NFHS Equipment Inspections

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Dakota

I can't imagine a coach would take it that far, either, but that does not mean you are not overstepping your authority.

You reference 3-6-1, well, that rule says, in part, "Team personnel shall wear or use legal and/or required equipment."

Wear or use

It does not say anything about hanging in a bag in the dugout, nor does it say that all equipment not intended to be used in the game must be kept out of sight.

Well, I look at it as preventive umpiring. If it's in the dugout, there's the very real possibility that a player will use it. Otherwise, why bring it into the dugout in the first place?

What do you do when you find a piece of illegal equipment? Do you allow the team to keep it in the dugout? The rule book says that equipment shall be removed. I interpret "removed" as out of the dugout so that it doesn't make its way into the game. So under that authority, I will ask that bats not intended to be used in the game should also be removed.