Rules for Cold-Weather Uniforms/Alterations to Keep Warm

by **Matt_Gardiner** on Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:56 am

With cold-weather games almost upon us, I have a couple of questions about how certain items are handled. I have personally experienced that the uniform rules become more and more lax as the temperature drops. I was wondering if there are any rules or regulations regarding...

A) The use of athletic tape over the ear holes on helmets as an attempt to keep the cold-breeze out and to keep your ears warm. We wear a dark blue helmet and typically will try and use marker to make the athletic tape blend in as best as possible.

B) Wearing a bulky sweater or sweatshirt between your pads and your uniform. I have had players use so many layers below their padding that they can not get their pads to fit comfortably over a sweatshirt, so they put it between their pads and their uniform.

C) Any other attempts to keep warm that people have seen or can think of.

While I want my team to look as professional as possible, I was not sure if the NCAA rulebook really addressed these items. I do not know if the athletic tape to the helmet could be considering altering the helmet any more than team stickers and logos. Please inform me.

**Sponsor**

by **laxfan25** on Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:59 am

I would not be that concerned about coloring athletic tape that is put over the ear holes, and there is nothing wrong with doing so.

Regarding other cold weather gear - sweatshirts, compression leggings or sweats, here is the NCAA rule on that;

Other clothing. Under-jerseys, compression shorts or sweat pants may be worn, but if visible to others, must be of a solid color that is limited to white, gray or one of that team’s official colors. If some players on a team choose to wear under-jerseys, all of the players who choose to wear under-jerseys for that team must wear the same color of under-jersey.
Under-jerseys also must be tucked in if they extend below the game
jersey. If some players on a team choose to wear compression shorts, all
of those players on that team must wear the same color of compression
shorts. Also, if some players on a team choose to wear sweat pants, those
players on that team must wear the same color of sweat pants.

So as long as the extra gear is all of the same color (white, gray or a team color) you're good there as well.

by **TexOle** on Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:19 pm

Covering of earholes on helmets is dangerous. Those holes are designed to let air out to soften the blow to the head. I would highly reccomend not taping over those.

by **LaxRef** on Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:23 pm

I agree with LF25. Tape over ear holes, no problem that I can see, especially if you try to blend it with markers. Just don't use a sticker that says "State U Sucks!"

Officially, everyone on the team needs to wear the same color undergarments if visible. If they're tucked in and covered by jerseys, it doesn't matter at all. If visible, they must be white, gray, or a team color and the same for everyone. This is not a call most officials will be going out of their way to make in 10 degree weather.

Sweat pants: same thing: white, gray, or a dominant team color, and everyone on the team matches. This may or may not be enforced, but it's good if the team matches in any case because it makes it easier for the officials.

You didn't ask, but as a runner and cross-country skier I have some advice: no cotton, only synthetics! Cotton will soak up sweat and make you cold. Use a base layer or two of CoolMax or UnderArmor (or Target generic stuff, which works just as well and is loads cheaper). A polar fleece layer is next for insulation (one with a zippered neck is good because you can open it up if you start to get hot). Finally, a wind shell of some sort, preferably GoreTex (no generic equivalent of which I'm aware), topped with your jersey. That may be too much, depending on where you are; shoot for being cold before you start running around. If you're comfy before you start running, you're overdressed.

Other options include a lycra balaclave under the helmet and "wind briefs" (which protect your "bits and pieces" from the cold wind).

by **laxfan25** on Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:52 pm

TexOle wrote:Covering of earholes on helmets is dangerous. Those holes are designed to let air out to soften the blow to the head. I would highly reccomend not taping over those.

I believe they are primarily there to improve hearing. There is lots of other area for any air compression to escape - and if they get hit that hard they likely will have other issues!

by **UCCS LAX** on Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:47 pm

Hey Matt,

As a coach, there are a couple of reasons I don't like my guys wearing tape over the ear holes.

Yes it does assist in reducing the wind but it also muffles most sound which includes them hearing each other on the field as well as the refs giving instruction and of course it makes it harder to hear the coaches shouting from the sidelines.

When I played at Drexel my coach, Randy Voigt, would never allow us to use tape. He always said if you are so worried about being cold or having wind blowing in your ears...you should be playing baseball! Then he would add that if we were not just standing around it wouldn't bother us so much.

But if they insist the wind bothers their ears you should recommend them getting a thin lycra cap such as an Under Armour skully or even stop by a cycling store to check out what they have for ear coverings.

Of course this is just an opinion from a guy in the chilly Colorado Springs. Best of Luck this season!

by **LaxRef** on Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:15 pm

TexOle wrote:Covering of earholes on helmets is dangerous. Those holes are designed to let air out to soften the blow to the head. I would highly reccomend not taping over those.

That sounds like an urban legend. Do you have a reference for that (other than "My friend's brother told me he knows a guy who saw a helmet expert on Oprah talking about it")?

by **TexOle** on Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:05 am

Actually I have it on record from the school trainer. He claims that he has research somewhere that shows it can cause injuries.

Speaking of cold weather restrictions. What are the rules involving head gear for refs? Can we wear a black stocking cap or one of those UA head things that goes over the head and covers the neck and ears?

by **LaxRef** on Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:20 am

TexOle wrote:Actually I have it on record from the school trainer. He claims that he has research somewhere that shows it can cause injuries.

People say lots of things. If he doesn't have a published journal article he can point to, I'm skeptical.

TexOle wrote:Speaking of cold weather restrictions. What are the rules involving head gear for refs? Can we wear a black stocking cap or one of those UA head things that goes over the head and covers the neck and ears?

Sure, why not? It doesn't say we can't in the mechanics manual, and I have inside knowledge that it won't say that in the next version, either.

by **Jolly Roger** on Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:46 am

LaxRef wrote: People say lots of things. If he doesn't have a published journal article he can point to, I'm skeptical.

We can be skeptical of some published things as well. The trainer might be quoting a journal from 1959 who's thesis has since been disproved. Or it might be in the journal if irreproducable results, or the study might have been controlled poorly and the reviewers missed it. Just because it's published doesn't make it true.

by **Brendan Barry** on Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:56 pm

Last year, we played in STL and I think the wind chill was about 5 degrees. It was pretty cold. We had guys playing in layers. We even had an outdoor space heater on the side lines to warm during bench time. The refs were happy to come over inbetween quarters. We felt bad for the other team, so we tossed our hand warmers to them when we were done with them.

by **A.J. Stevens** on Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:49 pm

Brendan Barry wrote:Last year, we played in STL and I think the wind chill was about 5 degrees. It was pretty cold. We had guys playing in layers. We even had an outdoor space heater on the side lines to warm during bench time. The refs were happy to come over inbetween quarters. We felt bad for the other team, so we tossed our hand warmers to them when we were done with them.

Yep...I watched that game from my car. You guys looked cold.