 |
|
There's a story told about a couple who went to see the president of Harvard about making an endowment to honor their late son, a Harvard student. They asked the cost of a building or library. Since they looked like poor country folk, the pres gave them the run around and finally sent them packing. So the Leland Stanford's, one of the richest families in the country, opened their own college in California.
The story may be true or fabricated, but the lesson is plain. No, not "Don't judge a book by its cover" but "Make sure your book is well-covered." In other words, make a good first impression.
As a Referee, you need to do this every time you show up for a match. If you make a good first impression on the coaches, they may not yell at you for, oh, 5 or 10 minutes. They will assume you know what you're doing since you look like you do.
That means, look sharp!
Wear one of the five approved referee shirts, black shorts, black socks with three white stripes, and black shoes. If weather (bright sun or pouring rain) makes it necessary, wear a black hat.
A few tips on uniform appearance:
Wash your uniform after your last match of the day. That way you prevent mildew and guarantee having a clean uniform on a moment's notice.
Clean and polish your shoes after that match. This prolongs the life of the shoes, and saves time when you're getting ready for your next assignment.
Keep your socks pulled up. They should reach to about four inches below the knee. Use garters to keep them up if you have to (staple guns work well, too).
Keep your shirttail tucked in. Don't roll the sleeves.
Button or zip your shirt to the top so you don't show a lot of skin (it looks unprofessional).
All officials in a crew should wear the same color shirt. If they can't, the ARs should dress alike.
Shorts should reach to about four inches above the knee. Shorts should be black... no white stripes down the side or colored pocket inserts.
Black means black. Exposure to sunlight can eventually fade a black shirt or shorts to brown. Shorts and shoes should have minimal decorations, preferably only company logos.
Ditch the jewelry. Don't wear something you won't allow a player to wear, with the exception of your two watches.
A suggestion... wear a tee shirt under your uniform. It wicks the perspiration away from your body, keeps your uniform shirt fairly dry, and covers up that décolletage if your uniform shirt doesn't close to the top.
The Stanford's were as rich as Midas; they could afford to dress anyway they wanted, even like poor country folk. If they made a bad first impression, that's not their problem.
You're a soccer referee; you can't afford not to dress like one. If you make a bad first impression, it's your first problem.
(If you wish to comment on this article, send a message to basra@basra-refs.org.)
Want to read some War Stories? Try this page.
[Return to BASRA Homepage]
[News] [Minutes] [Clinics] [Tournaments] [Links] [Maps to Fields]
[Handbook] [Constitution] [Contacts]