Just intrested to know if anyone as used the Hockey stle face mask?

I switched last year. Love it, will never go back to iron mask. It's lighter, cooler, safer, and offers greater vision.

However, let's not get into a discussion about hats!

WMB

Iron mask! Haven't seen one of those since visiting the museum. I'm lying. I still have one stowed away someplace. Haven't worn it in years, but never really had a problem with it. Went to a composite some years back and have a hard time imagining anything being lighter, safer and still allow the umpire to remain in uniform! Sorry, WMB, just couldn't let that one slip by :)

Now that I no longer do FP, I really don't have to worry about it.

With the expectations of different sanctioning bodies, hats may well be an issue. However, I've got a lightweight mask and am comfortable & content with it.

The helmet may very well be the wave of the future, but if so there will have to be some adjustments to uniform regulations. Consider me a stickler, but if the uniform requirements say I have to wear a logo hat, that is what I wear, even for league single umpire games where no one is there to enforce the regulation.

Sure, you can stuff a hat under the helmet, especially one of those old beanies, if you can still find them with the required logo.

But, I can see it now... if you want to wear a helmet, you'll have to by one in solid navy blue with the sanctioning body's logo painted on the front.

Uh oh... I hope I didn't give them an idea! :D

Personally, I'm satisfied with my lightweight mask, but maybe it's just that I've not tried a helmet and am in a "don't know what I'm missing" situation.

No getting into hat discussion, but all associations I know of
say it is a required item...The only two people I know that have
tried the hockey style mask could not wear a hat and were informed
by the UIC to either change mask or wear the hat....

I don't think I would like a helmet, though I haven't tried one. My light make works just fine for me. There is the question of the hat also.

Plus I don't think I want to spend $300.00 for a helmet.

Would it be alright if you cut the bill off an older hat so it would fit under your helmet ? Brian

Maybe, but the propeller on top would get in the way. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung...smiley-085.gif

ROFLMAO
and how would Cecil feel about his partner "Beanie"?

Sorry, Cecil - just showing my age & smart mouth a bit with this one.

Steve, Tom, Mike, and Bob.

You all memtioned having the light weight mask.

Which one do you use. I have two, the Gerry Davis and SUL.
The Gerry Davis low profile does take some pratice taking
off and leaving the hat on. NO, I will not go to a
Beenie.

I've got one of the older metal lightweights. I forget who made it - I've had it for several years. I've seen the flexing that a composite does and I'd have to think long & hard before deciding to use one of them. In my younger & dumber days, I thought I could make a living as a fighter & have a nose that's been broken several times - it's kinda sensitive to touch now so I try to keep it protected.

I was actually considering buying one of these for the new season. There is a store around here that sells them for only $75.00 which I don't think is that bad of a deal. I'm just not sure when I'll get a chance to use it considering PIAA wants hats worn... not getting into a hat discussion, of course. There's always rec leagues, I guess.

I wear the All-Star composite mask. I love it. I know it got a bad reputation a few years ago, but I've had no problems at all with it. It's lighter than the ultra light metal mask. I have no problem taking it off unless I have a brain slip and wear the 6 stitch hat. Then I have to be a little more concious of taking the mask off. I've got a few friends who use the hockey mask and they wouldn't take anything for them. I might bring up the hat issue at the next meeting we have, just to start some excitement.

BigUmpJohn,

Do you work with Steve on ocassions?
Just curious.

Glen,
No, John & I don't work together - different districts, separated by about 220 miles (I know - you Texas folks figger 200 miles is right next door...)

Although I do have a very good idea of where John's town is - It's not that far from where I grew up.

Glen,

I'll echo Steve here. We are roughly 200 miles from each other and while I do know where he is, we do not work together. Maybe someday when I pass through I'll stop by, but I won't be over there any time soon.

I use a light weight Wilson A3008. There are lighter ones, but this works well for me. I only wear six stitch hats, bases and plate, and don't have a problem with them comming off.

