Officially Un-Official

Umpire Base Helmets as an Option

2009-11-19T13:00:00.003-05:00

No one would ever question that you absolutely need a umpire mask or helmet when umpiring behind the plate at any level. But what about in the field? The talk about base helmets for umpires began after base coaches started being required to wear them a few seasons ago. Would umpires be next?

The need for a formal survey to gauge interest in a base helmet for umpires would be unnecessary. I already know the overwhelming majority of umpires would say emphatically that it is not necessary and/or they would never wear one unless mandated.

And in general, I am not disagreeing with them.

However, are there some cases where some individuals might choose to wear a hard shell cap (helmet) rather than a soft shell cap?

I think, yes! Umpires should be afforded an option in choosing which is right for them. Indeed, we have received several requests from customers who would prefer to wear a helmet on the bases. Many people? No. But a few, and I think that is enough.

So, under what circumstances would an umpire be justified in wearing a helmet on the bases? There are two reasons very clear to me.

1) When Umpires Have to Stand Closer to Home Plate
The conventional thought is that as an umpire standing behind 1st base or 3rd base that you are so far away from the action, farther away than base coaches, that there is plenty of time to move out of the way from a batted ball (runaway or broken bat, too). True (if judged properly).

But what about in a 2-man or 3-man system when you have to move in closer with runners on base? I've seen several umpires get hit in this more vulnerable position that is roughly the same distance away from home plate as base coaches. Although I don't want to stress this too much, is it not also true that some umpires are more or less able to get out of the way than others, especially in this position? Just something I'd like for you and more umpires to think more about.

What about if you are a softball umpire, especially one for men's slow pitch where balls scream off bats? In this situation, if you are one, you are going to be much closer to home plate than in baseball, especially in the position described above, about two-thirds the distance, leading to much less reaction time.

A softball umpire died 2 years ago after being hit in the head by a line drive in this position. (I have lost the link, but I recall it occurred somewhere in the New England area). Initially he seemed okay but after a severe headache, his head started to swell. He was rushed to the hospital where he died a few hours later.

Would he have been saved by wearing a hard shell helmet? I can't say for sure. Should he have at least had an option to have one? Yes, absolutely.

2) For Medical Reasons
John Olerud, former MLB baseball player, was known for both his abilities and for wearing a helmet while playing first base. He chose to wear one instead of a traditional cap as a precaution due to a prior brain aneurysm. (source: Wikipedia).

Are there umpires who have had previous head injuries who also would prefer to possess this precaution through a hard shell cap? I think so.

SUMMARY
I want to make it clear that I am not advocating that all umpires wear a hard shell coach's helmet on the bases, nor I am spearheading any cause to make it mandatory at any level. Instead, I'd like to provide umpires with the option of choosing either a soft headpiece or a hard one for whatever reason they may have in doing so.

In addition, by providing this helmet as a purchase option and discussing it as I have in this blog post, I hope to generate an even a greater amount of discussion regarding safety for umpires both behind the plate as well those in the field.

So go ahead. Share your thoughts. I'd love to hear them.

Ump-Attire Receives Best Equipment Awards

2009-11-19T10:47:00.015-05:00

The Midwest Umpire Blog, a blog that is known for extensively reviewing umpire equipment and clothing recently handed out its best products of 2009 awards.

We are very proud that two of our recently launched products received accolades.

Ultimate Ball Bag - Best Accessory
"Its quality construction and unique features make this ball bag deserving of recognition and praise."

Ultimate Umpire Shirt - Best Umpire Shirt
In a comparison with 6 other umpire shirt brands

Out of the 10 products named, you can buy 6 of them here, double that of our closest competitor. These items include the two above and the following:

Champro Pro-Plus Magnesium Mask - Best Umpire Mask
Made with a magnesium frame making it the lightest umpire mask on the market and new to us for 2010

Reebok Field Magistrate Plate Shoes - Best Umpire Plate Shoes
Newly re-designed for 2010 in all-black and less prominent white Reebok logo

Wilson Platinum West Vest Platinum Chest Protector - Best Chest Protector

Wilson Shock 2.0 FX Helmet - Best Umpire Helmet and Best Overall Product
Re-designed and available in December 2009

For more details in the complete article, please visit the Midwest Ump Blog.

