Is this Legal?

[RPatrino]

Walt, the point is that catcher should never have been allowed to have it on in the first place. If I was doing that game, I would have had him in the proper helmet, particularly if I knew that some yahoo with a camera was around.

I really wonder who this crew was?

[umpduck11]

In Alabama, in the playoffs, you're very likely to be seen by a district director, or a district instructor. For this reason, I have seen umpires who are lenient on certain rules suddenly crack down on those rules. I guess this crew had no fear either of being seen by a state official, or receiving any type of punishment for ignoring ( or failing to notice) an obvious violation of a safety
rule. I suppose the coach's assurance that his players are " legally and properly equipt " covers these guys in the event of an injury, huh ?

[jkumpire]

Yes the PU is wrong, and it's why every year the FED rules Cmte puts in the stuff about "Umpire Professionalism".

But, the rule is a silly rule. The old style mask/helmet combination is safe, and if there is one rule in FED I'd ignore, this one might be it.

My question to all of you: Has anyone ever had a game where a HS catcher got hurt because he was using the old helmet/mask without ear protection?

Never heard of one, or saw one. Bet you haven't either. Soon we will have to check skirt lengths, face masks, and wiffle ball bats too to see if the NOCASE seal on them....

Happy Memorial Day, I hope you took time to remember.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Walt, the point is that catcher should never have been allowed to have it on in the first place. If I was doing that game, I would have had him in the proper helmet, particularly if I knew that some yahoo with a camera was around.

I really wonder who this crew was?

We agree. This would not be allowed in a game I worked. My point was that this probably wasn't the first time the catcher pulled this gear out of his bag and was allowed to wear it.