Umpire Equipment

Cecil4

As long as I have umpired, I have heard and practiced that our masks should be loose enough to move if struck, thereby absorbing part of the force.
Recently, someone told me that my mask should be tight against my face.

Do you know which is correct and do you know of a source for scientific or medical advice?

bbman

No sourse.
My mask is on the loose side. When I get smacked by the foul tip, my mask wiggles a little sideways & I feel nothing!

umpjim

We were told at an Evans clinic to adjust to a loose mask. To test the adjustment they advised to bend 90 degrees and the mask should come slightly off your chin. In all of the shots I took my mask ended up askew or on the ground with no impact experienced by me. But in other discussions it was noted the MLB umps have tight masks, scuttlebutt being that the manufacturers did not like the look of a mask coming off. I think they pay the price in more concussions but it just might be the level of the pitching. I think I've seen one MLB ump take a hit by the mask staying on straight, compressing and impacting the brim of his eight-stich hat which transferred the force.