Official’s wardrobe

[Jollymon32]

What’s the thought of having a uniform wardrobe policy for the match officials?

 

After seeing some videos of Area matches where the officials look like a motley crew more representative of a weekend L1 match, it got me thinking of the importance of uniformity for the officials.

 

I am of the opinion that a uniformed officiating crew brings significant value to the organization, the match, and to the competitors.  

 

The value is one of legitimacy, or at least the perception of it, for the organization and for the match.

 

For the competitor, and I submit my perspective as my one and only exhibit, I am always looking to see what my match dollar is getting me.  I am expecting better stages, better infrastructure, and better officiating than an L1 match.  Note, to say that I am a competitor is a misnomer, I am more of a contributor, and as such the level of competition at these higher level matches brings little value to me.

 

For the most part, the stages are better.  In the area of infrastructure, I have been to higher level matches where the props and setups are top notch, and I have been to some in which the props and setups are identical to an L1.

 

Then there is the officiating.  For the most part, the value proposition is satisfied because of the multiple individuals officiating each stage.  You are bound to get better officiating with more eyeballs on each stage.  But then there is perception as well, a uniformed staff brings legitimacy and a sort of officialism to the individual and the role.

 

My final observation is on the matches that I have witnessed that brings great legitimacy to the sport, the organization, and the match organizers.  From what I have observed, the matches that fail the most in this area are those that are put on by ‘for profit’ match organizers versus those that are put on by “non lucrative” match organizers.  It seems to me, that in the pursuit of profits, the areas that are cut or scrimped on are those that seem to have little impact in the ability to deliver the match, but it is these that brings legitimacy to the match itself.

 

Disclaimer: These are my perceptions based on what I have observed in my edge of the USPSA world.  By no means is it meant as a blanket statement to the rest of the USPSA world.

[Dutchman195]

This sounds like a very 'IPSC' thing. referee jerseys, I have no problem with. In fact I like the idea of the ROs having the RO jerseys.

The NROI jersey and a logo with their own club or whatever they want on the breast with their nae is a neat idea. 

Are you going to collect everyone's jerseys at the end of the day and wash them that night? a 2+ day match you could get pretty stinky.

[ChuckS]

8 hours ago, Jollymon32 said:

What’s the thought of having a uniform wardrobe policy for the match officials?

 

If USPSA was to provide jerseys to the certified members, cool*. That would have to be enough shirts to cover a multi-day major (3-6 days).

Later,

Chuck

* not the  IPSC striped shirts tho

[Rez805]

Interesting. I just competed at a Section Match this weekend and the general "look" for staff was:

 

RO's wore a red version of the match shirt (competitors received a light blue version). The only deviation that I saw was that some of the RO's were sporting an NROI jersey and the Range Master had a personal jersey.

 

In essence, none of the helpers (aside from the Range Master) were wearing a personal shirt or jersey. It was apparent enough that a competitor could quickly identify someone on staff.

 

That has been a consistent experience across the level 2's that I have been to this year.

[JWBaldree]

12 hours ago, Jollymon32 said:

 

From what I have observed, the matches that fail the most in this area are those that are put on by ‘for profit’ match organizers versus those that are put on by “non lucrative” match organizers.  It seems to me, that in the pursuit of profits, the areas that are cut or scrimped on are those that seem to have little impact in the ability to deliver the match, but it is these that brings legitimacy to the match itself.

 

.

I would echo this sentiment. In my neck of the woods, we have two clubs, one non profit and one for profit. Full disclosure, I am on the board of the non profit. We are very lucky to have double digit numbers of willing volunteers, so things get done. Props are built and repaired, new stuff is ordered, etc. We are a 4 bay club, but could easily outfit a 8 to 10 bay match. The for-profit club does not have that volunteerism spirit. The guy that runs it is nice enough, and has done a lot to promote practical shooting and gun rights, but at the end of the day it's for profit and not many are willing to help him out unless they are getting paid or a discounted match fee. Let's face it, it would be very tough to run a viable for profit match, paying every one that helps out what they would deserve.

 

On to the shirt thing, I've worked a couple of matches and shot more than a few where the staff has an easily discernible uniform shirt. It does 'up' the feel of the match, and makes life easier for both staff and competitors when the staff is instantly recognizable via their shirts. My only suggestion to MD's would be to make the shirt something that can be a daily wear item after the fact. Some get so specific in design that they become a one use item. If you are going to spend the money on them, make them something that I'll want to wear a year or two down the road.  Almost forgot, spend the extra $2 or whatever it is an buy us the good moisture wicking material too. 

