Dress code and uniform requirements

Through the Tomball Kings dress code and uniform requirements, we seek to promote a positive image of Kings student-athletes and to instill in each of them an awareness of and respect for the need to dress appropriately for life’s innumerable and varied occasions.

We want our student-athletes to understand that their appearance has an effect on others and the judgments that others make of them, and will play a role in the opportunities that life presents to them. In extreme cases, proper attire may be the difference between life and death. More commonly, attire will influence the outcome of interviews, presentations, and even marriage prospects.

In athletic contests appearance can be a competitive strength or weakness. As a competitive sports program, our standard of performance requires that we dress in a manner that conveys a professional appearance, strength and formidability, attention to detail, self-discipline, and respect for ourselves, our opponents, and the game of baseball.

Uniform modes

The Tomball Kings have three modes of athletic uniform attire:

• "Game attire"
• Practice attire: "Full practice attire"
• Practice attire: "Shorts"

Each of these modes of attire has a specific meaning and a definite set of items associated with it.

With respect to the uniform modes “Game attire” or “full practice attire,” shirt tails must be tucked in crisply at all times. When in “Shorts,” shirt tails may be tucked in or untucked, as the player prefers.

Irrespective of the mode of uniform attire, players must always arrive for their event fully dressed and depart in the same fashion. Players may not dress or undress in the dugout, except to change their shoes or – if directed to do so by their coach – game jerseys.

The conclusion of a team event does not excuse compliance with the dress code and uniform requirements. For example, a player who arrived for a JV game in game attire may not, during a subsequent varsity game, have his shirt tail untucked or wear sandals.

Team colors

Our team colors are red, royal blue, navy blue, white, black, and gray. Red, royal blue, and white are primary team colors. Navy blue, black, and gray are secondary team colors. For any of our three modes of uniform attire, players may not wear any article of clothing that contains any color other than a primary or secondary team color.

Dress code

Hair must be neatly kept. It may not fall below the collar or eyebrows, and may not obscure the face. Hair may not be bleached, dyed, or otherwise colored. Neither may it be worn in ponytails or man buns, or feature shaved designs. Faces must be clean shaven – we do not allow beards, mustaches, or other facial hair. Sideburns may not extend below the bottom of the ear.

Any tattoos must be covered, and skin must be otherwise free of piercings and other forms of decoration or ornamentation.

Players may not wear jewelry of any kind, including but not limited to necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, or piercings, at any Tomball Kings event or with any mode of Tomball Kings uniform. This prohibition applies also to the player’s ingress to and egress from the event, while in any mode of Tomball Kings uniform.

High school, junior high, and 12U players should always bring both game jerseys to every game, in case it may be necessary to switch jerseys for contrast with our opponents.

Players may not arrive to a team event in ripped, torn, frayed, soiled, or stained jerseys, hats, or pants. With proper care, each of these items can and must be kept in clean condition.

Mandatory uniform items

Hats

All Kings players must have a Kings blue hat. All Kings high school players must also have a Kings white hat.

Jerseys

All Kings players must have a Kings Ready Red jersey. All Kings junior high and 12U players must also have a Kings Pre-Varsity Blue jersey. All Kings high school players must also have a Kings Varsity Blue and Kings Varsity White jersey.

Belts

All Kings players must have a royal blue baseball belt.

Pants

All Kings high school players must have white baseball pants with royal blue piping, either in full-length or knicker styles, and gray baseball practice pants with no piping, either in full length or knicker styles. All other Kings players must have white and gray pants with no piping, either in full-length or knicker styles. The leg portion of full-length game pants must be open bottom. The leg portion of gray practice pants may be open bottom or elastic banded, as the player prefers.

Shorts

All Kings players must have solid black athletic shorts.

Socks

All Kings players must have solid white athletic socks to wear with the uniform mode “Shorts.” For the uniform modes “game attire” or “full practice attire,” all Kings players must have, in solid, royal blue color, either (i) TCK Prosport Performance Tube Socks or (ii) TCK Long Sports Socks Over the Knee Pro Plus Performance socks. With knicker-style pants, socks must cover the calves completely.

