After 4 games in two days on a pair of 2 year old Adinovas, my feet have officially filed protest. I know part of this is getting old, but I am officially throwing in the towel on this commitment to "all black" shoes in sports officiating. Over the past few years, in every official assessment I see people occasionally get called out on not having black shoes. For 6 years I have stuck with black shoes, at the expense of my feet aching after games because trying to find a pair of black field shoes that are comfortable on my feet to run in has been an exercise in futility. I'm done. I just ordered a pair of black Adidas running shoes for my turf games. They have white and some gold on the soles. If somebody gives me a hard time about them, I will quietly nod and accept their recommendation, then silently discard it. My official opinion going forward... find shoes that are mostly black but don't ruin your feet. You may not look as professional, but at least you'll be able to work the next day and be effective. If my forward career stalls, so be it. I want to be able to walk when I am 55. And yes, I know you can paint/mark them all black. Honestly, I think shoes look worse when you see polish/paint/marker wearing off. I don't endorse the blue/red/yellow/orange shoes, but this obsession is just silly. Function > appearance.
Seriously, why jeopardize your health (feet issues) for the sake of appearance? I wear black Nike Free and they have plenty of white trim and white swoosh. Comfortable as hell. I know a 4 that wears black Frees with red trim. As long as they are predominantly black, no one really cares. I don't even think it is a question of professionalism. You should be worried about your feet because wearing shit shoes for the sake of appearance is quite short sighted. You'll be fine wearing predominantly black with a color trim. Your health is more important.
I have been fitted. But have you ever tried to find "all black" shoes from adidas, Nike, whoever? adidas has some on their website, but they are full studs, and (1) I don't need full studs and (2) I don't need to pay $150 for shoes that I will only be using on 30-40% of games I work (thanks to field turf being everywhere now). OSI sells shoes from Diadora and some company called Pentagon. I've tried the Diadoras, they don't fit my feet, and I long ago quit trying to wear shoes from obscure manufacturers due to quality issues. I was working a lacrosse game last spring and the guy assessing me, first thing he pointed out was that my Sambas (which, mind you, are not exactly good shoes for running support either, but at least they don't actually hurt my feet) had white stripes on them. I'm not saying some assessor might have a field day with the markings on my shoes... I'm sure I will be criticized for them. I'm just not going to sweat it anymore. Oh no, I'll never make national. Um, I came to that realization about 8 years ago, long before I worried about my shoe color.
Screw the assessment feedback. Nike Free and Adidas running shoes have saved my feet on multiple occasions. I still go studs when I'm AR or the field is wet.
Well Vetshak, make sure you ignore the young bucks or skinny tools. At 6-1, #200 and over 50 years with 150 games a year I could give a crap about the assessor vs. foot health. I literally have 8 different pairs of shoes for different conditions. All based on over pronation need of support and all with different specs. I have shoes for hot turf, cold icy AMs, uneven ground, hard earth, dry Bermuda, wet Bermuda etc etc. I had an assessment on a cold AM. Frost all over very long grass. I wore the leather waterproof Saucony/Spot built studs. Big fat and ugly. But my feet were dry and comfy. We reviewed my assessment at my truck while I was stretching. He asked about my "heavy looking shoes." I pulled out all the choices I had from the pickup tool box and explained each, including warm dry feet that ensured my focus was on the game. He smiled and said, "guess you have it sorted out..." and said nothing more. That said, when I am able, I choose a black upper and white lower to make the feet seem smaller/lighter/faster. Appearance DOES count. This means my Nike Lunarglides...
HA! Did that a few years ago at the Jeff Cup. Had the last game of the weekend on a field they closed first in the tourney. Previous Ref went out for 6 months due to knee injury. No question 0n shoe choice- my Spotbilt Leather waterproof gridstuds. Finished 3 game set with dry, cozy toes. When I found out they were being discontinued I went online and bought the last 5 pairs in my size I could find. The game before I was the AR who started this thread... https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/best-story-of-your-weekend.973112/
The Pentagons really are pretty good, especially if you throw in some Dr. S's gel inserts (as I do in all my shoes). My only beef is that they only go up to size 13 -- which works fine for me in the first match of the day, but not after that. (See my "Bigfoot" thread.) Only 50 clams -- give them a try.
