BBUC Richardson Bucket Hat

MEASURING YOUR CHEST

With your arms relaxed at your sides, measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the measuring tape level and parallel to the floor around both the chest and rib cage.

MEASURING FOR LEG GUARDS

Measure your leg from center of your kneecap down to where the shin guards will rest on your plate shoes. This will result in your shin guard size that you'll match up with shin guard sizes.

NOTE ON LOW VS MID-CUT PLATE SHOES

Be aware a low-cut plate shoe will sit approximately 1 1/2" lower than your mid-cut plate shoe. It's best to measure with your plate shoes (or similar) on. 

NO-GAP PROTECTION

The overall goal is that you have no gap in protection from your knee down to your plate shoes. Therefore, you should always round up the next largest size if you are in-between. For instance, if you measure 16", while 15.5" is closer in size than to the 17" size, you are going to have a gap in coverage if you choose the 15.5" size in this case. Therefore, you would size up to the 17" to ensure you have no gaps in the bottom or top.

OUT-OF-THE-BOX

Put your shin guards on* with your plate shoes. Get in your stance. Look for any gaps. No gaps? Comfortable? You're good-to-go.

*WHERE DOES MY KNEE GO?

This is more an informative piece if you are unsure where your knee goes when you put on your shin guards for the first time. In general, the padding on the inside should provide a visual indicator. Otherwise, it depends on which shin guard you wear. If a single-knee (1 top cap) or double-knee (2 top caps), you want your knee cap to rest in the topmost cap. If a triple-knee (3 top caps), your knee will go in either the middle cap or bottom-most cap depending on the umpire shin guard.

GLOVES

PANTS & SHORTS

Your waist size = Your pant size is mostly all you need to know. Unless otherwise noted, all pants are sized by actual waist size. We recommend that if you wear a 36 inch waist in jeans dress slacks, you'll wear a 36" in any pants available.

MEASURING YOUR WAIST SIZE

Our best recommendation is to pick a pair of pants that fits you well and use that size when ordering. 

IN-BETWEEN SIZES

As a general rule, we recommend you go up 1 size on all pants where you are in between or unsure of sizing.

SPORTS OFFICIALS PANTS FIT LOOSELY

As a sports official, you are expected to look professional but also to be athletic at the same time. With a varying amount of running, turning, bending and kneeling by sport, your umpire and referee pants are made to fit looser in the thighs than non-officiating pants. Umpire pants especially have a longer rise (under the zipper) to allow for repetitive bending.

TAILORED HEMMING

Pants are purchased un-hemmed so you can hem them to your exact specification. It is particularly important for a sports official to look their best on the court or field. Tailored hemming is especially needed for umpire pants given that their pants have a longer rise, by design, than jeans or dress pants. Translation: hemming these pants to your normal hem length without having them measured properly may have less than desirable results.

If you do not have a tailor or seamstress, we recommend you find one in your area, to make any mends or alterations to any sports officials' clothing. (especially great for making adjustments to shirt sleeve length and tapering shirts).

When you visit a tailor or seamstress, make sure to have him or her measure you while you are in the pair of shoes you are planning to wear with your pants. For umpire plate pants, we advise you to also bring in your shin guards to wear. Shin guards are going to cause the fabric to extend outward, reducing your pants length (resulting in high waters). Generally, this will add 1" to 1 1/2" to your normal (e.g. base pants) hem length.

OTHER

The chart on the left below only pertains to shorts, tights and belt-less referee pants.

The chart on the right provides additional dimensions on pants sized for women.

Note: Not all women's pants are available in the above sizes.

BELTS

The general rule of thumb is easy:

• Go 1 Even Size Up (from your waist size) for leather umpire belts
• Go 2 Even Sizes Up for patent leather (shiny) umpire belts.

Patent leather umpire belts are thicker than the genuine leather ones (and thicker than a casual or dress belt) and therefore add additional width due to this thickness.

For instance, if you are a 34" waist (your pants size), you would wear the following in an umpire belt:

• 36" Leather Belt
• 38" Patent Leather Belt

Belts are available up to size 56".

OUT-OF-THE-BOX

After putting on your umpire pants, lace the belt through your belt loops and around your waist. Button your pants then look down to see which hole the buckle would fit. There are 7 holes. If it fits into either the middle hole or the hole on either side, you for sure have a great fit. If you can only reach to the first hole, you need to go up 1 size. If you end up in the farthest hole, you will have too much belt outside your buckle and should consider going down a size.

CHEST PROTECTORS

CHEST PROTECTOR SIZING

In most cases, chest protector size is about the length (some also have varying widths...more on that later).

