Players standing in the dugout openings

[Mountaincoach]

Originally Posted by Big Slick

But don't involve the umpire, don't make it mandatory. I don't want to check facemask and look for a disappearing NOSCAE sticker.

Nobody "wants" to check equipment, but you will if a mandatory rule is ever passed requiring the masks. Don't get me wrong, I see it the same way you do--coaches, schools, and parents should be the ones responsible for the safety of the players on the field. But, for whatever reason, somebody laid the responsibility of equipment inspections on the umpires a long time ago. And, if facemasks become a requirement by rule, they'll make you guys inspect those too. Is it fair to the umpires?--No. Does it spread even more possible liability onto the umpires?--Yes. But that's the world we live in nowadays.

And yes, the throat guard requirement by Little League is almost laughable nowadays. My team participated in a tournament once that was using Little League rules. My catcher had a modern mask with a built-in throat guard that literally touched her chest guard already. The umpire asked me to get a hanging throat guard before the game started. I didn't argue. I just found one and attached it to the helmet. And the throat guard protected the front of the chest guard very well throughout the tournament.