Quoted in December '09 Referee Magazine Article

2009-11-17T15:47:00.007-05:00

I was delighted upon finding myself quoted (see below) when reading the Referee Magazine issue that just arrived.

The article titled "VENDORS GET GREAT RESPONSE FROM SUMMIT" was regarding the 2009 NASO Summit in Tucson Arizona (see earlier blog post) that we attended in July.

As a company whose majority of customers we typically do not meet in person, getting face time with many of them from across the country and elsewhere, provides an opportunity to soften the sometimes impersonal aspect of ordering online for them as well as for us.

Meeting with state and national officiating leaders provides the benefit of explaining up-close and in-depth new trends as it relates to products as well as important safety issues in baseball and softball umpiring.

If you subscribe, you can read the full article in the December issue. If you don't, you can subscribe to Referee Magazine here for 44% off the cover price.

(Customer Kirby Bollnow and I at the Summit)

$60,000 Raised at UMPS CARE Golf Marathon

2009-11-17T15:28:00.006-05:00

17 MLB and Minor League umpires joined together and rose over $60,000 for UMPS CARE at a recent 100 Hole Golf Marathon event in Phoenix, Arizona.

We elected to sponsor 4 MLB Umpires: Ted Barrett, Gary Darling, Marvin Hudson (in pic with me below) and Sam Holbrook.

Through this fundraiser, UMPS CARE will be able to host numerous children that are awaiting adoption and be able to visit and provide gifts to hundreds of children with life threatening diseases in hospitals throughout the country.

More Detailed Looks Available on Referee Pants

2009-11-06T12:01:00.011-05:00

Building on what we accomplished with pants in our other sports, we now have detailed views of our basketball referee pants. So if you've ever wanted to know what the backside of one looks like, the pockets or the pleats, then now you can before buying only here at Ump-Attire.

Basketball referee pants requires some extra effort as the darker color makes it difficult, without much lighting, to see contrast in pleats, pockets and buttons, etc. We did have to use Photoshop to add some brightness and contrast so the pleated pants don't look exactly like flat fronts (see above) or so you could truly see the difference between Smitty's dressier flat front pants than Dalco's stretchier version (see below).

Special thanks to leggy model and high school basketball official and baseball umpire Todd Saxey for providing his time in modeling our men's pants.

If you are with Haggar, Levi's, Docker's or other company who makes pants and looking for a pant model, call us and we'll refer you to Todd for a reasonable finder's fee. You can read more about Todd from our blog about our umpire photo shoot earlier this year.

Wilson Engineer Discusses Shock FX Improvements and Umpire Head Protection

2009-10-15T00:01:00.004-05:00

Two years ago Wilson introduced the Shock FX Umpire Helmet (right) with much excitement. Deserving of all the hype, it was a large leap in umpire safety through innovative designs to absorb more force than traditional hockey style umpire helmets. Obvious at first glance were the built-in shock absorbers as well as the floating mask design where the cage is not screwed directly to the shell not to mention a titanium cage and enhanced panoramic shape that greatly improved vision.

At nearly $250 a pop retail, we wondered "Will umpires pay a premium for a helmet with such advanced features?" The answer was a resounding "Yes!".

HIGHLY REVIEWED BEST SELLER
Indeed, the Wilson Shock FX Umpire Helmet became our best selling helmet in 2009 - despite its price being over 3 times that of our less expensive model. In addition, it became highly regarded as indicated by customers' writing the most extensive glowing reviews of any product we've ever sold.

