importance of wearing umpire equipment

[refjef40]

I learned my second year about a cup when I took a foul tip off the cup area.I saw stars and planets.The only thing that helped me was the tip caught the batter's arm first so everybody focused on her.The next few innings were like a fog for me I wasn't very effective.That same year I took one off the toe and limped that game and for a week later.The moral is I wear the stuff and have only been stung since in the last eight years.