NOCSAE stamp on batting helmet face protector

[jodibuck]

There was a question on the NFHS softball exam about the NOCSAE stamp on the batting helmet face protector. This brought up much debate in our local clinic over how many umpires actually check for the stamp on the face protector. When checking equipment, I have always checked the batting helmet for the NOCSAE stamp and for cracks or dents with the helmet, then made sure the face protector was securely fastened to the helmet. Our assigner has told us to check for the NOCSAE stamp on the face protector, no exceptions. Is this how all associations are handling this?

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by jodibuck

There was a question on the NFHS softball exam about the NOCSAE stamp on the batting helmet face protector. This brought up much debate in our local clinic over how many umpires actually check for the stamp on the face protector. When checking equipment, I have always checked the batting helmet for the NOCSAE stamp and for cracks or dents with the helmet, then made sure the face protector was securely fastened to the helmet. Our assigner has told us to check for the NOCSAE stamp on the face protector, no exceptions. Is this how all associations are handling this?

Supposed to. 1-6-6.

[RKBUmp]

The problem with many of these manufactures is they are screen printing them on a bar of the facemask and after just a few games its gone or just remnants of it left.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

The problem with many of these manufactures is they are screen printing them on a bar of the facemask and after just a few games its gone or just remnants of it left.

No stamp, cannot be used. period

[teebob21]

I check for these in this order:

• NOCSAE stamp on helmet
• No cracks in helmet (esp. near bill)
• Pads sorta intact inside
• No missing/loose screws on face mask
• Facemask NOCSAE cert (sometimes printed up and under the top bar; tough to see under the brim of the hat)

I hate being the bats 'n' hats police as much as anyone, but if they say we gotta do it...then we got's to do it.

[Manny A]

I also check for the NOCSAE reference on the face mask. It's almost always the most time-consuming part of the equipment check, because quite often I run into teams that have different-model helmets. Some are on the inside of one of the bars, either on the left or right side. Some have a little solid tab near the earhole that has the stamp, again either on the left or right side. Some have a large plate affixed to the outside of the bill where you'll find it. It's almost as if the helmet manufacturers look for different places to put them just to $%^# with us.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by teebob21

I check for these in this order:

• NOCSAE stamp on helmet
• No cracks in helmet (esp. near bill)
• Pads sorta intact inside
• No missing/loose screws on face mask
• Facemask NOCSAE cert (sometimes printed up and under the top bar; tough to see under the brim of the hat)

I hate being the bats 'n' hats police as much as anyone, but if they say we gotta do it...then we got's to do it.

MTD, Jr. and I umpire both H.S. baseball and fast pitch softball, as well as ASA and USSSA fast pitch, and Junior starts umpiring women's college fast pitch this Spring.

That said, we could have not been more happy when the NFHS dropped the requirement that the umpires had to check bats and helmets before the game.

I remember the first year that the NFHS and NCAA baseball rules went to the BESR for its bats. The very first game of the season I found two brand new bats (bought by the school) which were identical except for one small detail: one had a BESR stencil on it and the other bat did not have a BESR stencil, meaning one bat was legal and other bat was not legal.

Things did not get any better when the NFHS and NCAA went to BBCOR bats. Every Sunday night I would print out a list BBCOR bats (a couple hundred bats) from the Univ. of Washington (I think that was the college), that we would have to compare against each team's bats. That was insane.

Earlier this month, Mark, Jr., and I spent one week in Florida umpiring Spring Break college softball and it was insane. Taking the list of bats that each team gave us and check the highlighted bats on the list for the serial number on each bat. One team had 31, you read that correctly, 31 bats and only had 15 girls on the team. Another team had 21 bats, including 6 bats of one model and 4 bats of another model. The serial numbers were of extremely small font and never in the same place on any given bat.

Every male coach that I spoke with in Florida wished that the NCAA would go the route of NFHS and NCAA baseball: The umpires do not need to check the bats, but the coaches should be required to affirm that their equipment is legal and if illegal equipment is discovered then they will suffer the consequences. On the flip side every female coach wanted the bats to be checked by the umpires because, wait for it: Coaches will cheat if the bats are not checked!

It is insane I tell you.

MTD, Sr.