So, What's Your Excuse?

"I didn't notice the white sliders under the blue shorts?" Wait a minute. You are the referee, required to inspect each player, and a trained observer of actions that happen at match speed, and you just didn't notice???

Let me offer a different scenario. A player is wearing an elbow-to-hand hard cast, unprotected by any padding, and you didn't notice it either? Of course you did. First of all you asked the coach about medical issues, then inspected and enforced the requirement that the cast be properly padded and that written medical clearance existed. 

So, what's the difference? Is one a"trivial" rule and the other significant because it impacts the safety of play? This may be true, but when it comes to NFHS soccer played under Texas UIL sanction, you do not get to pick and choose which rules you enforce.

 Let's review the basics of Rule 4:

• Contrasting jersey and stockings. Home wears white/light. Visitor wears dark.
• Stockings must be same color and a single dominant color. Logos are OK.
• IF VISIBLE APPAREL IS WORN UNDER THE JERSEY, ALL MUST BE SIMILAR IN LENGTH AND COLOR.- VISIBLE APPAREL WORN UNDER SHORTS MUST BE SIMILAR IN LENGTH AND A SOLID COLOR THAT IS THE SAME BASIC COLOR OF THE SHORTS.- A manufacturer's logo (small) is permitted on each item
• An American Flag (2" x 3" maximum) is permitted on the jersey as long as it doesn't interfere with the visibility of the number.- Numbers on the back of the jersey, at least 6'. On front, jersey or shorts, at least 4".
• Jersey of the GK must be distinctly different from both teams and the officials, except the other GK.
• Shoes must be worn and may not be dangerous. 
   

The players will test you just like they test their coaches on a daily basis. It is NOT trivial to set high standards of appearance. The word "UNIFORM" says it all: "having the same appearance as others of the same (team)." Even these words don't convey the element of PRIDE that should exist in being an identifiable member of a team. The same pride the referee crew should share in both their appearance and performance. We have to deal with individual uniform issues in the same way we deal with jewelry or shinguards. That is, players must conform to the rules or not play in the match. 

Remember that a uniform violation by an entire team, for example, no numbers on the front jersey or shorts, is dealt with differently. The game shall be played and the referee must notify the district representative of the discrepancy.