ilyazhito

What levels do you work now? Back to the OP, the directive is stupid, because it is contrary to accepted practice in other levels (NCAA, MiLB, MLB all require PU to check with U1 (or U3) on a half swing when requested by the catcher or manager). I would check whenever requested, personally.

Man, that's awful! Best wishes to Everitt, and good luck to whatever AAA ump gets called up to replace him for the time being.

+1! Mouth guards are recommended, but very few baseball players use them. Encourage mouthguards, and leave the venerable traditional 2-piece mask alone. I have caught, and I prefer to do so with the traditional mask, and hope that future generations of high school catchers will also have that opportunity.

That's a funny style, but not to be used in a serious game. Eddie the Ump (AKA Eddie Reed from NJ, of YouTube fame) is cooler than Drebin, but Iwouldn't mind working a few games on a crew with both of them.

ElkOil, you have the same thints to say as Maven? I agree with Maven's reasoning, and believe that more umpires should use numbers, to ensure that everyone is aware of the count, especially on fields without scoreboards (or where the scoreboards are incorrect). Was using numbers once a common practice that faded away outside Ump School Land and the short-season leagues, or was it something created de novo by the umpire schools?

Weird weather in MD as well. Snow came in heavy on Wednesday and Thursday, so games cancelled Wednesday through Saturday. Waiting for my baseball regular season schedule to come through, and hopefully my games are not cancelled.

Why does NFHS not allow the traditional 2-piece catcher's helmet and mask combination? To me that prohibition makes no sense, because catchers (and umpires) have been adequately protected by the traditional 2-piece combo for years. I would understand if NFHS mandated a Steve Yeager-style throat protector on catcher's masks, but IMHO the earflaps on the mask itself (not on the helmet) provide adequate protection from a ball headed for the ears. On contact, the mask will absorb the blow from the ball, and fall off the catcher's head, leaving the skullcap on for protection. On a play at the plate, if there is a collision with the catcher, the catcher remains protected with a traditional 2-piece combo, because he does not remove the entire protective unit. Should the catcher hit his head in the traditional combo, his skullcap will cushion his brain, and minimize the shaking that results from his head hitting the ground (or batted ball striking the head). However, the hockey style mask will transmit the blow to the catcher's head on a batted ball (see the video of the Texas A&M catcher's hockey-style mask shattering on impact). On a collision with a hockey style mask, the catcher will have removed the entire helmet for proper visibility, and will be unprotected should even incidental contact happen. This is why I strongly believe that the traditional helmet-and-mask combination should be legal for high school play, not to mention that it is legal in other leagues (Babe Ruth, NCAA, Pro baseball, Summer leagues using OBR, Adult amateur leagues using OBR). I suspect that the rules requiring NOCSAE equipment are as much of a money grab as they are a safety issue, so they will probably not be changed, alas. Maybe the traditional mask can make the return to high school baseball. I wish

Indeed. I would shudder to think of what a game with the partner MadMax described would be like. Hopefully the AIA has higher standards for umpires than the one that MadMax worked the USA Baseball tournament with. I had a partner for the second game of a high school doubleheader in PG County who wore a yellow undershirt, no plate shoes, a navy blue shirt with the "PG Boys and Girls Club" logo, and a hat with the "PGBGC" abbreviation. Normal practice in my association is to wear "MAC" hats for games in Maryland, and "NV" hats for games in Virginia. The MPSSAA (Maryland's governing body for high school sports) also requires baseball umpires to wear a navy blue uniform with the MPSSAA patch on the right sleeve (This implies that no other additions to the uniform are allowed, except perhaps an American flag). The non-standard uniform made me suspicious about my partner's ability, but I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Once the game started, I was on the bases, and he was working the plate (I worked the first game of the doubleheader alone, because my assigned partner for that game was removed the day before, and MAC could not find a replacement for him.). I noticed that he worked over the catcher instead of in the slot, and his judgement of balls and strikes seemed to be accurate. However, the situation changed with runners on base. He would not give any rotation signals, and if I initiated any signals, he would not respond to them. Because of that, I had to cover all plays on the bases alone. Fortunately, the game ended in a blowout after the third inning, when both coaches agreed to call the game. After the high school season, I had a travel game out in Anne Arundel County with this same partner. He did not move from home plate, and left me to cover a play at 3rd base alone. What is worse was that play should have been a rotation situation, but I had to scramble over to 3rd after seeing the batter-runner touch 1st base. At least he responded to rotation signals this time, so he might even rotate next game we have together! Fingers crossed.

I've always worn a dangling throat guard myself from even before I started umpiring. I was a goalie for the club lacrosse team at the Catholic University of America, and the throat protector kept me from getting seriously hurt. I have also worn a throat protector for hockey (I have also played goalie in floor hockey), and I have taken shots to it without any harm to me. The throat protector has also served me in good stead on the diamond, deflecting balls that would have otherwise hit me in the neck, and in absorbing shots to the area on the collar between the mask and chest protector. I would feel unprotected if I took the field without one, the same as if I was not wearing a cup.

I umpire both baseball and softball, and one can say that I have an unusual style in baseball: I use the umpire-school heel-toe position to get set to call balls and strikes, I call the pitches by number (I call "Ball One!" "Strike One!", etc.), and I call strikes by pointing. I was initially taught to use the hammer, but I could not assimilate to using it initially, because of the uncaught third strike scenario. I now know the work-around that softball and umpire school uses (call strike 3, signal safe, and say "No catch!"). However, I know that most umpires do not call pitches by numbers, except for Ball Four and Strike Three. Some (those who have had exposure to umpire school, probably) do use numbers, but it is not the norm in any level of baseball besides professional umpire school and the short-season minor leagues. Personally, I use the numbers because it helps me to remember the sequence of pitches in longer at-bats, and keeps me on track if I forget to click the dials on my indicator. I also use numbers because it is what will be expected of me if I go to umpire school. Why do the umpire schools teach calling balls and strikes by numbers, if it is not common practice in the other levels of baseball? Do they want to produce standard umpires who can easily be evaluated? Do they want the umpires to keep the count in their heads without relying on their indicators? Or is there another reason for this practice?

I use the umpire school heel-toe stance, call balls and strikes by number (Ball 1, Strike 1), and point for strikes. I was taught the hammer, but could not assimilate it initially, because the uncaught third strike scenario becomes confusing when the umpire uses the hammer (which is the same as the out signal). I learned the work-around to that situation (call strike 3, signal safe, and say "no catch!"), but I still prefer to point for called strikes. Should I ever go to professional umpire school, I will use the hammer for that, and until I reach full-season A ball, if I am hired to the professional level. If not, I will continue pointing strikes.