I have used a hockey style mask for the last 2 years. I personally wouldn't use anything else. I was the first person to use one in our association and the hat issue never came up. Guess if no one says anything, it must not be a problem.

Steve,

You are right. My first HS tournament is 172 miles from my front
door. I have done it for six years. The school gets all the teams
that were in the State playoffs plus some of the other teams and
has a hell of a tournament. Not a bad deal though. Get travel one
way and they put us in motel and feed one meal per day. It is a 3
day event. Walter Sparks usually drops by.

Welcome to the board B K. http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/bigwave.gif

Where you from?

Thanks, I have been an avid reader of the forum for quite some time and thought it might be time to join the fun. I am from Baton Rouge, La.

I call AFA with a group from La.. Gene Loar, Morgan
Maynard, Tory Brown, Butch Herbert and others. Have
you have run into them? http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung...smiley-079.gif

I could see ASA potentially getting into trouble if they outright BAN umps from wearing the hockey mask...if I was a manufacturer of same I could think about suing..especially if they ever make the full mask mandatory for JO players,as some states are thinking about. There is no way that ASA could justify it on safety or vision grounds..as someone alluded to, all they are waiting for is for a way to make big time $$ off of them-remember how sunglasses used to verboten? NOW ASA is right up there,selling those $98 wonders...give them time and they wil be selling the hockey masks with 'ASA' on them...

Haven't had the pleasure yet.

I don't expect ASA would directly ban them, but they do have the right to expect their umpires to be in uniform, and at the present time, that includes an ASA-logoed hat. They also still regulate mask and pad color, don't they?

Even though I joked about it earlier, I can't imagine they would really require an ASA-logo on such an expensive piece of equipment, but who knows???

how about a 1 stitch cap that might fit under the mask? LOL...seriously,we all know it takes ASA a few years to catch up to new types of gear....but they [and all the state associations too, BTW] WILL have to face the fact that eventually the 'normal' facemask will be rarer,as most CATCHERS go to the hockey mask,thus making the 'regular' mask a bit more expensive..and the hockey masks keep coming down in price,making them more and more attractive to umps at all levels.

In college games and in the state level high school playoff games, I have seen a number of umpires wear the helemt. I've seen two wearing a beanie under it and one guy wear a 4-stitch. The rest went bare-headed and got nailed on their evaluations. College ball, at least the associations I'm in, expects that a 4-stitch or longer will be worn. Pa high school expects that a hat will be worn - and Pa still accepts the beanie as a valid hat.

I'm still using a lightweight version of the "old" style mask. I've stopped using the 4-stitch and been using a 6-stitch for a while. Now I'm beginning to use the 8-stitch. Once I'm used to that, I'll be buying fewer hats each year.

Big Kahuna, do you ever call in Gonzales? I called a tournament for PONY down there last year. The park is excellent and the folks were great! You ever go there?

About 5 years ago, I picked up a Wilson light-weight composite for under $50.

Also, when wearing the mask, I wore an 8-stitch hat and never had a problem removing the mask. It just takes a little practice of a continuous out-and-up motion.

BTW, I don't believe there is any way ASA would ever "ban" particular equipment, but there is no way they can be required to accept particular equipment.

How did I get into this, when no one else still wears the heavyweight mask and real shinguards? :D

I've been using the hockey helmet in baseball for 2 seasons. I'll never go back. I don't like the fact that between innings I'm hatless, but at the same time this is an excellent incentive for me to keep my hair short in season.

Once adjusted properly so that the helmet fits right, it is highly comfortable and provides the best vision possible.

It's just a matter of time.

I agree with Steve, NFHS, NCAA,and ASA require hats. Maybe on the local level, you can get away with it, but not in Championship play. When I went to Mens B national last year, there were questions about the helmet. Answer was, Sure you can wear it, but you better have a hat underneath, that stays on you head.

In Michigan - for H.S. Baseball and Softball -

"The “hockey” style mask is allowed…The fact that when removed means an umpire will be without a hat is not a problem and will not affect tournament assignments."

