If you’ve been officiating for a while you’ve no doubt arrived at your own preferences and opinions about the gear you wear, but I’d like to share some thoughts with newer officials who have yet to acquire various uniform components. Again, these are my opinions. YMMV.
Here is the list of required Equipment and Uniform
Hats: I have thinner one for warm weather and another for cold – usually a wool mix. They get crusted with salty sweat lines. Oxyclean and a brush helps keep them looking good. If you’re dismayed by your cap getting crumpled during transport/storage, you can get a “cage” that keeps it from getting smashed.
Jerseys: The sublimated (printed) shirts look sharp – when they’re new. But they can fade with washing and start looking reddish and tacky. Try Woolite. And cold water wash. The poly woven shirts can be a little warmer, but they won’t fade. It can be a pain to sew the flag and USAL patch on, but tailor shops and laundries can do it for you. Some can be pricey, so ask around to find a decent price.
Weatherbeaters are jerseys with a breathable, waterproof, windproof liner. They can be awesome. They can also be hot as hell. I don’t wear one unless the temperature is below 30 degrees, especially if the crew is wearing coats. More often than not, my torso is a swamp when I wear one, but I tend to put off a lot of heat. Lots of guys swear by these, even at higher temps.
Shorts: Be thankful that we aren’t still wearing white shorts! Black shorts are available everywhere. I’ve snagged them at WalMart and Costco for around $15. My recommendation would be to avoid cotton. It fades, it distorts, it wrinkles, it dries slowly. Go with poly – you won’t regret it!
Long Pants: This is a tough one. Long pants can be expensive. I’ve used UnderArmour golf pants, which are great – they flex, they shed water, they block wind. But they are also $80 or so. I’ve also used Smitty pants, which are thin, thin, thin. But, if you run hot, they’re good down to 40 degrees or so, and then you can add long thermals for temps below that.
Belt: I started out using a leather belt from one of the supply houses, but have since changed to a poly tactical-web-type. I prefer these for a few reasons. First, if they get wet they won’t stretch, warp, leech dye, or get cracked. Second, they are infinitely adjustable, so you never have to choose between two holes/notches that are either too tight or too loose. Lastly, they’re inexpensive. You can get a pair of them for about $15 on Amazon. (Go for 1-1/2”. Helps keep your timer from flopping too much.)
Shoes: Everyone is different here. I’m kind of old school and like leather shoes that I can shine. Believe me, some coaches take notice of this, especially ex-military, and view it as a sign of respect, that the game is worthy of your effort to look the part.
Other guys go for light weight and comfort, and often that means fabric uppers. These definitely require less maintenance. I can’t attest to their durability.
Another thing to consider is insoles. At one point I was experiencing knee, shin and ankle issues. I saw a podiatrist, who prescribed full-length inserts (which weren’t cheap), and ever since I haven’t had any issues. I’ve also been able to get more mileage out of my shoes, since the inserts provide the support I need even as the shoe breaks down. There are also products available on the shelf at shoe stores and pharmacies.
Socks: All the guidelines say we aren’t supposed to wear “hidden” socks, and I would agree that ankle socks look more professional. Still, if it’s hot, I say go with whatever. When it’s cold, and pants are long, I have some awesome mid-to-heavyweight Smartwool socks. Unfortunately, the heels aren’t real durable. Look for a brand that has reinforced heels.
Coats: Most of the time I prefer to wear stripes as my top layer. It’s a pain to try to pull flags when wearing a coat. Still, when it’s pouring down rain or the wind is raw a coat is a must. Plus, I know the crew has to have a consensus on uniform, so I will adjust my layers to accommodate. I’ve had a couple reversible black/striped referee coats and prefer the zippered one over snaps. The thing I don’t like is the elastic on the bottom hem. Tends to ride up. A must for me is it needs to shed water. You can always apply waterproofing spray — Atsko Silicone Water-Guard works well and doesn’t discolor the fabric.
Thermal Layers: I use a mock turtleneck whenever the temp is under 50. (Unless I’m working with a fanatic crew chief who wants to wear shorts when it’s 15 degrees and forces the crew to wear short sleeves – aaaagh!) I also have other thin layers, but don’t use them much. As for the lower half, I have 2 options. First are like tights, not very heavy weight, but good for temps in the 30s without a strong wind. The others are heavier compression-type gear that work great for temps under 30, even in gusty conditions. Bottom line: I would rather be hot and swampy than pull a muscle or break off a beloved body part.
Ear muffs, Balaklavas, Halos: If it’s cold and windy, wear something to protect your ears, nose, face. No shame there. There are some balaklavas that are constructed to allow different ways of wearing them. These are great because you can pull it back off your head if you get too hot, all while still covering your neck. Remember that they also need to pull down below your mouth so you can blow a whistle and report fouls. The Halo is a neoprene band that covers your ears. Works pretty well assuming you also have a turtleneck. Mine had a plastic “ridge” that was glued to the forehead area to keep it from slipping. All it did for me was make a crease in my forehead that lasted for several hours, so I just ripped it out.
Gloves: These are actually pretty important. There were times in my early career that I didn’t have them and my hands got so cold that I couldn’t bend them! Bottom line, get some gloves! Lightweight is best, so you can still use a finger whistle and write on your card. I found mine at Costco for about $8. Great investment!
Chemical Hand Warmers: Okay, we’re talking extreme situations here, but there will be times when you will thank me for suggesting these. Seriously.
That’s all I have for now. I’m sure some will disagree on these opinions, so let me hear your take and I’ll update this post.
Play On!
Jon Swain