RECENT CONCERNS
Despite the improvements in technology, the Shock FX reputation has been shook slightly this year by a few things. First of all, MLB umpires Ed Hickox and Kerwin Danley received concussions in the same weekend while wearing the Shock FX bringing some attention that although this umpire helmet perhaps lessened their injuries - especially in Danley's case as it was a bat to the back of the head where a traditional mask protects none at all - it did prove that even the Shock FX is not completely foolproof or indestructible.

Secondly, reports surfaced of a few helmets with problems such as shock absorbers "popping out" and cracked shells in the chin area on both umpire and catcher style Shock FXs. It is worth noting we heard more of these reports than we actually saw of them. At Ump-Attire.com, we only had one helmet returned with a crack and only one returned with a shock absorber issue this year with none in previous years.

MEETING WITH WILSON
I had the privilege to sit down with Patrick Udelhofen, Senior Engineer of Team Sports at Wilson, at their Chicago headquarters to discuss extensively umpire safety, the Shock FX umpire issues mentioned above and improvements incorporated in the next generation Shock FX model, the 2.0, due out later this month.

DEBUNKING MASK AND HELMET MYTHS
Patrick echoed what we've all been talking about for some time now:

There is no umpire helmet or mask that can protect an umpire completely.
There is no such mask or helmet available that is impervious to a bending frame, cracked shell or other. Such results to the massive amount of force a baseball or softball can cause do not necessarily reflect an equipment flaw or defect.
Although more protective overall, not every part of a hockey style helmet protects better than every part of a traditional mask (think flatter middle of helmet as in Hickox's case and the Kettering study that, although flawed, did bring some of these differences to light).
Not all hockey style helmets protect in the same manner as indicated by differences in amounts and type of padding and how closely frames are screwed directly onto shells as most traditional hockey style helmets have been; this in comparison to the "floating style" frame on the Shock FX, a second generation hockey style umpire helmet.

ADDRESSING SHOCK ABSORBER ISSUES
So what about these issues with shock absorbers breaking or popping out? Wilson and Patrick found that most of the issues experienced, especially by catchers (where umpires reported seeing them), were due to helmets being thrown and hitting the ground (think catcher going for a pop up and slinging the helmet or just carelessness, say throwing it in the trunk of a car after the game), and not necessarily from the force of a thrown or tipped ball as one would initially imagine.

The shock absorbers were not built with the above abuse in mind. Actually, the Shock FX helmet was designed initially for only umpires' use, and only later did Wilson start making them for catchers.

The Shock FX's shock absorbers were built, however, to withstand force from a pitched or tipped ball at a more direct "head-on" angle. Because of this, however, there were a few limited occurrences - the umpire style of the Shock FX included - where problems were experienced when force occurred at a more upward or from a side angle.

SHOCK FX 2.0 IMPROVEMENTS (see images below)
Patrick was glad to discuss the multiple improvements to an already great item. The enhancements emphasize preventing issues discussed above, greater visibility and limited added protection as follows:

Dramatically redesigned the titanium cage in 4 places areas that focused on covering the ABS shell in spots vulnerable to cracking, especially in the chin area
Increased the welds on the titanium frame for strength and added durability
Added strength to shock absorbers to prevent problems caused by side to side or other angled impacts
Tweaked eye opening and moved the frame closer inward to provide even greater visibility
Made helmet 1 inch longer to bottom front to provide additional protection

The Shock FX 2.0 helmet is available for here for pre-ordering with a delivery in late October or early November. (images below)

In the meantime, let us know what you think about the improvements.

Official Todd Skaggs Participates in Photo Shoot

2009-10-14T17:54:00.001-05:00

Todd Skaggs has been officiating high school football for over 7 years and is currently in his first year as a college official in the Division II West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Todd recently joined us for a photo shoot at nearby South Oldham High School on a nearly perfect day. This marked our first on-field football photo shoot.

