Pre-match kit
- Thread starter Homer Ref
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It depends on the level of game and facilities and level of hospitality offered.
Your prematch kit is also likely your post match kit too so you obviously don't want to be stinking after the game.
Parks football, no changing rooms, arrive in kit, leave in kit.
Game at a ground with facilities, more likely to wear something different to match kit.
Ah right. I got you.
Don't think there is necessarily any reason for it. Others might be able to offer some thoughts
2 reasons I suppose... One is that the players don't go out to warm up in full match kit, why would the match officials not wear a warm up top?
Secondly would be weather. If it's cold then it's an extra layer that you may not want to wear for the match. If it's lashing it down, at least you can go in and back out in something dry ready for the match.
Secondly would be weather. If it's cold then it's an extra layer that you may not want to wear for the match. If it's lashing it down, at least you can go in and back out in something dry ready for the match.
The boring answer? Warm-up clothing does exactly what it says on the label: it keeps your muscles warm and ready to perform. It’s probably more relevant for top level athletes, where match day ceremonial procedures could lead to them 'cooling down': warm-up, sit around in the changing room for 15 minutes, walk to the pitch, handshake, toss, kick off… (The same way Olympic athletes wear full tracksuits until the starting gun) (All of this has no doubt been researched by a sports scientist with shares in Nike).
It’s still relevant at the lower levels, too—like James says, as well as staying warm, there’s also the element of professionalism and looking good. But if you’re anything like me, turning up on a Sunday morning to ref the Dog and Duck after 8 pints of Guinness the night before, being warm is probably the least of your worries.
None of the warm-up kit is strictly necessary at grassroots level, but let’s be honest—it definitely saves you from showing up in your match kit, only to get soaked in the rain or being freezing cold before you’ve even stepped onto the pitch. Plus, it gives you something to change into after you've had a soaking or, you know, developed a mild case of frostbite.
I bought the zip-up top for exactly this reason. You’ll be thanking yourself when you're not standing there shivering waiting for Dave to collect £40 off the losing team.
It’s still relevant at the lower levels, too—like James says, as well as staying warm, there’s also the element of professionalism and looking good. But if you’re anything like me, turning up on a Sunday morning to ref the Dog and Duck after 8 pints of Guinness the night before, being warm is probably the least of your worries.
None of the warm-up kit is strictly necessary at grassroots level, but let’s be honest—it definitely saves you from showing up in your match kit, only to get soaked in the rain or being freezing cold before you’ve even stepped onto the pitch. Plus, it gives you something to change into after you've had a soaking or, you know, developed a mild case of frostbite.
I bought the zip-up top for exactly this reason. You’ll be thanking yourself when you're not standing there shivering waiting for Dave to collect £40 off the losing team.
I would say the boring corporate reason is so that Nike can fleece us all for the new training kit every season.
The less boring answer would be that, especially in non league upwards, it makes you look more professional than if you were to warm up in your kit, at least in my opinion that is.
The less boring answer would be that, especially in non league upwards, it makes you look more professional than if you were to warm up in your kit, at least in my opinion that is.
Yeah I think it does make you look a bit more professional.
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