Official Gear.com changes
 

Just noticed that ASA has updated the Official Gear website - not only are they now offering some unis for other sports, they actually are now offering - GASP- ASA flex fit base caps!! :eek: Its only mesh six stitch base caps, but its a start! :D Can 'regular' plate and base caps be far behind?? Stay tuned folks!

I wonder how that will impact the uniforms at Nationals. Will those be accepted, or will we still need to wear fitted caps?

You think they will look inside the caps to see if they are fitted?

A lot of the fashion advice giving by the various associations are needed in order to A) have some uniformity among officials without having to constantly call each other before games, and B) keep some of the less well-dressed from completely looking like slobs.

But it seems every association has 2-3 items that they insist on for sheer fashion snobbery. Fitted vs flex-fit hats is one of those for ASA. It doesn't really matter. The only people it matters to are people who are just wanting to invent reasons to decide one official or another is worse than them... aka fashion snobbery.

Had a fellow official get snobby over my football whistle 2 weeks ago. After a good 2-3 minutes of him lording how wonderful his whistle was and how bad mine was, I just said... Can you hear my whistle? He said Yes. I said, Then lets move on, ok?

Rant off. :)

Perfect. Set him up with the left, got him with the right.

Which is exactly what ASA had until they succumbed to the pressure of those poor babies working HS and college games whine about having to have two uniforms.

So, instead of just holding to their uniform, they forced every SP umpire who wore the standard uniform to purchase another couple pair of pants if they wanted to umpire outside of their local association.

Well, the hat difference can be an issue. To start, I have a couple "flex" hats from ASA Merchandise and they do not fit that well. Mine usually come off in short order because the non-adjustable pressure points caused by the elastic give me a helluva headache. I've never had a problem with the fitted hats except the size differences, but i've found that to be an issue with all companies. Instead of returning it, I just sell it to another umpires with a smaller head (which is just about anybody).

However, the issue with any uniform restriction is the common belief of many americans that "they really don't mean that, I'll just do what I would normally do. Those rules don't really apply to me." Anyone who has ever worked/UIC a tournament with a group of "locals" have encountered these types of issues.

I've run into everything from white spots/swooshes on shoes to black stripes across the ASA on the hat to an umpire wearing at least on US flag on every shirt....and this was at a National. I've asked umpires to let me know if they had all the available uniforms and provided a list which included all ASA options with a simple request that they just tell me what they do not have. This was 4-5 weeks in advance (maybe more). Received no responses concerning the uniform.

When no one responded, I stated that we will use both uniforms including Navy over grey. Still zero replies indicating any issues with the uniforms listed. And when I went to discuss uniforms at the tournament clinic, about four umpires raised their hands and said they didn't have grey pants. Asked them if they got my request for information. They did. I asked why the didn't tell me about the lack of greys and just got shrugged shoulders and a blank look. So, I was relegated to the powder over navy, which isn't a problem for me. Meanwhile, I have another umpire wanting to know what he is going to do with the navy blue shirts he purchased expressly for that tournament. I just pointed him in the direction of the guys who did not raise their hand when asked.

I've seen an umpire blow off an assignment on the Championship Game of a Major national with an excuse of "the local Parks and Rec dept" put a game cancellation message on, so I didn't think anyone would play. And this in spite of being told all decisions would be made at the field.

Someimes it isn't a matter of snobbery, but gaining a manageable position over something which can turn into a problem.Trust me, you couldn't possibly provide more of a rant when it comes to uniforms. What I really don't understand is why the same people who think umpires should be invisible and unnoticed want to have umpires making fashion statements on the field which multiple shirts, pants, jackets, hats, etc.

I tell ya, IM, I keep forgetting where you are at, but I feel for you!

Around here, we have had very few problems uniform wise. Our assignor a couple of three years back, made the decision - fairly unilaterally, btw, that our local group would be going strictly to gray slacks. Surprisingly, very few complained, and all complied. HOWEVER, we have the problem that in May, 90% of us have some kind of school game, and the NY high school mandates navy slacks, so we had to amend that to navy for 6 pm weekday games for the month of May. (However, there is much scuttlebutt going around that NY hs will be - finally- going to gray slacks very soon.) The same is now applying to the navy tops - our assignor is seriously considering mandating the navy tops also.

But as far as communicating is concerned, this summer I had the privilege of working the opening week of a brand new complex in the Cooperstown area. A couple of days before we supposed to be there, the UIC had sent out the usual pre-tournament schedule/ instructions on finding the place/ finding the lodging email. I took it upon myself to email all the guys working the tournament , basically saying, 'Who here has gray, lets make gray the de facto uniform slacks for the tournament/but still bring your navy..' I literally received return emails from ALL of them within a few hours enthusiastically endorsing the idea. Still had wear the navy once when working with a local that the UIC had to pull in to fill the schedule, but otherwise we all looked real sharp for these people for their first tournament.