When measuring for chest protector length, measure from your neck down to where you want the bottom of the chest protector to be positioned. Some say this is right at or above the belly button. It's really a personal preference that depends somewhat on your stance, level and experience. If you need extra length, some chest protectors have an additional sizing plate or extension.

BEST HARD SHELLS FOR TALLER UMPIRES: 

If you are a taller umpire, say 6' 1" or 6' 2" or taller and you want your ribs covered, some umpire chest protectors, due to their smaller size range, just will not do. Most likely a 14", 15" or perhaps more would be needed for taller umpires.

HERE ARE OUR CHEST PROTECTORS AND THEIR LENGTHS.

MEASURING BY CHEST SIZE

*Most umpire chest protectors that have multiple sizes are the same width even when their length increases. However, be aware there are some exceptions that will offer you the possibility of a near custom fit. The following will increase in width as their length increases:

• Wilson West Vest Gold
• Champion P2
• Champro Pro-Plus Plate Armor
• Champro Pro-Plus

Choose your proper length first, then check to see if this size conforms with your chest circumference (jacket size). 

In general, if you are taller, whether you have a large frame or not, you might have no choice but choose the largest size option for length purposes. if you are shorter and slimmer, you'll choose one of the smaller options. if you are shorter and have a larger frame, you may consider sizing up to ensure an optimal length and width fit.

GENERAL TIPS

• When in doubt, order the larger size if there is a choice between two sizes. The most returns we experience from protective gear are from the smaller sizes.
• If you need it quickly and don't care to pay a little extra on return shipping, order 2 sizes and send the one that does not fit back for a full refund.

OUT-OF-THE-BOX

Adjust the straps at the top and around the side so the umpire chest protector fits snugly without sliding. Typically, you will need to tighten it more than you think. While in your normal stance, check (in the mirror) to make sure your collar bone and your ribs are covered by finding them with your fingers. If they are, the chest protector is comfortable, and it's easy taking it off, then it's a winner!

Note that some hard shell chest protectors may take longer to conform in the shoulder area. If this is the case, use a hair dryer to heat this area and then gently bend.

CAPS

Don't be afraid of fitted umpire cap sizes if you don't know yours. Simply read further and follow the chart below (or pull out your fitted baseball cap from your closet and look at the tag).

MEASURING YOUR HAT SIZE

Basically measure around (circumference) your head where your hat will fit. This means starting about a 1/2 inch above your eyebrows, going just above the top of your ears and midway on your occipital bone (that little bone in the middle of the back of your head). Don't pull the tape too tightly or your hat will fit that tightly. If using a string, measure against a ruler. Measure 2 or 3 times to be accurate.

 
OUT-OF-THE-BOX

Try it on and make sure it does not fit too tightly or so loosely that if falls off with movement. For umpires, caps worn with masks should fit snugly (some prefer only fitted sizes for this reason) so that when you take off your mask the cap does not come off easily with removal.

ADVANCED TIP FOR UMPIRES

If your cap comes off easily when you pull off your mask, try one of two things before considering a different cap size. Advanced umpires know to pull their mask out first before pulling up. For new umpires, this normally takes some practice. Moving your mask harness to where it attaches to the mask, at the face, to the outermost bars may also help.

SHOES & SOCKS

All shoes are in American men's sizes. See chart below.

IN GENERAL

If your feet seem "between" sizes and you cannot decide which size to select, we suggest you choose the larger size. You can make adjustments for a better fit with socks, insoles, or a different lacing pattern.

TRUE TO FIT?

As a general rule of thumb, all turf or court shoes should be considered a true fit. Rest assured that manufacturers have done a much better job of making their plate shoes true-to-size by offering a little more room in the area of the in-step and toe box. This is important as this area does not give like a running shoe or cross-trainer will. So order your size, but if you are in between sizes or still a little unsure, going up a half-size or a wider width are common practice.

If your feet are too small or slip out of your shoes, consider an extra pair of socks, insoles, heel cups or another shoe or size. Have your feet measured every year as feet typically get bigger with age.

AFTER YOU WEAR THEM

Look for any signs of foot cramping, numbness, blisters or calluses as this may be a sign your shoes are too small or narrow.

NOTE FOR WOMEN

We continue to encourage manufacturers to make smaller sizes. We apologize that we have fewer options for many of you.

LARGER SIZES

The largest shoe size made for umpire and referee shoes is size 15. There are no shoes available in sizes higher. In those cases, a steel toe work boot or shoe in conjunction with the toe cap of the leg guards may provide the coverage you need.

 **Source: New Balance

OUT-OF-THE-BOX

Try them on at the end of the day when your feet are largest with socks you will wear with them. You should have enough room in the toe area to wiggle your toes. The ball of your foot should fit comfortable at the shoe's widest spot. Your heel should fit snug with no slipping when you walk.