[DownTownTonyBrown]

Originally posted by cbfoulds

What, exactly, is your point?

Inspection may not "buy" you much. However, FED rules require it, as do some other youth league standards. The point of my post was simple: DO YOUR JOB. If you are required to inspect by the Rules, DO IT. Even if you are not required by the Rules, if there is an accepted proceedure which requires inspection, DO IT.

You'd be suprised at the amount of illegal junk I've seen in dugouts: usually, but not always, the owner of said junk acknowedges that it can't be used, and puts it away/ takes it off the field. By inspecting, at least I know that it's there, & can watch for it, in case some rat tries to use it. As for cracked helmets, who said anything about EJ? You just don't let 'em be used - or do you do nothing is a kid comes up to bat with an obviously defective helmet? Talk about Yowza!

Carter, I think perhaps you just haven't found anyone to fight with yet this week.

My point is quite plain. You quoted it. -- Inspection doesn't buy you much - it does not ensure legal equipment will be used because you don't have control over that equipment. Therefore, inspection does not directly ensure player safety.

My second point may have been less salient. By rule, the inspection criteria are not specified beyond requiring a sticker/silkscreen. I've seen on the internet proprieters that will silkscreen any bat. Got an illegal bat? Send it to them and get it silkscreened. Now the umpire will say "That's a legal bat! And you can use it." Safety of players not ensured.

The level of inspection is not specified but as an umpire on the field of play, I can do little more than find that a bat has a sticker. Hence, I tried to say that I feel, entering a team's dugout and making an official inspection is a futile exercise if you are trying to ensure player safety.

Personally, I feel a formal inspection is over-officious and does not ensure player safety.

That's enough said on my part.