Besides his full-time job, Todd recently authored the book Ready For Play: What You Must Do To Officiate College Football and Beyond and also publishes Profootballreferee.com, a blog about football officiating that includes in-depth interviews, video, articles and a podcast. If interested, you can sign up at his blog for a free 7 course lesson on How to Get Noticed, Move Up and Improve Your Officiating Skills, and then download the first 2 chapters of his book for free.

And if that wasn't enough, Todd also officiates basketball and fast pitch softball.

After seeing the professional-quality results, we are very grateful for Todd helping us out - especially considering his very full plate. (Thanks also to South Oldham H.S. Athletics and Ray our go-to photography guru)

See some some photos from the shoot below or browse our football section for extensive zoomed and alternative product images you would find elsewhere.

ZX1 Ultimate and Smitty Cold and Rain Shirt

Smitty FB-KN Knickers Multiple Views

New Balance MF995 Turf Shoes and F120 Socks

Todd and mystery official (ok, that's me) in photo taken for possible future advertising

Ump-Attire Logo Now on Silver Frame Umpire Mask

2009-10-05T12:29:00.006-05:00

The Featherweight Silver Frame Umpire Mask made by Diamond has been a very popular this year. Always looking to improve, we felt we could make it look even better by having a logo placed in the center of the mask instead of a logo on one side of the bottommost padding and SKU of "DFM-SV" on other side (see pic at right).

After much thought, we considered placing our Ump-Attire.com logo - you know, the one with an official standing with hands on hips - here instead of the Diamond logo. I didn't like having all the navy, red and grey on a silver and black frame mask.

We ultimately felt a black and white version would work best (see pic at right). We appreciate Diamond for allowing us to do this and think the result turned out very well. So far, those of you who have seen this have agreed. What are your initial thoughts?

Also significant, this marks our first foray into having our logo on items other than clothing and accessories. As of now, I'm leaning toward doing more of this but in no big hurry. Should we?

Regardless, this mask with the Ump-Attire logo is now available for ordering.

Grey Ball Bag Now Available to Match Charcoal Grey Umpire Pants

2009-10-05T12:20:00.004-05:00

For those of you who like to wear the same color ball bag as your umpire pants, the U112P ball bags that have been so popular in navy, black and heather grey are now available in darker charcoal grey as well.

The ball bags are identical in fabric to the Smitty Brand Charcoal Grey Umpire Pants to insure a perfect match.

Shock Doctor's VP on Mouthguards for Umpires

2009-09-28T15:06:00.013-05:00

If you have been reading, you know that I have had mouthguards on my mind for these past few months.

What started as suggestions from umpires and even hockey referees on this blog that led to the post Would You Wear a Mouthguard When Umpiring? (July 9th) where I received much feedback plus my in-depth conversation with MLB Umpire Andy Fletcher (August 17th) where he discussed not only why he wears one but how it works for him, has led to a more mouthguard specific discussion with Jay Turkbas, the VP of Product Development at Shock Doctor on the subject.

In other words, I wanted to know from Jay, if umpires do wear a mouthguard, are there certain types of mouthguards that would work better than others. As Shock Doctor is a leader in this field, who better to answer that question than their head of R&D?

Overview
It is worth noting that Jay echoed the sentiment that mouthguards offer more than just protection of teeth and help cushion blows to the mouth and, most importantly, to the brain, even when a helmet is worn, whether it be in contact sports like football or non-contact ones where a moving object is involved like baseball or softball.

He mentioned NFHS data, provided by trainers, that the number #1 injury in baseball is due to a facial impact.

After discussing the unprotected nature of umpires (e.g. no glove as a catcher would have) and the amount of force a baseball can deliver (2,400 psi), he felt that umpires would in fact benefit greatly from their use to help prevent concussions.

Before diving into thoughts on specific mouthguard products, I wanted Jay's expert opinion on the physics and science of concussions and mouthguards as they relate to them.

