Do you enforce the 2-piece catcher's mask rule in NFHS?

[Guest James]

I do realize the rule doesn't prohibit 2-piece masks. Instead, it prohibits a mask which doesn't cover the ears. It just didn't make for as good of a title. haha

Every once in a while a catcher will come out with a mask which doesn't cover the ears. I have never enforced, nor have I seen it enforced. Do you consider it being an OOO if you enforce this, or is it too much of a safety concern to let go? Do you think we could be legally liable if something happened and we didn't enforce it? What if you are the BU?

[Jimurray]

 

I do realize the rule doesn't prohibit 2-piece masks. Instead, it prohibits a mask which doesn't cover the ears. It just didn't make for as good of a title. haha

Every once in a while a catcher will come out with a mask which doesn't cover the ears. I have never enforced, nor have I seen it enforced. Do you consider it being an OOO if you enforce this, or is it too much of a safety concern to let go? Do you think we could be legally liable if something happened and we didn't enforce it? What if you are the BU?

It needs to meet NOCSAE

[Jimurray]

To continue since this site is effed up as regards to my antique iPad. Every once in a while you should enforce the FED rule. If its 

a non HS league using "FED" rules you should find out what they want and what their insurance covers. At the least, if one team is using a skull cap you should advise the other team that you are allowing it based on your comprehension of the rules and they can use it also. 

Its not a safety concern to MLB, MiLB or NCAA but it is to FED

PM  @lawump if you need legal advice haha.

 

[Guest James]

I was speaking of high school baseball specifically, not just leagues that use FED rules. The rule isn't open to interpretation, it is prohibited. 

1.5.4 situation A (Fed casebook- 2015) "The home team's catcher takes his position behind the platte in the top of the first inning with a skull cap helmet-and-mask combination. Ruling: This is illegal. A catcher will be required to wear head protection with double ear flaps that meets the NOCSAE standard. He will be told to get a legal helmet-and-mask combination. If he does not comply, he will be ejected."

 

What do you do if the team does not have a proper catcher's mask? Is the game forfeited?

[JaxRolo]

Yes you have to enforce it during regular season. Off season no.

[maineump]

If they are using the FED rule - then enforce it. If 1 team has a legal helmet and the other doesn't, then ask if they can share the legal helmet.

This is a safety issue, and the rule needs to be enforced.

What do you do if a batters helmet is cracked? Using illegal bats?

[noumpere]

I have never seen it not enforced in HS games.

 

In tournaments that specify "FED rules, except..." I try to find the tourney director and ask if there's an exception for the helmets.  Most assigners / tourney directors etc. around here now know to specify this, if that's what they want.

[Majordave]

During "official" NFHS-enforce. 

Non-official- ask TD, use judgment. 

 

[Replacematt]

We were instructed to keep an eye out for this during the regular HS season. Was I as compliant as I should have been? No, as I do mostly college and I only saw one at the HS level--it occurred to me in the seventh inning that it wasn't legal.

[Guest wizard2]

Why would you not enforce it? FED states earflaps, if you don't YOU will be libel not the TD.  Same as if tourney has must slide, do you enforce that or say must avoid contact?

 

This is a safety issue and not open to be changed by anyone. A good lawyer will eat you for breakfast on both those issues

 

 

[Old Skool]

I guess if you feel like spending your entire season's earnings defending yourself in court against a lawsuit because catcher's parents are pissed his eardrum busted or skull cracked when the 14-17 year old HS catcher turned his head then go for it.  Don't think for a minute some personal injury lawyer wouldn't come after you & your association b/c you allowed a catchers setup prohibited by NFHS.  It's too easy to say "Coach, he needs to get legal equipment."  I personally am not a fan of the helmet for myself & I'm sure many catchers prefer the two piece for the same reasons i like a mask over hemet but i'm not willing to indulge a teenager to risk my entire seasons earnings to hire a lawyer.

Can you imagine hearing yourself in a deposition getting asked what the NFHS rule is & why then did you allow the young man to violate that rule.  I could care less whether the kid doesn't like his hockey-style helmet.  He & his coach know what the rule is.

[GreyhoundAggie]

Absolutely enforce it during HS season. Summer ball here we allow the 2 piece under FED rules, but during the real season all day every day. I'm not getting sued for not enforcing the rules.

[Replacematt]

Why would you not enforce it? FED states earflaps, if you don't YOU will be libel not the TD.  Same as if tourney has must slide, do you enforce that or say must avoid contact?

 

This is a safety issue and not open to be changed by anyone. A good lawyer will eat you for breakfast on both those issues

​Not true. The issue is that some leagues and tournaments are vague about what they mean by what rules they use. For example, if you have a Legion tournament that is using FED rules (as opposed to the Legion rules) for purposes of brevity, they probably aren't going to be using the FED equipment rule. There's nothing magical about using FED playing rules that makes you more liable if a tournament does not want to use FED equipment rules, particularly when those participants play under different rules in other venues and have the exact same risk of injury at those times.

[JaxRolo]

If they are using the FED rule - then enforce it. If 1 team has a legal helmet and the other doesn't, then ask if they can share the legal helmet.

This is a safety issue, and the rule needs to be enforced.

What do you do if a batters helmet is cracked? Using illegal bats?

​Yuk!!!! Share a sweaty helmet??? no way Jose!!! 

[maineump]

​Yuk!!!! Share a sweaty helmet??? no way Jose!!! 

​We see it all the time. Many schools/teams don't have 2 helmets. How many times do you see the kid who warms up the pitcher take off the helmet and mitt, and hand them to the catcher on his way back to the dugout

[maven]

I enforce it, and have become more vigilant over the years (now part of my mental checklist during F1's warmups in both halves of the first inning).

[RingEmUp]

I enforced it the one time I saw it this year.  It wasn't their first game of the season but it was the first time it had been enforced at about 10 games into the season.

[Stan W.]

In my HS games, where NFHS rules apply, absolutely I do..........