The comments can be found all over the place: In comments section of original blog post about it, at our Facebook Fan Page and on the ABUA discussion board (not to mention several e-mails we've received).
The comments can be categorized into 4 general areas.
- This is ridiculous and/or overkill.
- I wouldn't wear one, but there is some merit to this and good to have as an option for others.
- I will wear or consider wearing one.
All of the above were expected, but the 4th was not one on my radar. - I want to or would consider wearing a coach's style helmet under my traditional umpire mask behind the plate.
Regarding wearing this as supplemental to your traditional mask, my (mis)perception was that if you wanted all-around protection you just upgrade to a hockey style helmet. However, who I am hearing from are those who don't like hockey style helmets, but who would like the added protection of the hard shell helmet. So is there a subset of umpires who fall into this category that we are failing to address?
What I'm hearing most is a need where a ball might hit the top of a backstop or screen and fall back down on one's head. When I umpired I never experienced this. You certainly don't see it at the higher levels, but I have seen it, mostly recently this summer, while watching local little league or high school games. And it's not pretty when someone gets hit on top of an uprotected head, especially when he or she is not expecting it.
I would just like to get some thoughts on this. Do you think there is a need here? What are your concerns or thoughts?
The ones that come immediately to my mind without doing further research are:
- How well will a hard bill fit underneath an umpire mask? Will it work better for some and less for others?
- How easy will it be to remove your mask with a hard shell helmet vs. a cap without it coming off?
- Is there more merit to this as a safety issue than even a hard shell cap on the bases?
- What other issues about this am I missing?
14 comments:
Jim,
All-Star already makes a helmet for an umpire to wear under a traditional mask. They call it a Welke Cap.
Hi Jim,
the All-Star helmet (http://www.all-starsports.com/products.php?prod=655)came into my mind too when i read your post.
I would say that it would be a good idea for field umpires to wear one.
I don't see a Plate Ump wear a helmet. No scenario would make it necessary. If a pop up would hit an umpire on top of his head, he must have been fallen asleep.
They schould never let the ball get out of their sight.
So i guess All-Star won't sell many of those helmets.
A field umpire should get a catchers/coaches helmet if he wants his head protected.
Keep on doing your thing!
Tim
Jim,
Years ago I an umpire get knocked out cold in a JV game where the backstop was about 10 feet behind the umpire and the ball ricocheted off the cage and hit him in the back of the head. I don't know if this cap would have helped but it might have. I personally don't do see a need for the product as anytime I've come close to getting hit on the bases it has been from the waist down, but I'm there will at least be a small market for these.
I'm not seeing this helmet in particular to be worn with a traditional mask behind the plate.
The reason you might think might surprise you. It is that the hard bill sits up against the mask so that if you are hit you basically are driving the force from the ball to the the hard frame directly to the hard bill directly to your forehead.
I could probably sell more helmets if I said you could wear underneath your mask but my initial thought is this is not a good idea unless you wanted to wear backwards then there are professional issues.
Would like to know what someone else thinks.
I've only been umpiring for four years, but there are times when the foul ball goes up or back and bounces off the backstop and comes back towards the umpire and catcher. I've been hit in a situation referenced above but never on the top of the head.
Also, if there is a pop up that the catcher could make a play, I would watch the catcher and not the ball. I want to see what direction he / she is going so we won't collide. I also want to be ready to get out of the way when they throw the mask aside. So I guess if the catcher lost sight of the ball and I'm watching the catcher, there is a real good chance I could get beaned.
This is probably one of those items you wouldn't purchase until you got beaned right on top of the head.
Let's play ball.
I know a n umpire who has worn the catchers style helmet under his mask for 2 seasons now. While he has avoided injury, there really has been no need, as his compliant was that " I was taking foul tips off the top of the head." All I say to that is quit ducking at every pitch! He also went on to say it is cumbersome, and often times gets in the way, as it is an actual catchers helmet.
If you want total protection from those combackers off the screen or fence(concrete in some diamonds) the best defense is the hockey style mask. It gives complete coverage of your head. And we all know about the crackdown on headshots in sports recently.
Good Luck to all in the upcoming season!!
We do hear a lot of comments from guys who get skimmed across the top of the head. A little flinch combined with a mask without a J-Bar (extension at top) is all that is needed to make that happen on a traditional style mask.
Jim
We have a guy who wears what he refers to as a skull cap (similar to "DOT Black Motorcycle Skull Cap Half Helmet" Amazon)
It looks like great protection, and is lightweight. It also stays on his head each time he removes his mask. I would like to see something like this offered.
The all-star helmet has a brim which could be a nuisance.
THERE IS A NEED FOR A HARD SHELL UMPIRE CAP BOTH IN THE FIELD AND BEHIND THE PLATE. The long bill on this one is the major downfall. We had an umpire in Houston ( Greg Ferguson ) killed in a slowpitch game where he was a field umpire and got hit by a lined drive in the head. A hard shell would have prevented his death. I was hit on top of the head last weekend for the first time while behind the plate. The screen was directly above home plate. The ball hit the screen and hit me on top of the head. I was wearing a hockey mask and was not hurt. My partner, seeing this, used my hockey mask the next game. Also, i saw a high school kid throw a Combat and hit my partner in the head who was also wearing a hockey mask. Jim, Id be willing to try out anything hard that is comfortable and doesnt interfere with taking my mask on and off.
I think it's a great idea. I currently wear a helmet under my mask and have had no problems with removing my mask. The thing I did find out is the current helmet I have is hot do to lack of ventilation and this new helmet will resolve that. My thought process is this on wearing a helmet with a traditional mask. They require the batter and catcher to wear one why shouldn't the umpire have that same option. I have the hockey style helmet also and on days when its just to hot to wear that, having a helmet with a traditional mask seems like a common sense method of protection
I umpire at Youth levels High School and below. I agree it's the balls of the backstop that are the issue. one of my associates was hit once, now he can't break himself of the habit of throwing his hands up to protect his noggin. I would like to see a lightweight shell that would fit inside a hat and go from the top of the head and down a ways on the back.
I'm a third year umpire and I have one of the All Star hard shell caps. It's very hot! I would like to try one of these and see if it's a cooler helmet. I have been hit in the top of the head by a high fast ball the catcher missed. Maybe I ducted but if I did it wasn't much. I have also been hit by balls off the backstop twice. I just like the idea of the hard hat. If your willing to get back there with that hockey mack what's wrong with getting back there with one of these on. I played catcher up through high school and used the old school hard hat. I never got hit in the head with a ball or bat but I always ware it anyway. It gives me more comfort when I'm back there. I also don't have health insurance right now and can't afford a head injury. I'm going o buy one of these an try it out. What can it hurt. The bill does fit behind the mask. Even when I don't ware it I ware a base hat and it fits to.
The one down fall I see if being like the first guy who ware the hockey mask and the old timers will pick on me. But I don't care maybe I will start something.
God bless and Play Ball!!!
As far as the need goes, wasn't it Jerry Crawford who get hit in the head with a bat on the player's follow thru? I believe stitches and time off were involved. Possibly a consussion. I have a hockey mask, but don't feel very professional without a hat on underneath during all the times on the field that you need to remove it. I would like to see this helmet with a shorter bill, much like a plate hat offered. Thanks for the opportunity to comment!
Last year while umpiring a good level co-ed softball game I was hit pretty hard n the chest with a thrown ball between innings. The game was held up for almost 1/2 hour. I hate to think what would have happened if it was my head that got hit. Have seen too many people, players, coaches and umpires hit by errant throws. I am definitely going to get one and I don't care what the old-timers say. Actually i am an old-timer and I will recommend these to my association.
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