Our assignor also had to crack down on a guy who owns a sports uniform/outfitting business who made his 'own' ASA hats and shirts in his shop. You absolutely could tell the difference.....uniform is uniform.....

and if want anal - try doing volleyball.....

Personally, I prefer the powder over navy. Always have and have not been secretive about it. I think the grey is terribly unforgiving and you will need more pairs of pants at any tournament.

However, at this point, I really don't care, I just wish they would pick a uniform and stick with it. We don't need two, three, four or more combinations.

Wait a minute......I would have a problem with navy over navy, that is just outright ugly.

I just want one uniform for ASA, period. I don't care if it's navy vs. heather grey slacks, or powder vs. navy shirts. Just one uniform, please.

I'll be honest here, I lost money doing this National. 3 pairs of heather grey Fechheimers (on top of the 3 I already owned), a new hat (which is now ruined), two new heather grey ball bags (my choice) and a brand new belt, and I only called 8 games.

Do not take my statement as one of disappointment or criticism of ASA. I don't go to a National with the intention of making money. I go with the intention of doing my best for my local association, my UIC and ASA as a whole. I just wish I didn't have to have an entire section of my closet dedicated to doing so, and I'm sure my financial advisor (read: my wife) wishes the same. Each UIC has different uniform requirements at their Nationals, and that's their prerogative. Whatever they decide, I make sure I have it as soon as possible to beat the rush. But with 4 different possible combinations of uniforms, it gets pretty expensive.

My silver lining is that I know that none of my equipment will go to waste, as I make sure I dress the same when calling local games as I do a National. The players and the leagues for which I call deserve an umpire who respects himself, the profession, and the game. Showing up in navy or grey pants off the clearance rack at Walmart does not convey the same respect. And on that note, in my opinion, Fechheimer makes some damn fine pants. I've called hundreds of games in them, and they've not given me any problems. Even the shirts, when properly maintained, will last. Some of my shirts are 3 or 4 years old, and considering I call 200-250 games per year, that's a decent amount of mileage. I've certainly gotten my money's worth from them.

So no, I'm not stylish out there, but I'm not out there to pick up chicks. I'm there to call ball.

Quit right, however I've never used my whistle in a FP-game. I use it only for rugby;)

For what the uniform-problems may be, overhere we (FP and baseball umpires) get our uniforms from the federation. The tricky part is that we get new uniforms every two/three years. So I have now three sets (plate an base) uniforms that I can't use anymore. Everytime the federation send us new ones the collour and design are complety different. Then the softball and baseball umpires don't want to look the same, so everytime there's a discussion going on how we can have the same uniform and still look different. Mostly it's in diferent collour of pants and the T-shirts underneath... (Oh yeah, in Europe mostly the national federations have baseball and softball in one. In France it's baseball, softball and cricket in one federation.)

Let's just go back to the old days and wear the "postal worker blue" Elbeco shirts with the old badge style ASA Umpire patch on the left sleeve.

On second thought maybe not such a good idea. Somebody at ASA Official Gear will see it as an opportunity to market ASA "throwback" umpire shirts.;)

I have two in my closet still! :D

I believe I still have four!

Sheesh, I only kept one for nostalgia's sake...

You mean that a six stitch isn't a regular plate cap???? :eek:

My 6-stitch is the cleanest cap in my bag. 5 years old and worn about 5 times. And the only reason it's not 10 or more years old is because I gave one away 5 years ago when partner's (BU) was not presentable.

Only time I wear it is when I'm asked to do a game I wasn't scheduled for and can't get home. I keep 1 uniform in the car year round (washing periodically, obviously) and the 6-stitcher is the hat that stays there.

As someone who has just two season into his second hitch with ASA (after a 10 year absence) and registered in an area that is not a big into ASA; I'm clearly in the dark about the proper wearing of a 6 stich ASA cap.
Could you, Skahtboi, or anyone else bring me up to speed?
Thnx

There really isn't anything to bring you up to speed about. The six stitch, also referred to by some as the combo, is a hat with a slightly longer bill than the standard plate cap (4 stitch), and a slightly shorter bill than the standard field cap (8 stitch).

My own personal preference when working the plate is to use the 6 rather than the 4 stitch, simply because I think it looks better. I own one 4 stitch, and it has probably been used a half dozen times at best. If you look in my hat bag, you will see nothing but 6 and 8 stitch hats, because those are my preference, nothing more.

