My New Uniform Dilemma

[Footballer]

So I did a tournament last weekend. Wore my long sleeve gold. Threw it into the laundry. Got it out and ink spots everywhere ... I left my pen in my pocket. Bad. Very bad.

Because my season is now basically over, this is OK. And of course we now have the new uniform design too.

So, here's the thing. I'm thinking about going ahead and buying the new gold design - both short and long. I'll keep the old short gold.

But I'm worried about mis-matching with most of my colleagues in games - when wearing gold.

And lord knows when OSI can actually fill the order, so in the mean time, should I buy a cheapo long sleeve gold? Worse case scenario, I have my rain shirt! Ha ha.

What do you think?

[campton]

If you have the new one, there is no problem with mis-matching. Most notably, IMO is that you shouldnt have to use your long sleeve too often in the upcoming spring season. If you dont match with a long sleeve jersey i see no big deal. I could care less, half the people around here dont have them.

[njref]

If you have the new one, there is no problem with mis-matching. Most notably, IMO is that you shouldnt have to use your long sleeve too often in the upcoming spring season. If you dont match with a long sleeve jersey i see no big deal. I could care less, half the people around here dont have them.

This is good advice. Long gold is usually the 4th purchase here, after short gold, black and red, and many refs never get that far. So you can either buy the new long gold and wear it whenever (don't worry about matching), or wait until a cheaper version than OSI is available. I would not buy short gold until my old one wears out or gets ink on it.

[hefftheref]

So, if im at state, and I have the new kit, and my crew is wearing the old, will I be docked on an assesment?

[falcon.7]

So, if im at state, and I have the new kit, and my crew is wearing the old, will I be docked on an assesment?

If you get docked for that on an assessment, throw it away, because the rest of it's all crap. Any assessor who, at the state level, really takes off points for mismatched uniforms should not be believed in anything he says. Either that or you were just that good and he had to knock you for something.

I once had an assessor ream us out for two guys having 3 strips with the OSI logo and one having 3 stripes without the OSI logo. Something about being "unprofessional" and "the players pick up on that". The sheet of paper didn't even make it to the car.

[campton]

So, if im at state, and I have the new kit, and my crew is wearing the old, will I be docked on an assessment?


I do believe that you cannot be docked for it. many state associates have put out formal memos stating that a mismatch is inevitable with the new kits coming. If i were docked for it, i would show the assessor the memo then demand my fee back!

[mvgary]

Survival tip - spray hairspray on ink spots and rub with white cloth, then throw in washer. Depending on stains you may have to repeat a few times. Use pencils next time.

[NHRef]

Here's what I guess is going to happen this spring:

- current/older refs will NOT have the new look
- brand new refs fresh out of grade 8/9 class will have the new look

Fans/Coaches won't really care or even notice.

[hefftheref]

Here's what I guess is going to happen this spring:

- current/older refs will NOT have the new look
- brand new refs fresh out of grade 8/9 class will have the new look

Fans/Coaches won't really care or even notice.

-referees that jump to buy everything new OSI sells will have the new look.

(like myself) :o

[intechpc]

I do believe that you cannot be docked for it. many state associates have put out formal memos stating that a mismatch is inevitable with the new kits coming. If i were docked for it, i would show the assessor the memo then demand my fee back!

States, hell there's a memo from USSF on this and I'd have no problem showing that to the assessor if he wanted to dock me for that.

[DWickham]

If you don't already own one, now may be a good time to buy the rain shirt. It will match the old gold longsleeve. It's terrific in the wind and cold.

Dennis

[campbed]

If you don't already own one, now may be a good time to buy the rain shirt. It will match the old gold longsleeve. It's terrific in the wind and cold.

Dennis

This post confuses me.

Dennis, do you have some financial interest in OSI?

I WAS planning on purchasing a rain shirt over the winter to prepare for our first week of March tour in NH (why we play in March in NH is a diff topic...). Now I plan on waiting until the new version comes out to spend my money.

Why exactly is NOW (pre-new version) a good time? Seems a waste of money to me, and a way to help OSI clear their out of date inventory.

[refontherun]

I will go ahead and get the green long and short sleeve. Also, yellow ls and ss since those are getting sun-faded from over use in the rec season/tournaments and will be the next to need replacing. With special pricing for the holidays, it will be a little over $200 when you throw in a pair of shorts. Not to mention 4 free pairs of socks. The other colors can wait until they need replacing. By that time, Olympus or someone should come out with a cheaper version of the new style. From everything I've heard, there is at least a two year wear out period on the old uniforms.

Even though I disagree with the OSI monopoly (they even have a link to the OSI website on the USSF webpage), I still think it is prudent to convert to the new uniforms when it is practical and financially feasible for each individual to do so.

