Mask Question

[Ump23]

Quick question,

Does anyone now if the traditional style mask is a requirement for the MiLB school?  I've been wearing the full "hockey" style mask for quite a few years. 

[Stk004]

Duplicate. But I think you're fine with a HSM. A recent graduate of the MiLB school said guys with HSM look "unathletic" but I doubt it would have any impact on your evaluations/job offers. If you're really concerned you could bring a traditional mask just in case. 

[Ump23]

Well after 10 years in the Army of getting knocked around, I like to protect the ol noggin a little more than I used to.  I will bring another mask just in case.  Not looking for any type of assignment, Just going to improve my skills and learn.

[JonnyCat]

When I went to UTA in 2015, most wore traditional masks, but some wore HSM. Not a requirement either way. One of the students wore a HSM, and was probably the top rated umpire from our class. He is still in the minors, and working his way up quickly. Don't know for sure if he still wears it, but it didn't hurt him at all. 

Wear what you want and enjoy the training. It's awesome!

[MadMax]

The reason it may seem that the traditional mask (TM) is more encouraged and accepted at School is due to two factors...

1. Repetition, repetition, glorious (arduous) repetition. You will be doing endless reps behind the plate and in the pitching lanes, in rather warm Floridian weather. Do you really want to be lugging around a HSM with you everywhere you go? Do you really want to be wearing it for several (accrued) hours per day when you won't see any foul balls, whiffing catchers, broken bats, or balls ricocheting off a close-quarters backstop or low-hanging netting above? How about practicing taking it on and off, on and off, on and off while simulating various rotations or plays at the plate?
2. You don't have a second chance to make a first lasting impression. This is an environment that will teach you how to stand. How to wear a hat (properly), what words and tone of voice to use, etc. Say you have a habit of propping your HSM up on your head, perched up there like a great plastic chicken atop your nest of a head, as you rove about between innings or during a pitching change. Or, worse, upon arriving at the field, you dump it (upside down) on the ground a few feet from the plate to conduct your plate meeting. School will teach the umpire-students how to wear a hat the "right, proper and accepted" way. There is certainly a place for HSMs in today's game; but, if you are going to be cavalier with your HSM and try to conduct your plate meeting(s) with your favorite bandana or doo-rag on... you're not going to leave a good impression with the instructors. The same goes for TMs (I've watched a guy pitch his TM onto the ground, conduct his plate meeting, then promptly turn his hat backwards and start the game; this guy would not survive in School doing this, neither would a HSM wearer doing something similar). You may see Cederstrom rove around with his HSM propped on his head, but I think he's earned the right to. It's far easier to get good at manipulating a TM during Live Ball action and during Dead Ball interactions (with coaches, players, colleagues and peripherals (scorekeepers)) than with a HSM, at least in the context of successfully learning and graduating from School.