Quote:
Originally posted by Rich Ives
Most leagues around here provide basic umpire gear. LL umpires don't have to buy the latest whiz bang West Vest, or whatever is the "cool" umpire thing to have this year any more than Mom needs to buy Jr. the latest bat.
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Rich;
I am replying to your message to make a larger point with umpires generally.
I started out in umpiring by being a volunteer using volunteer equipment. I would like to suggest to umpires that they not use the equipment supplied by the leagues and instead buy their own gear.
I was regularly injured doing volunteer baseball with 13-15 years olds. Today, I have my own gear and umpire for 18-23 year olds and I am rarely injured. Some of that is due to the catchers but at least half of it is due to better gear. Volunteer groups don't provide cups; they don't provide steel shoes; and the gear rarely fits properly. All of things combine to vastly increase the rate of injuries to the volunteers.
I might further point out, that good equipment for 13-15 year old baseball is even more important than for NCAA ball. NCAA catchers usually stop the ball and the players don't ever release the bat back into you.
All of my umpire injuries that required medical attention occured while I was a volunteer using the league provided equipment. Your thesis, Rich is flat wrong. Umpires DO NEED the latest whiz bang gear. That gear is a whole lot cheaper than medical bills. All the combined price, for all the gear that I ever bought, cost less that fixing my broken foot from a foul ball of a 13 year old. Don't tell me about insurance. It does nothing to eliminate the pain.
Peter