Wilson Product Development, Changes and New Items

Lobby of Wilson headquarters in Chicago.

Discussions in our meeting last week with Wilson in Chicago centered on product development for long term developments, changes to existing products and new products for 2012.

Despite the fact that Wilson's umpire gear offerings have stayed about the same the last few years, I was impressed with the current product development plans shared by Jacqueline Rooney, product manager and Bill Woessner, R&D.

PLANS
Without offering complete details, one of the areas they are looking at diligently is protective gear that will make umpires safer, especially as it relates to head trauma, than products on the market today.

In the last 3 or 4 years, trends in umpiring equipment have been related to lighter weights and lower profiles, so I'm pleased that Wilson is looking toward next step protective technologies and talking to leading experts in the field all while listening to us and our customers.

Indeed, some of our Facebook fans/umpires shared comments, ideas and questions via a recent August 10th post and those were well-received. Many of you will be happy to see changes that you have discussed already being implemented and desired new items available in the near-term.

CHANGES
Changes being implemented for 2012 include:

• Removable toe plates on all A3417 Charcoal Shin Guards
• Replacement mask padding designs have been re-tooled and will fit your Wilson mask frame more closely.
• Better adhesive formula changes to Shock FX helmet inner padding (actually implemented in the fall of 2010)

NEW ITEMS
You'll also find these two new items:

• A matte black Shock FX helmet that will be available with a steel frame
• A Wilson Gold and/or Platinum Chest Protector that will be available in a longer size option. See recent post.

Other ideas are being considered within their future product development framework. So as Wilson is listening, please keep your comments and suggestions coming.

Preseason Gear and Apparel Checklist

I was just reading a very good article in Referee Magazine's September 2011 issue titled:

72 Ways to Officiate Smarter

In the article, Referee editors have gathered ideas and tips from their experiences to provide secrets to better officiating in all sports on various subjects such a pregame, risk management and post management (and more) plus 6 tips on the subject of inventory/equipment.

I won't steal their thunder (you'll have to read  the 6 page article yourself) but I'm inspired to elaborate on  tip number 7 which is entitled Inventory Your Look.

By inventorying your look, they recommend trying on your uniforms before each season and checking to see if your gear is in good condition and that your uniform fits properly.

More specifically, here's my checklist of preseason dos and don'ts:

1. Good stewardship of your gear happens after every game, not just during the off-season. Take time to  wipe off dirt, dust and moisture after each game. Your gear and accessories will last much longer. Don't forget to wipe off excess dust and dirt off of washable items, too. Specifically, dust off  your pants before placing in the washing machine.
   
   Umpire shin guards are the biggest culprit for dust and dirt and the inside of all umpire gear is susceptible to moisture from perspiration. Storing a dry towel in your gear bag is the perfect solution. You don't want to risk rust over time from any steel chest protector rivets or leg guard clips. Note that some umpire gear items now have removable inner padding that can be washed in a washing machine. This feature is a much welcomed solution to cleaning gear.
   
   
2. Don't store your gear and apparel in a hot car or a humid place such as a garage. Doing so accelerates deterioration of the padding and fabric.  
   
   
3. Don't leave your gear or clothes in the sun where UV rays can fade fabrics or change them to an undesired color. Pink umpire shirts are in style, but pink pants?  Not-so-much.
   
   
4. Try your pants on. Can't bring the clasps together because you ate too much over the holidays? Pants on the ground because you were motivated by the latest weight-loss craze? No fear, just Google "local tailor" or pony up and buy something new.
   
   
5. Check your shirts for perspiration stains. Black and white on your referee shirt good. Black and yellow bad. Actually check anything white - knickers, referee throw down bags and the like - if they're dingy or discolored, then consider replacing.
   
   
6. Take a good look at your shoes and consider a professional shoe shine or DIY and replace shoelaces if needed. You don't want to tighten a shoelace only for it to snap just before your first game. Great  advice from veteran officials is to carry a spare pair of shoelaces in your bag just in case.
   
   
7. Check your shin guard replacement straps and replace with a fairly inexpensive new one ($1.20) if needed.
   
   
8. Has it been two years or more since you replaced your mask or helmet padding? Protective properties can wane over time so buy a new set if it's been so long you can't remember when you bought your mask.
   
   
9. If you find that something gear-wise needs a good cleaning, mild soap and water does the trick for most things. Washing your cap in the dishwasher or washing machine with a cap cage will also work.
   
   
10. Check your clothing for loose buttons and threads and seek out a repair if necessary.

Hope that helps. What preseason or other tips do you have for your gear and clothing?

Back to the Referee Magazine article that inspired this off-the-top-of-my head checklist, it's a great read on page 24 for subscribers or if not subscribed, something worth considering. Smarter is always good.

Going Black Leads Trends in Football Official Apparel

Last year, I posted a blog called "Top 5 What's Hot for Football Officials". It was a hodge-podge of non-related things. This year, when we looked at the top 5 hottest items, they fell into two categories, let's call them trends.

Trend #1 - Things that are black.
So we're talking pants and shorts mostly but also things that match it best.