However, there are some folks who simply buy the six stitch hats to use in both the field and the behind the plate, to save them money on hats, I presume. In most areas, there is nothing wrong with this, that I know of. (I have never heard of anyone getting a ding on their eval because of wearing a six stitcher at either position.)

ASA, as an organization, recognizes all of their hats as "official," though your local UIC may have his own beliefs about what constitutes an official uniform.

Wear 8-stitch hats ONLY. FP or SP, doesn't make any difference, it is not an issue, just learn how to remove the mask.;)

I've always used only the ASA 6 stich for both the plate and an 8 stich the bases...never was a big fan of the 4 stich.

I usually use a 6 stitch on the plate, 8 stitch on the bases. I have a 4 stitch around here somewhere that I only bought because they guy selling ASA gear at one tournament was out of 6 stitch hats. Only use it occassionally (on the plate) if it happens to be in my car and the 6 stitch got especially sweat soaked in earlier games.

One tourney earlier this year, after doing a game I went to my car to change. Took off my plate gear and was changing to do the bases. It wasn't until I went to grab my 8 stitch hat that I realized I had been wearing in the first game! Had absolutely no issues with the hat coming off with the mask or the bill hanging up in the bars. So it can be done!

On the "flex fit" hats...I bought one a few years ago (not the ASA brand) and hated it. Bought it on-line, so didn't have a chance to try it on first. Even though it was supposed to be the equivilant size (M/L) to fit my given hat size, the thing was so huge that if I simply leaned forward it would fall off my head! No way in the world would it stay on while taking off a mask and it had such huge gaps at the sides that it would look absolutely goofy as a base hat. Never wore the thing after I tried it on one time. I guess if you got one that fit right it might be okay.

I always took the ASA directive to wear "fitted" hats as meaning don't wear "adjustable" hats- the kind that have an adjustable band in the back and a big "hole" there. A properly fitted "flex fit" hat wouldn't be regarded the same as an "adjustable" hat. You want a fitted hat? I'd say a flex hat is a fitted hat- as long as you wear a small, medium or large!

If they made a 10 or 12 stitch some would tell us they can wear it under their masks without a problem. WHOOPEE. :) Probably could also wear a large straw hat under the mask (if that was part of the official uniform) under there too without a problem. Dave

Hopefully you remember to change hats between games, so that sweaty hat you used on the plate (at least in FP) doesn't look so bad when you start your field game! :cool:

Hey, what can I say. I learned how to remove a mask when they were made of cast iron. Between the light weight of today's masks and the slick hat material, getting the mask off isn't that big a deal.


I wear navy hats, not heather grey :rolleyes:. I also do not "polish" the pads, so the hat isn't in that bad a shape when done. If it is, yeah, I change it out just as I would any other piece of apparel that was not in acceptable shape to start a game.

It's not an "improper vs proper" thing. It's a preference thing. And sometimes a local thing with your UIC or scheduler. MY preference is 8 in the field, 4 at the plate. And in my area, that preference is common. But definitely not universal.

For those who don't like the looks of the 4 stitch, at least it looks better than the beanie. Dave

Nah, the beanies look great..........with a tie :eek:

Oh...I forget. You are from one of those states that has seasonal changes. Here, in Texas, you would need to change that hat anytime from April through October. (And many times well into November!)

And I wouldn't have it any other way

Geez, I am not from Delaware but Nebraska and we even have season changes. If someone had candy or pie to eat every day, wouldn't it get boring. Give me change any day. It makes me appreciate the other seasons when I get bored with the current one. 95 degrees the other afternoon, got down to 44 degrees last night. High of 70 today. Dave

got news for you - my first school game was April 1. We have one mens league working weekends though October, fall ball for hs kids on Sunday (again through Oct), and a complex that will have scrimmages every weekend, plus a tournament in late October, plus they will be having 6 on 6 indoor FP all winter, PLUS a slow pitch league....

It is going to be interesting wearing boots/heavy winter clothing to the site, then changing into my ASA uniform/gear..

and yes...give me the changes.....nothing like fall in upstate NY.

I have never sweat so much in my life. Nothing like having all of my football gear and uniforms completely soaked with sweat after a particularly humid evening.

I only wear the 6 stitch...plate and bases.

Bought a couple of the flex fit plain blue hats for HS and College a few years ago when they came out...love 'em!

Glad to hear ASA is following suit with the flex fit!

Ahhh yes the beanie. When I first started back in '69, beanies were the only thing out there at the time. I seem o remember our local association getting us combos sometime in the mid 70's.
If you've never worn one, you just don't know what you're missing.:rolleyes:

its about time with the flex fit caps - ordering caps is a crap shoot .... I have 7 1/4 that are smaller than 7 1/8