Headed north in a few weeks for a long weekend of games

[Sonny]

And I'm expecting the worst.

What tips do you Northern officials have to offer about officiating in the cold? Any special gear you use?

Help educate this Southern boy.

[LaxRef]

And I'm expecting the worst.

What tips do you Northern officials have to offer about officiating in the cold? Any special gear you use?

Help educate this Southern boy.

Dress in layers using synthetics. No cotton! Cotton absorbs moisture and makes you cold. Sythetics wick the moisture away (UnderArmor is the famous brand, but you can get the same kind of shirts at Target for a lot less).

A balaclava on the head and under your regular hat works well unless it's really cold; then you might need an ear band on top of the balaclava or a second balaclava.

Black nylon rain pants are usually enough, on the legs, since if your socks are pulled up and you're wearing shorts that's like two layers anyway. Wear nylon shorts if you have them, and some sort of CoolMax underwear.

If it's windy, you can wear a weatherbeater shirt, but it's just lined with plastic and doesn't really breathe, so you stay warm but all of the moisture your wicking shirts are trying to wick away doesn't have anywhere to go. If you happen to have sold your weatherbeater shirt in the past year or so, you can wear a reversible official's jacket. However, I'd stay away from the windbreaker layer unless you really need it.

I've been trying to help out someone who's getting a manufacturer to produce a reversible GoreTex reffing jacket. This would be the ultimate, since GoreTex keeps out wind but it still allows moisture out. I wore a GoreTex jacket in a cross country ski race a few weeks ago when it was -11 at the start and -33 wind chill.

BTW, if it's that cold, you can put a product like Dermatone on your face to prevent frostbite or you can put moleskin all over your face. But I doubt they'd play in weather that cold; the balls would shatter. (I mean the game balls.)

[Jolly Roger]

I have found that recever's gloves help out a lot as well.



One way to keep your hands warmer for longer is to cut finger holes in an old pair of socks and wear them under gloves. This reduces the heat lost through the gap at your wrist while still allowing dexterity.

I love smartwool versawear zip t-necks too.

https://www.smartwool.com/default.cfm

[laxfan25]

My cold weather gear consists of the following;
Patagonia polypropylene turtleneck and long underwear.
Long-sleeved ref shirt (not the Windbeater. I looked at that at the convention and with the plastic lining I think it would just act like a rubber sweat suit. I'd like to see someone come out with a Gore-Tex ref shirt).
Quilted ref jacket - the best!
Lined supplex rain pants. Mine have like a flannel liner, very comfy.
Two pairs of socks.
A pair of winter golf gloves. I found these a few years ago - they have fleece on the back side and thin leather palms, so you can pick up a dime even. I liked them so much I called the mfr and ordered several pairs, they were like $11 - to sell to some of my fellow officials in MN. Come to think of it, I don't think I ever received payment from any of them!

Most times I don't wear it, but I also have an UnderArmor-type bacalava. When I have used it, I took an older ref's hat and cut the band so that it fits over. The look is pretty geeky, so I've only used it a couple times.

With the above setup I have always been comfortable on the field, and look with amazement at those players that decide to "be tough" and go out there in shorts. I'm talking games where it is actively snowing!

By the way, where are you headed Sonny? North like to Tennessee?