Trend #2 - More advanced cards.
Yes, cards. Sounds silly, I know, but data cards and signal cards with more information on them are very hot ticket items this year.

Black Pants
So are white knickers (shorts, too) on the way out? It seems so. Knicker sales are down over 40% and with it are things related to them such as striped football socks and white ball center flags.

On the other extreme, since the NFL introduced black pants, you knew it wouldn't be long before that trickled down to the NCAA and high school levels. They just looked too good to not want a pair. The original motivation for the NFL officials was to offer a way to layer-up in cold weather where you couldn't do that with knickers. Combine the upgraded look with advanced fabrics and treatments, you can now go long pants even in warm weather. The result is that the NCAA and most high school football officials associations have now allowed black pants on the field for this 2011 season.

Now, there is something about a traditional 1" stripe referee shirt with the black pants. They just don't look as good as the 2" stripe. Too much black close together? I'm not sure. So one could say a trend is toward a 2" stripe shirt as well, which it is, but it's all a result of the trend to black pants. More black ball center flags, too.

So here are the top 5 of what's hot this year:

1. Smitty Warm Weather Football Pants
   What can I say? Each season, there is one item that is THE hot item. This one, constructed of lighter weight polyester, wins hands down. Stock is currently good on these pants that are perfect for early season games or in warmer climates where the alternative Foul Weather Pants would be too heavy for comfort.
   
   
2. Smitty 2" Stripe Referee Shirts
   There was quite a bit of buzz surrounding the 2" stripe for NCAA games with letters and flag patches built-in, but this one has done quite well. Again, the 2" stripe shirt will match the black pants better and those who don't need the letters or officiate different positions are going with the stripped-down 2" stripe version.
   
   
3. Smitty Comfortech Referee Shorts
   
   
4. Williams Signal Reference Card
   Standard signal cards have been around for a while, but this one has both yardage and loss of down information for each penalty written in red right next to each signal. Why did it take so long to figure that out? At only $1.50 more than the standard, these are flying off the shelf.
   
   
5. RefSmart Rewritable Referee Information Card
   Designed by officials for officials, this four page layout (that's 4 - not a misprint) is the most detailed game information card available that also folds and fits neatly anywhere. It is covered in a high-tech laminate that allows you to record information in pencil and then to erase.

First Football Catalog Introduced

2011 marked the first time we published a product catalog for our customers, and we've followed up our initial baseball catalog with a football catalog, which is now available online in PDF format or in your mailbox.

The condensed catalog dedicates its 20 pages to many of our customer choice, made in the US and new items including new 2" stripe referee shirts, warm weather pants, western cut knickers and more.

Several new items that were decided on after publication that didn't make it into the catalog include RefSmart cards and towel.

If you want a quantity to share at your association meeting, please message sherry@ump-attire.com with your address and quantity desired.

COMING SOON: A Longer Wilson Platinum, Gold

I met with Wilson's product manager (Jacqueline Rooney) and R&D manager (Bill Woessner) at their Chicago headquarters this past Friday. It's nice to know a company of their size and breadth is willing to listen to input from us and our umpire customers.

We discussed many current and potential umpire gear products that I'll discuss in greater detail in another post, but the one current exciting possibility is a longer size option for the Platinum and/or Gold Umpire Chest Protector. Not an extension (considered previously), but a longer size option for you taller guys who feel your ribs are not covered well with the current Platinum or Gold sizing. Go ahead. I'll pause while you celebrate.

(pause)

I'll hit you with another exciting news piece and that is making one (or both) of them longer would be a rather simple design change to the lower plate and padding. And simple means fast as in early 2012 fast!

(another pause for more celebration)

When they are available, sales will be tested only through ump-attire.com for 2012, just as the smaller and larger size options of the A3417 Charcoal Shin Guards were this year.

(pause while I celebrate)

So what are they waiting for? Well, they are waiting for you to calm down and tell them what you think. So what do you think? Which chest protector do you want longer and what size would you prefer? 14"? 15"? Or something in between?

Also read:
NOT WHAT YOU THINK: Lengths of Wilson Chest Protectors
Wilson Product Manager Highlights Chicago NCAA Clinic

Review of Forward Progress Book by Todd Skaggs

Forward Progress, the book authored by current Division II and high school official Todd Skaggs, has the longest subtitle of any book I've ever seen.

Confessions from a Rookie College Football Official: Discover Proven Methods to Get Noticed, Move Up and Improve Your Officiating Skills

It's definitely all in there. Let's break down the X's and O's of the subtitle of the book that combines the wisdom from top level officials with the perceptions and humility from an up-and-coming one.

• "Confessions"
  Todd's story of the first penalty he ever called is a self-deprecating and humorous confession I'm not sure others would be so willing to share. You'll also find confessions from other officials as well from all levels through college to the NFL.
  
• "Proven methods to get noticed"
  One central theme of the book emphasizes officials controlling the things they can control and not worrying about things they can not. Looking good in uniform is an example of such a controllable aspect. As an officials supply store, how could we not like that suggestion?
  