Let's not advance/enforce the MYTH that referee shoes must be all black here. They DO NOT (for USSF). Full stop. Current ATR section 5.1 "... Accordingly, the referee's shoes should be predominantly black, clean, polished, and neatly tied. " This isn't even the main point of the paragraph on shoes! Having shoes allowing you to perform at the speed and skill of the players is the main point they are making. The statement on color is the last sentence of the whole paragraph. Please Mr./Mrs. Assessor, quote me where in the LOTG, ATR, or Guide To Procedures where this MYTH you mention of a requirement for all black shoes is? [Hint: there isn't] For a more practical response to those quoting this MYTH for all black, ask them when they last saw an Regional, MLS, CONCACAF, UEFA, WC, EPL, ..., match with a referee wearing all black. To me (apologies in advance), all black reads less than professional (i.e. older, out of shape, multi-sport happening to be doing soccer today). YMMV on that part. The other points, I'm sticking with. Rant end.
I have 4 pairs of shoes in my shoe bag in my car. I recently went to a running store (not a chain, but a local store) and told the knowledgeable sales clerk what I needed. He came back with a New Balance all black comfortable shoe with support and grip. I don't know the number, but when I get home tonight I will look it up. In my bag I have mundials both indoor and out ad a ratty old pair of boots that I use in the pouring rain so that when it stops I can break out the better shoes. The biggest problems I have are with my ankles.
I went through the same process. This weekend I used My new Brooks Adrenaline GTX (the trail version). Water proof (read water resistant), great support and aggressive outsole. Sunday it was pooring out in Schaumburg, IL, My feet stayed dry(ish) and never lost traction on wet grass and turf. $120 Buckaroos but well worth it. Should last a while too. http://www.brooksrunning.com/on/dem...duct-Select?pid=110102&dwvar_110102_color=635
IllinoisRef, hopefully you didn't get caught in the downpour at the end of the day.... I must have missed you. What field were you on?
I was all over the place both as a ref and as a parent. I did get the early downpour but I was on my way home when the second one came at around 4pm. On my way home I looked at my son as we passed the complex on 355/290, and said "SUCKERS!!!! Lol.
Nice, I lucked out that my 4:20 game went to KFTM. I was going to pick up another but they started without me.... oh well..... my loss
Heh. I also referee lacrosse. I got assessed this summer. A couple of minor tweaks on positioning/responsibility when single side, depending on what my lead was doing. And tons and tons of feedback on shoes ("Take a sharpie to those. Entirely black!"), whistle (I use a Fox 40, he insisted that I use a Fox 40 Finger whistle), game card (I actually put a blank page in my soccer data wallet and use that, as opposed to an erasable lacrosse card). My thinking was that I must have been doing a great job, if that's all he had to go on
Lacrosse has always seemed excessively rule-oriented to me. Incessant whistles, bunches of guys running on and off the field all the time — and referees with tape measures, for pete's sake!
Well, I've had lots of practice getting soccer assessments. When your assessor says something crazy, you nod thoughtfully and mumble something about working that into your game. Nevertheless, it was tough to not say "Are you serious?" That said, soccer assessments seem to be to be much more socratic. "What did you see? Where were you? What wsa your thought process that led to that decision? Could you have done something else?" which, to me, is much mroe useful.
Tape measures???? What the hell you talkin' about? I know nothing about lacrosse so pardon my utter ignorance.
And, for any infraction, the foul, the penalty, and the restart are scattered across three different rules. They really need someone to come in a do a 1996-style great re-write.
There are rules around the dimensions of the crosse. At various times, you do a "stick check", where you see that the pocket of the crosse isn't too deep, and then use a tape to measure the length of the stick, and the length and width of the head. Ok, all y'all sixth graders can stop giggling now.
Thanks for the tutorial. Sounds a little too clerical for my liking. I guess I will stick with soccer.
Hold on there Pilgrim. What is the circumference and air pressure of that proposed game sphere you've got there?