Football Referee Uniforms, Apparel and Officiating Gear

Complete Your Football Officiating Uniform and Gear

Honig’s Football Collection brings together the uniforms, footwear, accessories and field equipment football officials need throughout the season. Shop football referee shirts, pants, shorts, hats, belts, penalty flags, whistles, game cards, down indicators, timers, communication equipment, cold-weather apparel and complete starter kits in one collection.

For more than 40 years, Honig’s has served officials at nearly every level of competition. Our football products are selected for the movement, durability, professional appearance and on-field functionality required by working officials. Whether you are preparing for your first assignment, replacing heavily used equipment or updating a full crew, you can build your football officiating uniform and game-day kit from one trusted source.

Shop Football Officials Gear by Category

Football Referee Shirts and Jerseys

A football official’s shirt must meet the requirements of the league, conference or association while remaining comfortable through a full game. Honig’s carries striped football referee shirts in multiple stripe widths, sleeve lengths, cuts and performance fabrics.

Options include traditional short-sleeve and long-sleeve referee shirts, sublimated designs, CFO-style jerseys, shirts with or without an American flag and styles made for football and lacrosse officials. Before ordering, confirm the stripe width, flag placement, position lettering and uniform specifications required by your assigning organization.

Football Referee Pants and Shorts

Shop football officiating pants and shorts designed for unrestricted movement and a professional fit. Available options include lightweight football pants, tapered cuts, traditional cuts and black officiating shorts with the appropriate contrasting stripe.

Football referee pants should provide enough flexibility for sprinting, backpedaling and changing direction while maintaining a clean appearance throughout the game. Officials working multiple levels may need more than one pant or short style to match seasonal, association or crew requirements.

Football Officials Hats

Complete your uniform with football referee hats from established headwear brands such as Richardson. The collection includes black and white combinations, fitted and flex-fit designs, lightweight performance fabrics and styles with contrasting piping.

Hat color and design can vary by position, league and association. Review your organization’s uniform standards before selecting a white, black or combination football officials cap.

Football Referee Shoes, Socks and Belts

Footwear and supporting uniform pieces can make a significant difference during long assignments. Honig’s offers black officiating shoes, socks and belts that coordinate with standard football referee uniforms.

Look for footwear that provides dependable traction, stability and comfort on natural grass and synthetic fields. Officials should also consider field conditions, weather, crew expectations and the amount of running required by their assigned position.

Penalty Flags and Challenge Flags

Shop standard and long-throw penalty flags in multiple configurations, including yellow flags with black ball weights, all-yellow flags and red challenge or penalty flags.

A standard penalty flag works well for most routine calls. Long-throw flags can provide additional distance when an official needs to mark a foul farther from their position. Many experienced officials carry a backup flag in case their primary flag is lost, damaged or becomes difficult to use in wet conditions.

Whistles, Lanyards and Down Indicators

Small pieces of equipment often have an outsized impact on game management. Honig’s carries football officiating whistles, lanyards, elastic wrist down indicators, slider indicators and other accessories used to track downs and manage live-ball situations.

Officials should choose a whistle and lanyard combination that is secure, accessible and appropriate for their position. Down indicators should be easy to adjust without distracting from the next snap.

Game Cards, Pencils and Information Packs

Keep game details organized with reusable football game cards, paper information cards, tri-fold cards, mini pencils and complete information packs. These products help officials record captains, timeouts, fouls, scores, overtime information and other assignment-specific notes.

Reusable cards can be helpful for officials who want a durable season-long option, while disposable paper cards provide a convenient choice for individual assignments or full crews.

Cold-Weather Football Officiating Gear

Late-season football requires apparel that provides warmth without restricting movement or obscuring the required uniform. Shop cold-weather layers, jackets, gloves, undergarments and weather-ready accessories selected for officials working in changing field conditions.

Layering allows officials to adjust as temperatures change before, during and after the game. Always confirm whether outerwear must meet specific league, conference or association standards.

Timers, Radios and Communication Equipment

Football crews depend on clear communication and accurate time management. Honig’s offers timing devices, radios and communication systems that can help officials coordinate responsibilities before and during the game.

Communication equipment requirements vary significantly by level of play. Officials should follow the policies established by their conference, association, assigner or governing organization before using electronic communication on the field.