• "Move up"
  If there is any one piece of advice offered by Forward Progress that is most crucial is the suggestion of finding a mentor, a good mentor (and also being one to someone else). His analogy of a barrel of monkeys is very fitting here, but I'll leave his book to explain that concept more fully.
  
• "Improve Your Officiating Skills"
  His video review how-tos and the 7 off-season development suggestions he lists are worth the price of the book alone.

Despite the long subtitle, I think it could be longer. Let me suggest adding:

Plus Guidance if You are Considering Becoming a Football Official

Todd finds space to share important considerations of balancing family, career and time needed to dedicate to learning the rules and mechanics that all prospective officials of any sport would be wise to read before putting on their referee or umpire uniform.

The one key takeaway in Forward Progress, a very easy 161-page read, is that officiating is a profession, one that you practice, with the goal of improving, no matter what your level. Todd provides specific guidelines to do just that in a very personable tone.

Learn more about the book here. Buy it from us if you'd like and then write your own review.

People and Photos from the NASO Summit 2011 - Atlanta

This is our fifth year in a row to attend the yearly National Association of Sports Officials Summit. I have to say it was my favorite one so far. Maybe it was a little bit of the southern hospitality you expect in Georgia, maybe it was the nice setup they had for us and maybe it was the fact I brought Paul Hugues, our product manager, to help so that I could attend some sessions for a change.

Actually, I know it was the people I got to spend some time talking with. Let's see, chronologically:

• Bill Kennedy, NBA Referee, who surprised everyone with his rendition of "Georgia on My Mind" at the opening session. Excellent referee and M.C. as well.
  
  
• Mike Carter of Dalco - always good to see Mike
  
  
• Joe Crawford - NBA Referee legend who I had never met before who was also a very good and lively panelist
  
  
• Carl Johnson, head of officiating with the NFL and assistant Brian Flood - Thanks for the invite to New York to see the control room. Not sure I can pass that one up. See blog post regarding my conversation with Brian.
  
  
• Richard Lister, author of The Third Team - NFL Officials, Their Lives, Their Stories - An excellent read for officials of any sport that I'm about 11 chapters in so far.
  
  
• Justin Klemm and Darren Spagnardi of PBUC and the new "The Umpire School" - A truly excellent and professional 1 hour presentation that umpires at every level should have the privilege of seeing.
  
  
• Julian Tackett, KHSAA Commissioner and the rest of his Kentucky contingent (Angela Passiufume, Burney Jenkins, Ross Meloan and Steve Jones)
  
  
• Jim Arehart and others from NASO/Referee Magazine (they really put on a very good conference but I'm still waiting for them to plan one in Louisville. Have your theme already: The City of Possibilities for What is Possible in Officiating. Whadya' think?)
  
  
• Cindy Wilson with the Alliance of Women Sports Officials who always lets me know their aren't enough options for females in umpire and referee apparel. (I know Cindy. I know. We are trying.)
  
  
• And all the customers new and old who stopped by the booth and said hello.

Myself and Richard Lister, author of The Third Team

Justin Klemm, PBUC and The Umpire School in baseball breakout session

Myself and Steve Jones, Louisville HS Softball Umpire Association President 

Paul with customer extraordinaire Dick Davidson

L to R: Georgia Officials Bill Bailey, Dennis Frank and E.Y. Foley

NFL Continues to Use Made in USA Penalty Flags

L to R: Jim Kirk, Brian Flood and the Original Long Toss Penalty Flag

While at the 2011 NASO Summit, I had the privilege of meeting several members of the NFL Officiating Department, including head of officiating Carl Johnson and Brian Flood, who wears several hats within the department in addition to his title of instant replay assistant.

As is typical of me, I wanted to discuss the NFL uniform. And while the entire uniform is changing from Reebok to Nike soon, accessories including penalty flags that will be thrown at an NFL stadium near you will continue to made by Officials Flags N' Bags, a small Florida based business that also provides our supply of the very same long toss penalty flags to our amateur level officials.

If you've followed along at all, many officials' sporting goods companies have in the past few years changed the design of this ball center flag in an attempt to circumvent patent issues and acquire them at a less cost. One can easily do a quick side by side comparison to see that the original Officials Flags n' Bags flag is a much superior product.

And while this would be a much more exciting article to write saying that the NFL decided to allow us to outfit their entire official's uniform, at least it's nice to see we are on the same page with them on the quality of this one very key item in the officiating arsenal.

View more football accessories including Made in the USA Ump-Attire throw down bags.

Attended Largest Gathering of Officials Ever in Atlanta

We attended the largest gathering of officials ever at "Georgia Officiate Day" in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday July 30th.

Over 1,600 officials in the Georgia Athletic Officials Association from various sports, mostly football, came to the Cobb Galleria Center where myself and Product Manager Paul Hugues showcased mostly football referee products and talked with customers.

What gained most interest were the Smitty Warm Weather pants just approved for wear in high school officials in Georgia.

Thanks to all those who stopped by to spend time with us. 

Photo Note: I wish I had taken photos of all those at the booth as I recall at one time they were about 4 deep across the tables, but of course, I was busy working the booth and didn't plan ahead well enough to have someone else do that for us. This is the shot that was the calm before the storm.