The New USSF Sock: This End Up
OSI is gradually pushing out the pieces of the new uniform, and recently I obtained the final piece of the revamp - the socks. I try to be very honest about the good and the bad about OSI (see this article for a review of the new jerseys), but I've always loved the fit of their socks; and with the revamp of the new socks, the fit of the stockings haven't changed, but the styling has.Let's be perfectly clear: 90% or more of referees in this country do not need these socks. The standard three stripes along the top will do just fine (or, as OSI/USSF put it, to keep Adidas at bay, "two stripes with a white top"). If you never used the logo socks, you probably won't need these, although these look a whole lot better than the logo socks did. Click here to view the old Logo Socks.
Speaking of logo socks, let's review some of the nicknames I've seen associated with them: logos, smiles, pumpkins, ovals, those *&#! ugly things. Even in it's debut, the logo still came out oval, and even after shrinking the logo, to keep it from stretching as much - it just didn't work on anyone with any type of calf muscle - and c'mon people, were soccer referees! We're going to have calf muscles! So, the best news out of this is that OSI is no longer selling the logo socks, but just like the old uniforms, they can still be worn.
Gone along with the logo is anything along the top. The design, which mirrors the new jersey in that it has two stripes, one thin and one fat, is located below the bottom of the calf muscle, on the lower half of the sock; between the stripes is the OSI logo. If I were to hazard a guess, the black top, in addition to being what's becoming a standard look on the international scene, rids us of looking sloppy if the tip of the sock starts to slide down, or if someone wears a different make of sock.
Different make of sock? There's no logo on this sock, so could other companies make the same design (sans Official Sports logo)? Maybe. Would there be a market for it - that's up to the people who have to put up the money.
The strangest thing about the sock, however, is the foot. On the upper portion of the foot, where you'd lace up your boots, are the words "US Soccer Referee". Why? Text isn't enough here - picture my hands up next to my head looking really perplexed, "Why???" I have only one possible thought to this, and it goes back to the logo socks again. I found that most people did not put on their logo socks correctly: they'd just slap them on, and the logos would be cockeyed or at the front-and-back, instead of at the sides - I even saw it happen at a professional game. So, given that problem, OSI must have put those words there as a polite way of saying "This End Up" - if the words aren't centered, neither is the logo. This theory fell apart on my first time trying on the socks, but who knows, maybe it'll help.
So will the socks become popular? It will by the people who either have to, or want to, buy anything new that comes down the pike for referee gear. Should you buy it? I'd say the socks, like the jerseys, should get bought for the same I cut my hair short for regionals, as it was told to me several years ago: "You don't have to cut your hair, but they don't have to give you games." If you want those games, get the socks - if you don't care, then don't.
Here are somepictures ofthe new sock(total of four).
Product Summary:
U.S. Soccer Referee Sock
$12.95
Positives: Far better looking than the old Logo socks. Since there's no visible logo, you could use it, if approved, in high school soccer or other leagues. Same quality as OSI's Pro Socks (which feel better than any this reviewer has tried).
Negatives: Yet another expense that's necessity is highly questionable. Without approval, it can't be used outside of the USSF. Costs $2 more per pair than the same sock with three stripes.
I agree, and like the socks. one worry i had was that the “U.S. Soccer Referee” stitching will be uncomfortable and get in the way when putting the sock on, but i found that it doesn’t at all. and, after watching some referees wear them this weekend, i like the look of them.
kyle - 17 February '08 - 20:37
The main issue I have with the new socks is that they make referees ‘appear’ to move slower. It’s not something I had ever picked up on until a fellow referee once told me: “You may want to wear shoes with white stripes, since they add some contrast and make it appear like you aren’t lugging around dead weight”. He’s right — and the three striped socks assist in that. But with the two-stripe-in-the-middle-of-the-sock-with-logo, the top half of the sock doesn’t get the same attention it used to.I’m probably just complaining because its ‘new’, but I won’t have the ability to pick up these new uniforms before the State Cup, and I’m pretty sure referees at the State Cup will be wearing the new uniforms.
George () (URL) - 21 February '08 - 14:28
I recently received my pair of the new USSF socks and, much like you describe, gave my own puzzled look at the words on the foot. Your “this end up” thoughts make sense, but if that is the case, you would think it would be simpler to just put USSF (or anything shorter), especially since the words are pretty much designed to never be seen.I agree that these socks are leaps and bounds better than the old logo socks.
OhioRef () - 25 February '08 - 12:30
Some additional information: I wore them for a couple of games recently, and while I didn’t notice any problems from the “US Soccer Referee” stitching on the top of my foot, it did leave an indentation. So if you have sensitive feel, I’d recommend you steer clear of the socks.TheRef - 01 April '08 - 17:02
I have a pair of the new OSI/USSF logo socks on order, but if they’re anything like the old OSI/USSF socks then I may have a problem. The old style socks were/are really comfy, but if they get wet at all by the time you get them home they REALLY stink. I mean they smell really really bad. I don’t think it’s me, since none of my other socks are like this. Am I the only one who’s noticed this ‘characteristic’ of the OSI/USSF socks?CSR () (URL) - 02 April '08 - 12:30
I have them, can’t wait ‘till I put them on, I think they look good, modestly speaking…1st game next weekend…hope the weather is like this weekend…no cold/rain please…Chicago can be brutal…gw () - 06 April '08 - 22:33