Shoes

All Kings players must have rubberized cleats and turf shoes containing only team colors. These may be baseball- or soccer-style shoes. Baseball shoes with metal spikes are optional for players in junior high and high school. Players in the 12U, 10U, and 8U divisions may not wear metal spikes.

High school game shoes may be of any of the team colors, whether individually or in combination, other than red.

Players may wear athletic shoes with closed toes and heels for purposes of walking to and from a dugout or comparable facility, and then change into game or practice shoes within the dugout or facility. In no event may players wear, with any mode of uniform, sandals, “crocs,” flats, deck shoes, canvas shoes, or any other non-sports shoe.

Recommended uniform items

We recommend that all players have sports sunglasses and sliding shorts. We also recommend white and royal blue undershirts for all high school players, with white shirts to be worn under the Varsity White jerseys and royal blue undershirts to be worn under the Varsity Blue jerseys.

Optional uniform items

Players may wear compression sleeves of a solid, team color. Pitchers may only wear solid red, royal blue, navy blue, or black compression sleeves.

Uniform mode definitions

Game attire

With respect to high school players, the term “game attire” means:

• Kings blue or white hat, as directed;
• Kings Varsity Blue or Varsity White jersey, as directed;
• royal blue baseball belt;
• white baseball pants with royal blue piping, either in full-length or knicker style;
• either (i) TCK Prosport Performance Tube Socks or (ii) TCK Long Sports Socks Over the Knee Pro Plus Performance socks, of solid, royal blue color; and,
• surface-appropriate baseball shoes, meeting Kings game-shoe specifications.

 With respect to junior high and 12U players, the term “game attire” means:

• Kings blue hat;
• Kings Ready Red or Pre-Varsity Blue jersey, as directed;
• royal blue baseball belt;
• white baseball pants with no piping, either in full-length or knicker style;
• either (i) TCK Prosport Performance Tube Socks or (ii) TCK Long Sports Socks Over the Knee Pro Plus Performance socks, of solid, royal blue color; and,
• surface-appropriate baseball shoes, meeting Kings game-shoe specifications.

 With respect to 10U and 8U players, the term “game attire” means:

• Kings blue hat;
• Kings Ready Red jersey;
• royal blue baseball belt;
• white baseball pants with no piping, either in full-length or knicker style;
• either (i) TCK Prosport Performance Tube Socks or (ii) TCK Long Sports Socks Over the Knee Pro Plus Performance socks, of solid, royal blue color; and,
• surface-appropriate baseball shoes, meeting Kings game-shoe specifications.

Full practice attire

With respect to all players, the term “full practice attire” means:

• Kings blue hat;
• Kings Ready Red jersey for high school, junior high, and 12U;
• Kings “K Blue” training shirt for 10U and 8U;
• royal blue baseball belt;
• gray baseball practice pants with no piping, either in full length or knicker styles;
• either (i) TCK Prosport Performance Tube Socks or (ii) TCK Long Sports Socks Over the Knee Pro Plus Performance socks, of solid, royal blue color; and,
• surface-appropriate baseball shoes, meeting Kings shoe specifications.

Shorts

With respect to all players, the term “shorts” is a form of practice attire and means:

• Kings blue hat;
• Kings Ready Red jersey for high school, junior high, and 12U;
• Kings “K Blue” training shirt for 10U and 8U;
• solid black athletic shorts or solid black sweat pants;
• solid white athletic socks; and,
• surface-appropriate baseball shoes, meeting Kings shoe specifications.

Safety apparel and equipment

We require players to wear protective cups for any field event and recommend sliding shorts for game attire and full practice attire.

For practices specified as batting-cages only, cups are mandatory for catchers when catching and optional for all other players.

We require batting helmets with C-flaps for every game, field practice, and batting-cage event. These must be of royal blue color. Whenever players are in any batting cage at the same time that one or more bats are in the cage, irrespective of cage location, they must wear batting helmets without exception.

We strongly recommend that players wear mouth guards, heart shields, and elbow and ankle shields.

For their own safety, all catchers must have their own throat protectors, catcher's mitts, and well-fitted chest protectors and shin guards, preferable of clam-shell design; for high school play, chest protectors must meet NOCSAE standards. Kings catcher's gear should be used for back-up purposes only.

No player under the age of fifteen may use a “donut,” “sleeve,” or other bat-weighting device.