wearing equipment properly

[oatmealqueen]

and softballs WILL break your bones. You probably will continue to not use a piece of protective equipment until you break something (like I did).
I learned my lesson. It's not (regionally) cool to have a broken bone, when you could have avoided it.

[Elaine "Lady Blue"]

Hey!

I LIKE the name 'Oatmealqueen'! How did that come about?

[SWFLguy]

I worked baseball at first with a "raft"-- loved it----
great in hot weather and gave great protection from foul
balls and wild pitches !!
when everyone went to inside protectors and working in
the slot--- I do only softball now and always wear my
inside protector !!!!
better than getting those bruises with the stitch marks
of the ball on your chest !!
to all newbies--------
GEAR UP !!!!
you will gain confidence-- you'll refrain from
flinching-- you'll call a better game and
keep a lot of those bruises off your body !!!
btw--
I am 6'3" 275-- a big target-- and do not hide
behind the catcher (who in many cases is some little
girl about 5'2" 120) they are fearless in their gear
why would you be less so ???
also--- I got a foul ball once on my wedding ring finger
(which I do not remove) and cut my finger-- so I hold my hands
behind my knees--- protects my fingers and makes me
reduce my hand signal to a reasonably timed signal !!

[Striker991]

I thought I was the only one to hold my hands behind my knees! Because I am an accountant that needs to use a computer keyboard effectively, I cannot let my fingers/hands get injured if I can help it. I have found this method to be quite effective, and it actually helps me to get set. When I can reach my hands behind my knees, I am set, and I am always at the same height at the same place every time.

[oatmealqueen]

Originally posted by Elaine "Lady Blue"
Hey!

I LIKE the name 'Oatmealqueen'! How did that come about?

I spend most of my time on the basketball board, but's it's spring now = softball.
You are the first to ask about my nickname. It's really rather simple. I get on these cereal kicks all of the time, and will exist on it almost every day. Oatmeal is my fave; I eat a bowl of oatmeal on game days for lunch as part of my routine. So people poke a little fun by calling me omq.

[greymule]

I started with the outside protector and didn't mind it at all. I thought it gave better protection, too.

One tip about the hands: try to keep them limp. A ball (even a baseball) that hits a relaxed hand is not likely to do much damage, but a tensed hand is very susceptible to injury. Remember when they used to teach the catchers to keep their hand in a fist? They found that the natural reflex was to open to a stiff hand, which practically invited injury.

[lildani14]

Alright, because of this post I went out and bought shin guards this past weekend. I've only worked 10 and 12 C ball, but I have been hit on the ankles, etc. but i was trying on CPs and i just couldn't really find anything that fit me real well. It could just be because i'm an outfielder I'm not use to it.

I've never been hit in the chest so I don't really know how much I personally need one. Have caught a couple in the cage though.

[whiskers_ump]

Worked with a gentleman tonight that was protected,
but got hit on the wrist, and man, what swelling.

I use to put my hands behind my knees, but was informed that
that was improper by ASA State Clinic. They told me it locked
you in. I now just hang them loosely in front and between my legs.

I never had any problems moving out from the position with hands
behind knees, it was just that that is not what ASA wanted.

glen

[5 sport ref]

They way I work in the slot is fully geared and put my outside hand (left for right handed batters and right for lefties) behind my back and let the inside had hang loosely behind the catcher. Been using it for about two years and so far haven't taken a hit. Used to dangle both loosely but I ususally took a couple a hits a year on the outside wrist and forearm.

[Elaine "Lady Blue"]

Originally posted by lildani14
Alright, because of this post I went out and bought shin guards this past weekend. I've only worked 10 and 12 C ball, but I have been hit on the ankles, etc. but i was trying on CPs and i just couldn't really find anything that fit me real well. It could just be because i'm an outfielder I'm not use to it.

I've never been hit in the chest so I don't really know how much I personally need one. Have caught a couple in the cage though.

Lildani,

You had better get a chest protector soon! As I remember, you are a female, and trust me, you don't want to get hit in the zabongas. I use an UMP chest protector. It's sized by your weight, it's light weight and is great protection.

[pob14]

I've never understood the umps who don't wear gear because it's "just girls' games."

Last year in a rec game, one team put in a pitcher who was WAY above the level of the other players. Her catcher was overmatched. The hitters were overmatched. And I was the backstop. My West Vest was worth every dollar I paid for it.

Then later in the season, my partner had the plate and she took a foul right in the collarbone. No break, thank goodness, but she could hardly stand for a while and never did really shake off the pain.

I don't umpire any more, but if I did, NO WAY would I walk onto a field without full gear.

[greymule]

Yes, the worst thing is a blazing fast pitcher and a sieve catcher. Good practice for holding still, though.

As I said in my previous post, the collarbone is the most vulnerable spot without a chest protector. But were it not for the collarbone, I'd seldom use a CP for FP except in the above situation.

[SWFLguy]

the ASA seems to be concerned that their umpires all work
exactly the same way---- I think they turn off a lot of
decent umpires with that attitude--- I say if you do a good
job and you feel comfortable--- that is the bottom line !!
gear up !!!

[Steve M]

Patrick,
If I remember correctly, you were a student at a Michigan or Minnesota college. You're a young guy with a large potential as an umpire. When the job permits, get back in.

And for the one knocking ASA for wanting everyone to umpire the same way.............. I do not quite see what that has to do with the wearing of equipment. From what I see - and I do not do NSA, AFA, PONY, U-trip, or any of the other sanctioning bodies - ASA provides some very good training. Yes, the new & young umpires should all look pretty much the same as they as still in the early stages of learning how to umpire. After learning the fundamentals, add your own personal style touch. That is what I have heard ASA folks say and what I believe that I see them ecourage. I think your comment was coming from the viewpoint of someone who spoke without verifying what you said first. But, umpiring is very much based on what things appear to be and you may have seen the wrong appearance.

Steve M

[CecilOne]

Originally posted by SWFLguy
... snip .. I got a foul ball once on my wedding ring finger
(which I do not remove) and cut my finger-- so I hold my hands behind my knees--- protects my fingers and makes me
reduce my hand signal to a reasonably timed signal !!

I have always let my hands hang between the knees and get nicked often, but no damage because of being relaxed. But I like the behind the knees idea and can't wait to try it, maybe this afternoon. My most frequent bruise area is the left forearm. Surprise, surprise, yesterday I got one in the right shinguard with a right-handed batter.