[Stevetheump]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

I can never imagine anyone not wanting to protect themselves to the fullest. But, that is just me. Saw a buddy of mine separate her shoulder during a 10U state tourney years ago, because she thought she could do without a chest protector in the 103 degree heat. Pretty much ended her career.

No, not just you, Scott. No matter what level of ball I'm umpiring, I'm wearing some sort of protection. Now that I've gone back to umpiring youth and adult SP softball, I wear a cup. In my baseball days, it was "the whole 9 yards" - mask, chest protector, cup, shin guards. True story: A friend of mine was the base umpire in a men's SP game years ago. With R2 on second and 1 out, he was out in the "B" position (near the 2nd baseman). Batter hits a line drive to the 3rd baseman, who catches it and fires to second in an attempt to double off R2. Well, the throw was off and what did not help matters is that the second baseman had to jump to avoid the runner sliding back in to the base. The fielder took his eye off the ball for a split second. Well, the ball deflected off the back of his glove, and my friend was in a direct line behind the play. He never saw the ball coming and it hit him square in the groin. He limped in between innings and said to me: "Steve, I've been umpiring 20 years and have NEVER been hit in the groin by a ball." I added: "Until now." Believe me, observing that REINFORCED my belief that YOU WEAR A CUP AT EVERY LEVEL OF BALL AND REGARDLESS IF YOU ARE A PLATE OR BASE UMPIRE. Those of who have been hit by a "softball" KNOW that it is anything but a "soft" ball when you get hit. Last year, I got hit by a THROWN softball from the outfield. It caught me on the back of my right hand and broke the 5th metacarpal bone. Ended my season right there.