RefereeStockroom

Preview Prices are shown as they will be. Everything is free during preview; nothing is charged.

Sizing & care

Measure once. Order the right size.

Every maker's size chart is different, so we publish no conversions. What we can give you is a way to measure that matches how charts are written, and a way to read the label so the kit lasts.

Before you start

Use a soft tape measure, wear thin clothing, and stand relaxed. Keep the tape level and snug, not tight. Write each number down as you go; a Locker's Size book keeps them for you.

  1. Chest

    Around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms and across the shoulder blades, after a normal breath out.

  2. Waist

    Where the waistband of your officiating slacks or shorts actually sits. That is not always your natural waist; measure the place the garment will be worn.

  3. Hips

    Around the fullest part of the seat, feet together.

  4. Inseam

    Easiest on a pair of trousers that already fit: lay them flat and measure along the inside leg seam from the crotch to the hem.

  5. Head

    For caps and helmets: around the head, about a finger's width above the eyebrows and above the ears. Helmet makers give their own fitting steps; follow them.

  6. Feet

    Stand on a sheet of paper, mark the back of the heel and the tip of the longest toe, and measure between the marks. Do both feet; use the longer one. Feet are often a little larger later in the day.

Then use the maker's chart

Compare your numbers with the chart of the brand you are buying, not with another brand's sizes. If you sit between two sizes, the chart's own advice wins. If you wear protective gear under a garment (shin guards under plate slacks, padding under hockey trousers), measure with it on.

Read the label

In the United States the FTC's Care Labeling Rule requires manufacturers and importers to attach care instructions to most garments; clothing labels must give a washing or drycleaning instruction, and washing instructions also cover bleaching, drying and ironing (FTC: Clothes Captioning, 16 CFR Part 423). The label is the maker's instruction for that garment; follow it over any general tip, including ours.

Habits that help (ours, not a rule)

  • Empty the bag after every game day; wet kit and closed bags do not mix.
  • Dry skate blades and buckles before they go back in the bag.
  • Wash uniforms by the label, inside out if the label allows, and hang them to dry when it says so.
  • Keep spare whistles and cards in the same pocket of the bag every time, so you notice when one is missing.