Quote from Randy Allen, MHSAA Assistant Director for BB and SB in response to my e-mail to him a couple days ago.

Not posted to make a point; just to get the word out to Michigan umpires. Other NFHS umpires may want to contact their state associations to see if they hold the same position.

WMB

From Walt Sparks regarding TASO Umpires' use of the hockey style mask:

The hockey mask is OK. The hat should be worn as you enter the field, pre-game and when you exit the field. The hat doesn't need to be worn while the mask is on.

My question now is, where do you put the hat during the game? I still think that the old style mask with a hat has a more professional bearing. (MHO)

I guess they mean for you to tuck in your belt at the back
side...That would look cool. Maybe hang in on the fence,
so the ball would hit it or tangle up in it...Good question.

I wear an All Star Kevlar Helmet and have since they first came out. There is no trouble with wearing a hat although I wear a four stitch and it took some practice at first to keep it on. I have been using it for probably four or so years and would not go back. I have been hit on ocassion right on the bean and with the design on the front it deflects off to the side and keeps me from taking the blunt of the blow and no more having to turn the mask back around from the back of my head when it hits the ear protecter. They are a little spendy but what is a few dollars when safety is concerned. They especially work well when working with a clam shell back stop and the ball comes straight back down at you. I also take it off every time that we are supposed to and it goes back on just as easy as a face mask. If you have not tried one you should just to see how much better you can see out of them.

Hockey Face Makes and hats.
 

I recently purchased, for under $70.00, a Rawlings mask that goes up to a size 7 3/4 and it is a great fit and comfortable. I can easily use my ASA 4 stitch plate hat under it with absolutely no problem. My hat size is 7 5/8 so were not talking a little head under a large mask. I have opened the adjustment up to as much as I could on the straps and it works better for me than any mask I have had. The best part is the much better peripheral vision and I don't need to remove it every time a ball is fouled or in close to the plate. Like all things, personal preference is what everyone probably will, and should go by.

Here's what I do with my cap
 

I use a helmet mask and love it. I walk onto the field wearing my cap, and with my helmet under my arm. When the game starts I hang my cap on the fence, using a bungee cord. This is also quite handy for hanging my water bottle as well. In between innings, I'll take the helmet off and hang it, while I wear the cap. When the throw goes down, I put my helmet back on and hang the cap again. I haven't had any problems using this method, and I still manange to represent the association. I've heard no complaints.

Mike,

Thought you had left us! How things going. Maybe
this year we will get to call together. All the
other assignments were messed up by something or
other

Glad to know you like the All-Star kevlar, Ed. I've been thinking of getting one, and I was wondering about the vision. However:

"They are a little spendy but what is <i>a few dollars</i> when safety is concerned."

The lowest price I've seen for the helmet is $350. I guess your definition of "few" is different from mine!

"The lowest price I've seen for the helmet is $350."

Honigs has All Star hockey style helmets from $90 to the pricy Kevlar model at $400. Local sporting goods stores have Rawlings and Wilson models typically in the $80 to $140 range.

"I've been thinking of getting one, and I was wondering about the vision."

Peripheral vision is greatly expanded. When you try one on in a store you do not immediately notice the difference. I switched during a game last summer. I bought mine from a friend, who did not show up at game time so I started with my old mask (a big clunker purchased for baseball a few years ago).

The lights has just come on; the sun was setting over the left fielder. My eyes had adjusted to the light level. My friend show up and I went back on the field for the next inning with the hockey mask. I felt blinded; it was like daytime again. I was now catching the last of the sun in my eyes and I had to reposition to block it out.

You do not have the tunnel vision of a conventional mask. As others have noted, you start leaving the mask on during play. Because of the expanded vision, you forget that you have a mask on, which can override that automatic reflex of reaching for the mask. Because of tradition, I suspect that observers are going to question your ability to make a call with the mask on, so I still try to remove mine. But sometimes you forget.

WMB