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Rookie from Utah


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Good evening fella's, I will be beginning my umpire career this upcoming spring. I am very much looking forward to this new adventure in my life, I am 24 years old and hopefully with the help of a lot of people and a lot of learning on my part can turn this into something bigger then just high school. It's gonna be great to learn from the people here and I look forward to maybe meeting some in the future. My first question and I can direct this to equipment is for a rookie what is everyone's thoughts on mask vs helmets. I played catcher a little growing up (don't know if that helps) so a helmet would be no problem.

 

Thanks!

 

Trevor "Tiny" Richards  

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I'm a second year, so still a rookie. I bought both the mask and the helmet. The helmet wasn't comfortable, it was very heavy (couldn't see doing 5 games in June wearing it) and I believe I had a better field of view with the mask. I started, and continue to use a lower end diamond mask, now that I've changed out the stock sucky pads to team wendy pads, I'm gonna keep it for a while. At least until I start doing HS. I don't see any need to change it out for 14u. Good luck! And welcome!

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Welcome Trevor from Utah.   My advice on all equipment is that you have to try multiple products and use what works for you considering your body dimensions, the level of baseball you work now and hope to work in the future and your budget.  My first couple of years I tried helmets ("buckets"/HSM/Helmask) and masks-several styles (low profile, standard profile, navy, gray, black, double bar, single bar, amara suede pads, doeskin pads, cloth pads, wrap-around style pads, traditional style pads)  About seven different chest protectors (original West Vest, Diamond, Two different +POS models, All-Star, West Vest Platinum and Gold) and two different brands of plate shoes (Gerry Davis and New Balance).  Three different styles of indicators and three different plate brushes.  Wore two ball bags, one ball bag, Ump-Attire Ultimate Ballbags, Honig's traditional, Honig's heather gray pants then poly-wools, Gerry Davis combo pants.

 

While learning to work the plate  I used the Gerry Davis stance, the scissors stance, the heel-toe stance behind the plate.  I wore 4 stitch, 6 stitch and 8 stitch hats.  I wore hats uncreased, then creased them.  I bought tuck-in jacket and untuck/elastic waisted jacket, plate coats (navy and black), six different brands of base shoes (Nike, Reebok, Spot-bilt, adidas, puma, New Balance).

 

 

Guess what?  Over ten years later and I am still trying different equipment, stances, mechanics, etc.  Always trying.   Always learning.  I love it.  Most of us do.  Just read all you can on here and the rule books.  Ask questions, listen to older umpires.  Find a mentor.  Watch umpires at higher levels work.  Especially ones working the post-season in college games or upper echelon high school games.  Those will be the ones dedicated to the craft and chosen to work those games because they are good at it.  Damn good at it.

 

Welcome again.

 

My .02...........YMMV.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Welcome Trevor/TIny

 

You have made the hardest step in umpiring: to decide to do it. Get out there and work. Congratulations.

 

I just finished the Wendelstedt School and (because of the 3 1/2 weeks of live games we worked and the 100+ students who attended)  was able to see and try possibly every piece of equipment that is made for umpires today.

 

I will be posting my thoughts in the equipment forum soon.

 

Again, congratulations and good luck.

 

Dana

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