[TussAgee11]

I attended a little 3 hour clinic the other day, just one of many preseason deals that people in the area are encouraged to go to. I didn't learn anything of any value, but I did learn that now I'm supposed to not ask during pregame confrence "Skip, is your team properly equipped?"

He asked the group why any of us did this, nobody seemed to really know why. One person said because everybody else did it, and he always thought that's just what umpire's did.

I explained that it could save you legally in the future, and put the responsibility on the Coach if little Johnny's helmet had a sticker on it and he got hit in the head and Rawlings won't insure a helmet with a sticker on it and they come to sue me for allowing it to be used.

It takes 5 seconds to ask each Coach, and they will always say yes without even thinking. So when something happens do to equipment malfunction, even if maybe I missed something that shouldn't have been allowed in the game safety wise, oh well, I was told everything was fine.

This doesn't mean that you should ignore all equipment during the game, if you see something wrong, get it fixed ASAP. But, we're not perfect, and I don't have millions to be sued for.

I spoke with several other assignors where I live now and back home, and when I told them a clinician actually said to stop saying this, they laughed and didn't believe me.

So, I support and hope that you ask the question, if you don't already.

Thoughts?