Non-adult shagger
 

During 1/2 inning interval, sub is tossing ball to left fielder; sub is on foul territory during this dead ball time. Does he need to wear helmet as per Rule 1, Sec.5, Art. 1? Is sub considered a shagger who is just warming up F7 ? Mike

Is anyone hitting? Then there's nothing headed his way.

This is one rule that is simply not enforced in my area. Players chase foul balls sans helmet all the time.

It sure is enforced in Ohio and Michigan.

MTD, Sr.

I got a call from a coach who got restricted to the dugout a few weeks ago because the plate umpire insisted that the bullpen protector wear a helmet. Things went downhill quickly when the coach essentially told the umpire he was making (stuff) up. Coach called me to ask if that was the rule. I told him it's "recommended" which means that it's not a requirement.

It would be unfortunate if you had to move to Michigan, but Ohio has Youngstown State University, The Ohio State University, and The Best Damn Band in the Land, :D!

MTD, Sr.

I actually like Columbus. They have NHL teams that come in and play against the local minor league club all the time, from what I hear.

I'm not one for ignoring rules typically, but I am pretty certain I'd be the only one stopping the game and insisting on this. When I lived elsewhere, it was always enforced strictly.

Around here you can tell the schools with a baseball IQ -- someone in the dugout immediately goes after the foul ball down the line. At schools with no such IQ, the outfielder chases it and we wait.

Where does FED say it's recommended? But, I'm glad you guys are paying attention to everything outside the lines. Can't focus on all those little things inside the lines.

Same. Our association interprets that as players are fine but if there are younger kids that aren't players doing the shagging, they need to have a helmet on.

Players shagging down foul balls for us is a great way to keep the game moving and all of the schools in our area do it.

Non-adult shagger
 

Sounds like something a rat would say.

What's amazing is that decent officials are capable of doing both..well as long as they have the rule right anyways. Somehow that gets turned into a false dichotomy and a comment from a coach that I just usually laugh off or mentally roll my eyes at.

Yup. It takes a special kind of person to go down that road. Doesn't bother me.

We have our schools "trained" to send a player with a helmet, but I can see where other areas may not. I don't recall ever having a pitch thrown before the retriever got back to the dugout.

Noted in two of three OhioHSAA bulletins:

• At the pre-game conference, make sure that you mention to the coaches that all nonadult shaggers must have a helmet on when retrieving ball within the confines of the playing field. Yes players are non-adult shaggers.

Noted in the other bulletin:

• The coaches are doing a pretty good job making sure that the non-adult shaggers are wearing helmet when retrieving foul balls. One coach now puts a helmet on the fence at the end of his dugout so that it is always there for any player.