importance of wearing umpire equipment

[timharris]

hello

i remember when i started in fastpitch about 6 years ago that i started out with a very old pair of shin guards and a raggedy chest protector and no steal toe shoes for protection. everyone laughed at me because they thought i was a baby for wearing all this equipment, hey guys im 6'2 about 238, about 3 games into my first season, i took foul ball on my big toe and to make things worse i lost that toenail and that was very painful. these days i wear excellent shin guards with knee extenders and i have a +pos chest protector with and excellent pair of steel to shoes, im not saying i havent been hit, but i can truly say i dont feel it when it happens, i guess my question would be, if and umpire is hurt during a game and is not properly equip, does our insurance have to pay for injuries? since we all know the dangers of this sport.
im here too say i worked a game last friday and the plate umpire worked with no chest protector and i was shocked, im just curious who else out their chooses not too wear equipment, and if so why not.



thanks

timothy