Football Referee Starter Kits

New and returning officials can simplify uniform preparation with a football referee starter kit. Honig’s offers general high school football starter kits as well as options developed around specific organizations and programs, including TASO, WOA, Colorado high school football and RefReps.

Starter-kit contents can vary, so review the included shirt, pants, belt, hat, whistle, flag and accessories before ordering. Association-specific kits are intended to make it easier to select products that align with a particular organization’s uniform expectations.

Football Officiating Gear at a Glance

Primary users: Football referees, officials, crew members, new officials, veteran officials and officiating organizations.

Levels of play: Youth, high school, college, conference and other organized football assignments.

Core uniform pieces: Striped referee shirt, black officiating pants or shorts, belt, hat, black shoes and socks.

Essential field equipment: Penalty flag, whistle, lanyard, down indicator, game card and pencil.

Additional equipment: Timers, radios, communication systems, equipment bags, cold-weather layers and pregame apparel.

Common selection factors: Association requirements, stripe width, shirt style, position, weather, field surface, fit and level of competition.

Why Football Officials Choose Honig’s

Honig’s is rooted in football officiating and has spent more than four decades helping officials prepare for the field. Our football collection combines Honig’s apparel with products from respected officiating and athletic brands, allowing officials to compare uniform pieces, accessories and equipment in one place.

We understand that football referee gear is not simply athletic apparel. Each piece must support the official’s movement, responsibilities, uniform standards and professional presence. That is why this collection includes everything from primary uniform components to the small game-management tools officials reach for on every assignment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Football Referee Gear

What equipment does a football referee need?

A typical football official needs a striped referee shirt, black officiating pants or shorts, a belt, black shoes, socks, an approved hat, a whistle, a lanyard, a penalty flag, a down indicator, a game card and a pencil. Requirements can vary by position, level of play and officiating association.

How do I know which football referee shirt to buy?

Start with the uniform requirements provided by your association, conference or assigner. Confirm the required stripe width, sleeve length, flag placement, shirt construction and whether position lettering is needed. Do not assume that one striped shirt is approved for every football organization.

What is the difference between standard and long-throw penalty flags?

Standard penalty flags are designed for most routine foul-marking situations. Long-throw flags include additional weight or construction intended to help the official throw the flag farther. The best option depends on personal preference, officiating position and game conditions.

Should football officials carry more than one penalty flag?

Many officials carry a backup penalty flag. A second flag can be useful when multiple fouls occur, when the primary flag is lost during a play or when wet and muddy conditions affect its use.

What should a new football official buy first?

Begin with the exact uniform specifications supplied by your association. A starter kit can provide many of the basic items in one purchase, but officials should still verify the included shirt, pants, hat, belt, whistle and accessories before ordering.

Are football referee uniforms the same for every association?

No. Uniform standards may differ by state, association, conference and level of competition. Differences can include stripe width, shirt design, American flag placement, hat color, pant style, jacket requirements and position-specific markings.

How should football referee pants fit?

Football referee pants should provide a professional, streamlined appearance without limiting running, bending or lateral movement. Officials can choose between traditional and tapered cuts depending on their body type, comfort preferences and association requirements.

Can football and lacrosse officials use some of the same apparel?

Some striped shirts, hats, shorts, flags and accessories are designed for use in both football and lacrosse. However, officials should confirm the specifications required by each sport and association before using the same item for multiple assignments.

What cold-weather gear can football officials wear?

Officials commonly use performance undergarments, gloves, jackets and other insulating layers. Outer garments must still comply with the rules and uniform policies of the assigning organization, so confirm approved colors and styles before game day.

Does Honig’s sell football referee gear for specific associations?

Yes. Honig’s carries products and starter kits connected with a range of football officiating organizations and programs. Association-specific collections can help officials identify approved or commonly required uniform pieces, but individual requirements should always be verified with the organization.

How many football referee uniforms should an official own?

The right number depends on assignment frequency and weather conditions. Officials working several games each week often keep multiple shirts, pants and base layers available so they have a clean, dry uniform for each assignment.

Where can I buy a complete football referee uniform?

Honig’s offers football referee shirts, pants, shorts, hats, belts, shoes, socks, penalty flags, whistles, game cards and starter kits in one collection. Officials can purchase individual replacement pieces or assemble a complete game-day uniform and equipment kit.