[Sarge]

3 hours ago, ChuckS said:

If USPSA was to provide jerseys to the certified members, cool*. That would have to be enough shirts to cover a multi-day major (3-6 days).

Later,

Chuck

* not the  IPSC striped shirts tho

I have one NROI Jersey. I washed it with hotel shampoo every night and hung it on a hanger. Bone dry in the morning. Smelled fresh every day.

[Sarge]

I am hoping to start a trend with what I did this year. I got tired of designing and paying for good shirts year after year. I required a Techwearusa official NROI Jersey be worn by staff at Ohio State match and Area 5 Championship. When you worked one match we comped you half the cost of the shirt. If you worked the other we paid the balance. So you got a free Jersey you can wear to work any match for free. Area 5 has other MD’s considering something similar so hopefully it becomes the norm to wear NROI Jersey when working majors.

[Joe4d]

38 minutes ago, Sarge said:

I have one NROI Jersey. I washed it with hotel shampoo every night and hung it on a hanger. Bone dry in the morning. Smelled fresh every day.

I tried that at Vegas nationals,,, last I remember, some red headed stripper was wearing it running down the hall.

[DKorn]

1 hour ago, Sarge said:

I have one NROI Jersey. I washed it with hotel shampoo every night and hung it on a hanger. Bone dry in the morning. Smelled fresh every day.

 

I did the same and it worked perfectly. 

 

54 minutes ago, Sarge said:

I am hoping to start a trend with what I did this year. I got tired of designing and paying for good shirts year after year. I required a Techwearusa official NROI Jersey be worn by staff at Ohio State match and Area 5 Championship. When you worked one match we comped you half the cost of the shirt. If you worked the other we paid the balance. So you got a free Jersey you can wear to work any match for free. Area 5 has other MD’s considering something similar so hopefully it becomes the norm to wear NROI Jersey when working majors.

 

As one of your ROs, I really liked this and hope it becomes the norm as well. I also liked having a match specific staff jersey like we used to do since it gives those of us who haven’t bought are own jerseys stuff we can wear at local matches, unlike the official jersey. 

[Sarge]

10 hours ago, Joe4d said:

I tried that at Vegas nationals,,, last I remember, some red headed stripper was wearing it running down the hall.

That sounds like a fun time!!

[Racinready300ex]

I've been involved with a Area match the last 4 years as the sponsor coordinator. All the staff get two staff jerseys for the 3 days of the main match. (good idea to wash one of them) And they are supposed to wear them. The jersey's have all the division sponsors logo's on them and the sponsor expect to see staff wearing those logo's. It also looks a lot more professional IMO to have all the staff look the same. Same with having all the walls built and painted the same. Things like that make the match look much more professional, and I expect that from the higher level matches.

[EEH]

11 hours ago, Joe4d said:

I tried that at Vegas nationals,,, last I remember, some red headed stripper was wearing it running down the hall.

Was Cliff there ?

[Jollymon32]

I shoot in Florida and it is very interesting what Garcia and Smith have done at Universal Shooting Academy. They have created a multi-match staff shirt with the logos of their main matches (Florida Open, Florida State, IPSC Nationals, Monster Match, etc.).  Over the past two seasons I have accumulated 3 pairs of long and short sleeve shits and don’t pick anymore up when officiating those matches.

[eric4069]

On 9/10/2019 at 7:50 PM, Jollymon32 said:

I shoot in Florida and it is very interesting what Garcia and Smith have done at Universal Shooting Academy. They have created a multi-match staff shirt with the logos of their main matches (Florida Open, Florida State, IPSC Nationals, Monster Match, etc.).  Over the past two seasons I have accumulated 3 pairs of long and short sleeve s#!ts and don’t pick anymore up when officiating those matches.

That range does an excellent job for sure

[perttime]

When I took my IPSC NROI course, a red RO jersey was included in the course fee. No sponsor logos on those.

 

People seem to wear them while officiating, weather allowing.

[terrydoc]

I was an IPSC RO here in Australia and we wore the grey National RO shirt at all L3 and above matches if you were certified, it had our NROI logo on the back and a small logo on the chest, and flag and IPSC crest on sleeves. If you became IROA you then wore the referee shirt instead. The NROI shirts were part paid by your State and at Nationals some were handed out as a match shirt.

[Ming the Merciless]

I'm glad that nobody suggested light brown jerseys with red concentric diminishing diameter circles on the back!