Coaches' dress code

we all wear the same shirt
and either khaki pants/shorts

when its cold we just wear one of our Jackets. We have a lot of them from the different years but they all are our football jackets we ordered as a team

The first two HCs I worked for wanted us to at least look similar with polos, but it was our discretion as to where pants, shorts, jackets, vests, etc. The last HC I worked for really wanted us to look the same. We had the polos ordered and he went to Wal-Mart to buy us Khaki shorts to ensure they we all had the same shade. To me, it's no big deal as long as you're wearing team colors.

It is my personal opinion that a coach should never show up to a game in jeans or flip flops. Ironically, I think it is fine to coach in Shorts as long as they are cargo or Khaki. Then a coordinated Polo is best. A dark one for away and a light one for home. (This way you stand out on the sidelines from the players).

Opinions like that will differ when there people are probably three generations apart...

Our staff wore jeans one time, but that was a game where the weather was real bad and rained all day and during both games. But we all had the same polo.

The kids all have the same uniform on and so do the coaches. We're in South Florida so forget jackets, hoodies, and warmups. We have 2 polos and some kind of team under armor garment - typically the opposite color of our jerseys that day. Echo the comments about looking professional. NO JEANS or FLIP FLOPS!

I normally wear regular shoes, but that's because my two pairs of dress shoes are very uncomfortable. If I find a pair of dress shoes more to my liking, I might wear them.

I learned that image is very important. When I GAed I showed up wearing what I thought was a normal set of duds at the office. The head coach pulled me aside and told me that I represent the program, gave me his Gold card, called a clothing store and hooked me up. I was so embarrased and have never forgotten that. Humiliating yes, but definately correct. Even at the HS level I would expect my coaches to look sharp; invest some bucks in your clothes; you get what you pay for. How can you expect your kids to take pride in themselves if you and your staff look like a bunch of second rate slobs. On game day we all look the same; during the school day I want may coaches looking sharp. In our school they represent our program to everybody else. It may sound trivial, but it does matter.

We generally wear khaki shorts or pants with a team colored polo. I would like for us to wear the same ones (I think it's easier for the kids to find the coaches on the sideline when they all know what kind or style of shirt to be looking for when they hear the voice, plus it looks classier and represents the program better) but last year at one game we had 6 different styles on our sideline at once. Some of our coaches had been here for 3 or more years and had some from a previous regime as well as the other 2 years under our HC. I was new last year. We hadn't ordered polos last year, so I ended up coaching in a team colored polo I got on Ebay that I had our logo embroidered onto. I thought it looked very tacky and unorganized. Kind of like our program last year. This year I'm in charge of polos.

We did get pullovers though, so at least in the last 4 games or so we looked somewhat similar.

I also worked once for a guy who wanted us to all wear teamwear to practice. Every day. I was only there for one year so that meant I pretty much had to wear the same shirt style (I had two of the camp shirts) every day. That was kind of excessive.

At the youth level matching apparel is worn by about 80% of the teams we play.
For me it's not about the coaches, it's about the kids. All I care is that the coaches are clean shaven (beard and moustaches ok, no scraggly hillbilly silliness), wear a collared shirt and are clean.

IMHO if that youth teams coaches are all wearing matching apparrel it's like having your own bowling ball at the bowling alley. If you bring your own ball, you better be good and you better beat the guy who is using the alley ball.
I like to keep it low key and NOT match.

Ive seen too many teams with 9 perfectly matched coaches, with new matching hats, pants, shirts and jackets who obviously had spent over $100 per coach for "costumes" but hadnt spent a dime on any clinics or coaching materials and were getting blown out every week. Style over substance reigning supreme.

Reminded me of my very first boxing match. My opponnent, robe, boxing shorts, boxing top with his teams name on front his name on back, top notch boxing shoes, 2 trainers etc etc. I had no idea how I would do, no shirt, regular gym type shorts, high top tennis shoes with socks that didnt perfectly match, no robe, just a towel, 1 coach etc. I knocked him down 3 times in the second round If you want to look the part, you better be it IMHO.

i think it becomes an issue when a coach is at the ninth grade level and up and receiving a stipend. If a guy is volunteering at the youth Level and cannot get it, then I think it is a non-issue.

If it is the high school level, then coaches and players represent something bigger than themselves and even the football team. Professionalism is crucial.

Last HC didn't set a wardrobe of any sort.We all genereally wore the same polo and khakis ,although sometimes the HC wore navy pants. The HC before him never expressed directly a wardrobe but we knew to wear khaki pants and he never allowed shorts as one coach wasted half of a season wondering if we could wear them. When I was an AD/HC I didn't allow jeans or shorts.(and Im in my mid 20's) Nothing against anyone who wears jeans,I just think that it looks tacky and unprofessional. When it gets cold you just have to hope you know who coaches for our school because we bascially wear whatever is in our closets because the school provides nothing.

personally, I think that a staff could all be wearing team gear, though maybe not exactly the same, and still look professional. Not everyone has the cash for it, but, doesn't it look better when everyone is wearing the exact same thing?

I'm from Florida originally (now in Virginia), and I'm never more comfortable than in shorts and a T-shirt, flip-flops optional. Now that's for me.

The X's and O's are easy - let me have the pencil last and I'll whip your butt every time, but that's the least of the equation. As coaches, our biggest challenges are to get the kids to play hard, give it everything they've got, understand they are part of and representing something bigger than themselves. Valuable lessons that will serve them well later in life.

If we as coaches don't act with class, and as part of that dress with class, then what are we really telling the kids, the parents, and any other observers? I don't care if it's 6 year old kids, as a staff we must demonstrate that we are willing to look and act as part of the team. Matching pants, matching shirts, matching belts, socks and shoes, every member of the staff wearing each component in l the same color, no other options. Pants are the one place where you can be an individual, either long or short, depending on personal preference (khaki is always a good neutral color). Facial hair should be at the discretion of the HC, I think that should be the only other personal decision but the HC should have the final call on that.

It's not hard to do and it's well worth it. As a staff, you're going to wear something, so you might as well do it in a way that demonstrates class.