Long black pants, white socks

[shrekjr]

I know this has been discussed before, but not this season so here we go again.

We don't get to watch too many games on television in Texas, so I make sure I see them when we do get a chance. Saturday, we saw the Maryland/North Carolina game. I'm still not sure why it was on the Fox-Pacific channel since neither the game nor Texas has anything to do with Pacific, but it was a real lacrosse game so I'm not complaining.

What I am complaining about is the white socks with the long black pants and black shoes. I'll admit we do the same thing here in January and February, but watching the game on tv just looked really bad from a distance when you could see the white socks between the pants and shoes. We try so hard to perfect our mechanics and look professional, but in this case, professional certainly isn't the word I would use to describe the way I think it looks. Feel free to come up several choice words of your own.

[dislaxxic]

"Normal"

"Traditional"

"This is not a nightclub."

"If it's good enough for officials doing a UNC game, why isn't it good enough for Texas?"

"Sheesh!"

"Loosen Up Yer Tightey Whiteys, Ogre."

[SDS416]

Interesting thread. To us players, its a source of entertainment as to identifying the ref that you think has the least chance of ever getting some "action" with a member of the opposite sex. Its something we do while warming up, just to lighten the tension and have some fun. If officials start looking all professional, what are we going to do next??? I mean c'mon...isn't it at least a bit fun, especially when the weather warms up and the middle aged guy with the shirt 2 sizes too small and the coaches shorts that were about the right size in 1980 shows up with a pair of white tube socks pulled virtually up his thigh?

In all seriousness, Under Armour makes some nice black socks that are most comfortable and would fit your fashion needs. Heck my team wears them.

[Snake~eyes]

It would be nice to wear black socks, I agree but I do not have that luxury. I show up to the game dressed, I might need to take off my pants(or put them on) to match my partner. When the weather is close I wear both just for this case. We don't go to a lockeroom in a suit, get dressed in our uniform and then have a nice pregame. Just some thoughts...

[shrekjr]

It would be nice to wear black socks, I agree but I do not have that luxury. I show up to the game dressed, I might need to take off my pants(or put them on) to match my partner. When the weather is close I wear both just for this case. We don't go to a lockeroom in a suit, get dressed in our uniform and then have a nice pregame. Just some thoughts...
I have to agree with Snake, that's a good point. We usually show up at the last minute with everything knowing out partner forgot something. Saw a game just last week when the temperature was 36 degrees, windchill 27, and one of the two guys forgot his long sleeve shirt. They both wore short sleeves. I'm not sure I'm that dedicated to looking alike for a high school game under those circumstances.

[Shorelax]

In our group - ref is required to contact the ump to confirm the uniform. Ref decides on the uniform for the day. Our group requires dark socks with wind pants. If the ref say "bring both - we will make the desicion once we arrive" - I make sure to bring everything. Lots of guys bring extra's. This time of year in maryland you have no idea what the weather is going to do.

If you do not have the required uniform - it will be noted in your game review. The ref submits a game report within 24 hrs.

bad reviews = no chance of being assigned big games, play offs, etc.

[Snake~eyes]

In our group - ref is required to contact the ump to confirm the uniform. Ref decides on the uniform for the day. Our group requires dark socks with wind pants. If the ref say "bring both - we will make the desicion once we arrive" - I make sure to bring everything. Lots of guys bring extra's. This time of year in maryland you have no idea what the weather is going to do.

If you do not have the required uniform - it will be noted in your game review. The ref submits a game report within 24 hrs.

bad reviews = no chance of being assigned big games, play offs, etc.
Our group also contacts eachother before the game to decide on what we're wearing. What association do you belong to in Maryland?

[LaxRef]

I have to agree with Snake, that's a good point. We usually show up at the last minute with everything knowing out partner forgot something. Saw a game just last week when the temperature was 36 degrees, windchill 27, and one of the two guys forgot his long sleeve shirt. They both wore short sleeves. I'm not sure I'm that dedicated to looking alike for a high school game under those circumstances.

I would not freeze because my partner forgot a LS shirt, but then again we don't make the newer high school officials purchase a full kit anyway. They'll often wear a black LS shirt under their short-sleeved jersey. I try to match when possible, but for high school games in cold climates it's not worth killing yourself.

I saw an NCAA game at Ohio State last year where it was about 30 degrees and windy, and the officials wore shorts. I must confess that I didn't understand that decision.

Another uniform comment: there are some officials who insist that either everyone wears mesh or no one does, since everyone is supposed to be dressed the same. However, my understanding is that this started because the original mesh jerseys had different-width stripes from the standard jerseys, so it looked dorky if some guys had narrow-striped standard jerseys and other guys had wide-striped mesh jerseys. Since they're all the same now, there really isn't a good reason why a crew can't mix standard and mesh except a carryover from past days (at least, this is what I've been told).

As to the white socks with black rain pants, I guess I never really thought about it. But if we're supposed to be the fashion police with respect to uniform requirements, who polices the policemen?