[hefftheref]

I will go ahead and get the green long and short sleeve. Also, yellow ls and ss since those are getting sun-faded from over use in the rec season/tournaments and will be the next to need replacing. With special pricing for the holidays, it will be a little over $200 when you throw in a pair of shorts. Not to mention 4 free pairs of socks. The other colors can wait until they need replacing. By that time, Olympus or someone should come out with a cheaper version of the new style. From everything I've heard, there is at least a two year wear out period on the old uniforms.

Even though I disagree with the OSI monopoly (they even have a link to the OSI website on the USSF webpage), I still think it is prudent to convert to the new uniforms when it is practical and financially feasible for each individual to do so.

i totally agree with you. unless one is doing MLS or equivalent level games, there is no need to go out and buy all 10 jerseys right away. i think we should all get green, and then replace the ones that NEED replacing (if financially able)

i ordered my complete kit (they were in need of replacing) the day they were announced, and got a call from OSI last night. They have the first shipment in stock, and will arrive next week.

[njref]

[QUOTE=hefftheref;13411489]i totally agree with you. unless one is doing MLS or equivalent level games, there is no need to go out and buy all 10 jerseys right away. i think we should all get green, and then replace the ones that NEED replacing (if financially able)

***QUOTE]

I think maybe 1% of us should buy green and the other 99% of us who have no possible use for a 5th color should follow the direction set by North Carolina and forget that green is even allowed. If you buy green without really needing it, you are just encouraging this ridiculous churning of referee uniforms.

[hefftheref]

I think maybe 1% of us should buy green and the other 99% of us who have no possible use for a 5th color should follow the direction set by North Carolina and forget that green is even allowed. If you buy green without really needing it, you are just encouraging this ridiculous churning of referee uniforms.

i think the so called 99% of you should stop whining, and buy the freaking jersey.

its part of the job, and if you dont want to keep up with jerseys, then the answer is quite simple.

STOP REFEREEING.

[campton]

i think the so called 99% of you should stop whining, and buy the freaking jersey.

its part of the job, and if you dont want to keep up with jerseys, then the answer is quite simple.

STOP REFEREEING.


Easy there....:). What i think he is getting at above is that not all referees have a use for 5 kits. I know if i wasn't planning on upgrading i wouldn't get the new colors.

[njref]

i think the so called 99% of you should stop whining, and buy the freaking jersey.

its part of the job, and if you dont want to keep up with jerseys, then the answer is quite simple.

STOP REFEREEING.

So anyone who doesn't run right out and buy a green jersey (or two?) should stop refereeing? Great idea, that should eliminate +90% of the referees in this country. But being such a superstar, I am sure that you will pick up the slack.

Compare the published comments of the North Carolina State Referee Administrator:

"There is NO NEED to purchase the new green uniform unless you are a National or State Referee who work professional games. Why? You may work with National Referees from other states who will want to flaunt their new green uniform.

For all referees NOT working professional matches, I strongly recommend that they do NOT buy the green uniform.

I also recommend that North Carolina National and State referees who work pro matches, do NOT wear their green uniforms in other matches. If they do, they are, in effect, forcing younger officials to have to go buy a new green uniform in order to match the referee's. Not nice."

[hefftheref]

So anyone who doesn't run right out and buy a green jersey (or two?) should stop refereeing? Great idea, that should eliminate +90% of the referees in this country. But being such a superstar, I am sure that you will pick up the slack.

Compare the published comments of the North Carolina State Referee Administrator:

"There is NO NEED to purchase the new green uniform unless you are a National or State Referee who work professional games. Why? You may work with National Referees from other states who will want to flaunt their new green uniform.

For all referees NOT working professional matches, I strongly recommend that they do NOT buy the green uniform.

I also recommend that North Carolina National and State referees who work pro matches, do NOT wear their green uniforms in other matches. If they do, they are, in effect, forcing younger officials to have to go buy a new green uniform in order to match the referee's. Not nice."

If you want to keep doing better and better games, the new color is necessary. However, if all you do is local games, I suppose a new jersey may be overkill. Just stop whining!

If I could cover all the games, because I AM such a big shot, believe me I would. :rolleyes:

[KidRef]

If you want to keep doing better and better games, the new color is necessary. However, if all you do is local games, I suppose a new jersey may be overkill. Just stop whining!

If I could cover all the games, because I AM such a big shot, believe me I would. :rolleyes:

As a high level referee who works many pro games, I am in a position where I unfortunately have to buy the new jerseys and socks. However, I would never force the rest of my team in non-professional games to purchase a green jersey, and would not buy one if I was not doing top level games or tournaments. The need is not there and the cost is prohibitive, especially for most lower level referees.

Hefftheref, if you are not going to be going to regionals or have a chance on working pro games, save your money for a later time. I can't imagine most of my fellow other upper level referees wanting to "flaunt" our green jerseys. We're all just as disgruntled as many of the others on the board, not because of the extra outlay but because the design is unflattering, unimaginative, and not athletic looking at all.

Let's remember all to keep a civil tone here!