2013 Uniform Interpretation – from Tom McTaggart

First , We have to go back to 2006 to examine the INTENT and SPIRIT of the rule changes and clarification of the uniform rule and talking about "similar color and design" among uniforms. Part of it all was the introduction and acceptance of lycra-spandex based fabrics. They are comfortable and non-restrictive, but there was also the natural concerns about how things fit on some bodies, and especially among high school-aged female athletes, concerns for modesty as well. As a girls track coach for over 30 years I could share hundreds of "horror" stories related with uniform styles. I won't burden you with them, but suffice to say, the greater flexibility for styles in this 2006 rule modification solved many, many varied problems that I had to confront over the years.
Thus, greater flexibility was allowed for STYLE: baggy "traditional" shorts, tight "spanky" briefs, tight "volleyball" style briefs (with 1-2 inch inseam), Tight "hugger" style shorts with longer inseams (like cycling/swimming shorts), one-piece body suits, and full length tights all becoming acceptable uniform bottoms. Snug lycra tops -- long sleeve, short-sleeved and sleeveless singlets became acceptable with the old traditional nylon or cotton "A-shirt" singlets and T-shirts.
In relays, a mix of any of these were acceptable as uniform bottoms aslong as they were the "same color and design of school uniform".This is where the nit-picking has tended to encroach on common sense and reality when it comes to interpreting what same color and design are.

Photo # 1 shows two girl competitors reporting for their relay & very proud to be representing Brockport High School. The manufacturer of the uniform is Asics. Asics produces "spanky" briefs, "volleyball" briefs, traditional "split "running shorts (3"+ inseam), and full length tights for team wear purposes. The girl on the LEFT is wearing the "volleyball" style spandex in-seamed brief. The girl on the RIGHT has opted to wear the traditional "split" running short with what appears to be a solid black undergarment.
The coloris a dye lot of "royal" or "French" blue. -- are they identical? -- probably not unless the fabric for each were dyed at the same plant at the same time. Are they the SAME color? -- No question about it -- and if there are differences in shades, officials just have to understand that the color supplied by the manufacturer one year may differ somewhat the next year. And what if Adidas wins the bid for new uniforms the next year instead of Asics? The color shade may change somewhat with that realty as well. USE COMMON SENSE! -- is it attempting to be the SAME? If so, let it go! We want to see the attempt to comply with the rule and not necessarily be the "fashion police".
Now the DESIGN element: If I look at Photo 1, the design element is so simple -- 2 white stripes complementing the 2 white stripes on the uniform tops. Both girls have two stripes. Are they identical? -- NO -- but is is the SAME design -- 2 white stripes!! Remember the word in the rule is "same" and not "identical". If you were the seamer putting these two garments together you could see why the stripeing has to be somewhat different. Indeed two years ago I had a question over differences in striping on Adidas products over the very same issue. On the Adidas "spanky" style briefs on uniforms with a 2 stripe design there was no physical room to put on the second stripe! I directed the clerk to allow this since it was the first time the uniform had been challenged all season long and that there was only 3 minutes to the start of the event. When I had a clerk argue with me over this, I told them to give the athletes a piece of white tape to put on the bottoms..
So -- with the uniform bottoms here in this picture -- Totally OK.
Now let's look at Photo # 2 that deals with the uniform tops in this situation. Remember our considerations SAME color and design elements -- NOT STYLE/CUT/FABRIC.
The girl on the left is wearing a lycra spandex top -- royal blue -- Design element is 2 white stripes on the side with the word "Brockport" and a winged foot beneath emblazoned across the chest + a legally sized "asics" manufacturer's logo on the left side.
The white patch up top could be a design element, but considering the higher cut actual crew neck of the spandex style top, Asics probably threw this in to make it similar to the v-neck nylon singlets, so I would not even see this as a design element at all. If it were blue no one would have said anything, so does it really make a difference? No.
The girl on the right is wearing traditional nylon singlet top -- royal blue -- Design element is 2 white stripes on the side with the word "Brockport" and a winged foot beneath emblazoned across the chest + a legally sized "asics" manufacturer's logo on the right side.
Both uniform tops have SAME COLOR AND DESIGN in my book.
Can we tell these kids are from Brockport High? YES. What about this little white patch of fabric? Is it enough to stop them from competing? The athletes get their uniforms from the school and year to year there will be subtle differences that are frequently beyond the control of the athlete, the coaches, the AD's, the school boards, and yes, sometimes even the manufacturers!

Example: About 8 years ago I outfitted my Cross-Country team with Asics uniform tops & bottoms. Asics had a strike in one of their plants making the bottoms and produced half of a year's order in another country. I know because I had my team order disrupted by it.The dye lots were very different. Half of my ordered "navy blue" shorts were very dark; the other half were really close to a grey-blue which looked closer to "royal" or cobalt. They were all blue though and nobody said anything.
If the design and color are that close, and the kids are clearly identifiable as a member of that team, that should be the primary criteria. If the new "replacement order" of uniforms were sent with the word "Brockport" in a different font, should that disqualify that uniform from a relay even if it had the same color and design? I don't think so.
Common sense should be the guideline.
BUT ... Check the photos ... If I were the clerk I would warn BOTH of them for a JEWELRY violation right now! :-)
I hope this helps,
Tom McTaggart - NYST&F Rules Interpreter