Our association had a similar discussion about whether the hockey-style catchers masks needed a throat protector or not. What it boils down to is that with 600 or so approved bats, helmuts, facemasks, etc. to check and a different date or stamp or sticker needed periodically it seems that the equipment companies are driving this process more than anybody else. The result is that officials end up having to play games that are technically outside the rules or not allow teams to play whose only real fault is that they don't have the money to buy new equipment (especially for lower levels) every year.
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