Chest sizing help for super tall, skinny, growing ump

[kellylynn]

My 15 year old son is shooting up a mile a minute, but he's scrawny. Today, he is 6ft and 1/2" He weighs 140. Has a small chest in girth, but looong. I do not know how big he will get, but it seems he has a few years left to grow and fill out. He will be umping 14 yr old games now, and is moving up in levels each year. He says getting hit in his soft shell protector hurts, of course. I want to get him a good protector that he's not swimming in, but that will allow him to grow some more. I'm thinking WV, but could be persuaded otherwise. I am clueless about what size, or which style to buy. Help please? I have read all of the other posts regarding CPs.

[BrianC14]

My 15 year old son is shooting up a mile a minute, but he's scrawny. Today, he is 6ft and 1/2" He weighs 140. Has a small chest in girth, but looong. I do not know how big he will get, but it seems he has a few years left to grow and fill out. He will be umping 14 yr old games now, and is moving up in levels each year. He says getting hit in his soft shell protector hurts, of course. I want to get him a good protector that he's not swimming in, but that will allow him to grow some more. I'm thinking WV, but could be persuaded otherwise. I am clueless about what size, or which style to buy. Help please? I have read all of the other posts regarding CPs.

Personally, I would go with a WV Gold. There are two sizes - 13" L-XL (Chest sizes 46-54) Also Available in 12" M-L (Chest sizes 38-44).

I think you'd want to opt for the 12" model, in spite of your son's height. The straps on the West Vest can easily be tightened down as necessary to compensate for his smaller chest size.

You're a good parent to want to get him out of that soft shell protector (which, in my opinion, is a bit of a contradiction in terms).

There really are no CPs that would allow for coverage of a long torso, but consider that there are many MLB umpires who wear the WV, and they are taller than your son is now. The key thing is to ensure that his ribs are covered. At 5'11", my WV Platinum covers all but the very bottom of my rib cage; leaning in & bending forward when working the plate (and properly working "the slot") means that ball strikes in this area are very rare.

As for the retailer, I highly recommend www.ump-attire.com - they offer fantastic service, and can help you in deciding which equipment would work best for your son.

In the meantime, I also recommend a steady diet of meat & potatoes... and watch out when he turns 17!

Good luck!

Edited June 25, 2009 by BrianC14

[Umpire in Chief]

Personally, I would go with a WV Gold. There are two sizes - 13" L-XL (Chest sizes 46-54) Also Available in 12" M-L (Chest sizes 38-44).

I think you'd want to opt for the 12" model, in spite of your son's height. The straps on the West Vest can easily be tightened down as necessary to compensate for his smaller chest size.

You're a good parent to want to get him out of that soft shell protector (which, in my opinion, is a bit of a contradiction in terms).

There really are no CPs that would allow for coverage of a long torso, but consider that there are many MLB umpires who wear the WV, and they are taller than your son is now. The key thing is to ensure that his ribs are covered. At 5'11", my WV Platinum covers all but the very bottom of my rib cage; leaning in & bending forward when working the plate (and properly working "the slot") means that ball strikes in this area are very rare.

As for the retailer, I highly recommend www.ump-attire.com - they offer fantastic service, and can help you in deciding which equipment would work best for your son.

In the meantime, I also recommend a steady diet of meat & potatoes... and watch out when he turns 17!

Good luck!

Absolutely agree with everything Brian said.

[kellylynn]

Wow, thank you for the nice and detailed response. WV gold 12" from ump-attire it is! Thank You,

A Grateful Mom

[scobes7]

I myself found a champion hardshell for $50 that is 17 inches...I love it. Might want to think about something like this.

[Balk Hater]

Scobes you are a smart man mine is only 15 and i took a shot to that area it hurt like a mother you know. I cannot afford the wv because my x left me in debt so i umpire to help pay the bills

[BT_Blue]

another thing she can do is get the WV like recommended and then if she is near a honigs store, go buy one of the extenders (if she is that worried about height) and sew it onto the bottom. Not something I have ever had to worry about (being somewhere between 5'9" and 5'10" and a body like a catcher. (enter some what short and some what squat).