Quote:
Originally posted by WestMichBlue
I'll second that. Because of the angular shape, foul balls will deflect away and the mask does not have to absorb the entire energy of the ball.
Plus the visability is great. (And you don't have to wear a hat!)
WMB
|
Aye, and there's the rub.
In both ASA and NCAA rulebooks and manuals (I am on the road, in rain delay day at the NFCA Leadoff Clasic in Columbus, GA, and don't have my NFHS books handy to verify the same), the official hat is a mandated, and not optional, part of the official uniform. Unless you find a hockey style helmet that allows a hat to be worn underneath, you are out of uniform.
At the 2006 NCAA Umpire Development Clinic held in Atlanta, it was finally stated, and clearly. The NCAA Umpire Development staff does not want or like umpires to wear the hockey style masks. Aside from the hat issue, it makes an individual umpire stand out; that is not desirable.