want to see. I do wish that it mandated the western cut pockets though, I hate seeing the pocket liners of "business casual" slacks.

The mandate to wear ASA Properties pants (which would result in western cut pockets) only applies to ASA Nationals. Now if your UIC or Commissioner (you are in Indiana, right, where he makes all the uniform sales??) mandated that for your local Championship Play, that would be something else.

However, as long as it's an option, I would suggest wearing the ASA pants, regardless of the level of play. Some may disagree, but I feel it reflects more positively upon you as an umpire to show up in a crisp and proper uniform.

Yes, I wear the ASA Fechheimer pants when calling the local coed C league. The majority of them don't realize I'm doing it, but there may be that one person who spots it and appreciates it.

Treat every game you call as though it's the best level around.

Absolutely!! In our local association, we wear only ASA uniforms, no local patches, no local exceptions. I will allow new umpires to start with cheaper pants, but as soon as they buy a "next" pair, it is expected to be the right ones. We are "tournament dress" in all our local ball; and the teams recognize the professionalism and pride it demonstrates.

I'll admit that for many years, I was a young, slouch-a$$ umpire. Didn't go to the rule clinics, didn't always do what I was supposed to. I thought I knew it all. You vets all know the type. Then a lightbulb went off in my head, and I realized why I was having so many problems.

So for the past 4 or 5 years, I've made it a point to pick a few things to improve upon every season. Last year, one of those items was my appearance. I shaved more frequently. I polished my shoes nightly. My uniform was 100% ASA with no exceptions.

Last year, I had significantly fewer troubles than any other year in the past.

I'm in agreement with everything that's been said. --duh--

My next step is to email Wayne and see if he has anything mandated... specifically the Fechheimer pants and...(This next part should clue those of you slow pitch guys that were at the Nat. School in Bloomington IN who I am and what I'm talking about)...the shoes with ugly white logos/stripes on them.

From the ASA 10.5:

2 things...

Is this interpreted that the new long sleeve ASA polo shirts are not allowed in championship play? That's the stance we've taken in Seattle Metro.

Nitpicky, but doesn't this require the umpire to wear a jacket? The following line about tee-shirts states that they're optional... but it doesn't say that the jacket is optional.

Just stirring the pot a bit. :)

Might be OK to require a jacket in Seattle, but if you did it in Tallahassee in July or August you'd need three crews per game. :cool: So go stir your own pot!

I would say that technically, it does. However, I don't think that section has been revised since the polo shirts' introduction, and the long-sleeved polo shirts were introduced afterward.

Also, not everything that ASA sells is approved equipment (sadly). They sell the powder blue shirts and the navy hats without the ASA log on them, for example.


Don't think you'll find too many UICs enforcing that one on a hot summer tournament day. ;)

Pot is thus stirred!

Just a note, and I'm sure it is will be viewed by some as biased, but IMO, ASA's Fechheimer pants are pretty high quality and competitively priced.

I have yet to have a pair last less than 5 years and I do wear them off the field as well as on.

Generally-speaking, I agree with the above statement. I've had shirts last 4 or 5 years, shorts last 3 years (and believe me, they take much abuse). Though I only purchased my first pair of the Fechheimer pants last year, I can definitely tell that these pants will last. $45 for the base pants is a bit steep, but considering how long they'll last, I'm willing to shell the bucks.

Not to mention the fact that if I want to call another National, I don't have much of a choice. ;)

Compared to Sears' Flex slacks, yeah. Compared to made-for-baseball/softball uniform slacks, I don't think they are that expensive..

Mine fade badly (heather gray) long before they wear out.

If "fading" is defined as turning a sweet shade of pink.. yep mine too..

Yeah, that's it.

If you look at the letter from our UIC it states the dress code for Indiana. Here is that section copied:

"The proper "shorts" uniform for slow pitch is: (1) navy blue coaches style shorts with belt loops for ball bag; (2) white sox with "ASA" logo on them; (3) ASA powder blue pullover; (4) black - shined shoes; and (5) clean ASA fitted hat with the American Flag. We have voted to continue wearing the navy blue pants (long for fast pitch and long or short for slow pitch) and powder blue pullover for our State Tourneys in 2009. If you work a National, your UIC will let you know the dress code."

And don't get me started talking about official fleck pants. I wear them, that's all I own, but at my national there was no pant inspection prior to starting the games :) Even flecks that are 20 years old will not look very good, so mandating pants still doesn't take out the cheap guys/gals that wear things WAY beyond their useful life, but it does help get it a little more regulated.

BTW I was at the Bloomington NUS too!

I must say that I appreciate the fact that your state UIC was clear about not only the style of uniform, but the cleanliness of it as well. I can't tell you how many dirty uniforms I've seen. Just a waste...

As for last year's Nationals, the ASA office ran out of the Fechheimer pants, and they alerted the tourney UICs to this fact. At the National I went to, our UIC repeated this issue to us, and we were told we would not be dinged on our evals for not having those specific Fechheimer pants.

Fixed it for you. Unless you consider faded heather gray (i.e. pink) to be looking good.

Are you kidding me!? Have the letter right here, and there it is in black and white!

btw... I knew you were there, I was in line right behind you in the 3b mechanics drill Sunday morning. (I'm one of those "slow pitch only" guys)

Well I apologize, if you were behind me you probably couldn't see a darn thing during that drill! :eek:

And I'm one of those "Fast Pitch only" guys so together we even out!!! :D