Discussion on Physics of a Concussion
From a high end velocity impact to the chin or jaw area (mandible), energy transfers to the jaw's condlye joint (or TMJ) then to the temporal bones at the base of the skull and, ultimately, to the brain. This is one of those knee bone is connected to the ankle bone kind of things. But in this case, it is basically the jaw bone is connected to the skull bone which houses the brain and that any force taken is going to transfer somewhere.
Discussion on Physics of How a Mouthguard Can Prevent Concussions
The right mouthguard will not only absorb some of the energy by itself that would otherwise have simply transferred, but it is also going to position the jaw in such a way that there is more space in that condyle joint (more separation from jaw bone to skull) thus stopping a good amount of that transfer of energy from a blow to the chin or jaw area.
Discussion of Other Variables including Differences in People and Research
Some people may be more prone to concussion due to a variety factors including anatomical differences in facial bones and joints. In other words, in the same situation where let's say a baseball hits an umpire traveling at the same speed at the same angle while wearing the same mask, one person may suffer a concussion where another would not.

In addition, most of the research available on mouthguards preventing concussions is anecdotal, which is a fancy word that means there is very little scientific evidence on this subject - imagine testing humans in a laboratory by intentionally shooting baseballs at that them, but instead the evidence included is that many, such as Andy Fletcher, other umpires and athletes in other sports who state unequivocally that it works for them in preventing concussions.

A Mouthguard that Addresses the Audibility and Professionalism Concerns of Umpires
Jay discussed three different mouthguards from Shock Doctor, but feels that one of the newest mouthguards, the Gravity, is potentially the best candidate for umpires in preventing concussions while alleviating previously mentioned concerns. Not only does it offer separation of the condyle joint when worn, but it also is a mouthguard that can be worn on the lower teeth only.

In this way, an umpire can not only still call out a strike, ball or out in an audible manner but can also speak normally to players, coaches and other umpires because the tongue can still touch the top of the mouth. In addition, the lower profile design of the Gravity has a tight fit making it easier to keep it in the mouth while speaking without falling out, alleviating any concerns of having to remove it, wondering what to do with it if one does and any resulting professionalism and/or hygiene issues relating to that.

Furthermore, one can still breath the same while wearing the Gravity as there is no change, as shown in tests, regarding oxygen intake.

Where Do We Go from Here?
First of all, as many of you have started and/or shaped this discussion so far, I would love to hear further your thoughts on this important subject especially as it relates to the above.

I still plan to do some more research. In the meantime, Jay is sending samples of the Gravity and other mouthguards, all of which we would like to have some select umpires wear in the field this fall for feedback purposes.

Staff Feature: Stock Manager Chad Denton

2009-09-25T09:27:00.003-05:00

Chad Denton was hired to join the Ump-Attire Team at peak baseball sales season and hit the ground running. Due to his outstanding performance, he has quickly become one of our key people here alongside Paul, Jeanne, Anessa and Sherry - so much so we recently promoted Chad to the position of stock manager.

If you receive an item, most likely Chad has received that item from the supplier, insured it was recorded properly in our inventory control system and then placed in its proper area so that it was ready to be picked, packaged and sent to you. In other words, although Chad is not one you'll hear from by phone or e-mail, there is a good chance that, no matter what you are wearing or have, it is has gone through Chad's hands in some way.

He brings to the company several years of shipping/warehouse experience that is particularly beneficial to our stock re-organizing needs brought on by our growth and seasonal nature.

Chad was born in Louisville, Kentucky and in his spare time is currently attending a local college to pursue a Bachelor's Degree.

The Umpire Life 2010 Dream Camp

2009-09-23T08:56:00.003-05:00

MLB umpire Ted Barrett asked me to pass along information about a very unique umpire camp opportunity taking place next year. After reading information on it, it does seem like a one-of-a kind event that is not only an umpire clinic or training camp, but also has a dream style camp quality to it that is similar to what you would receive with a major league team as a player.

So whether you are looking for umpire training or to see what it is like to umpire at the major league level, this appears to be worth checking into. In addition, the camp's proceeds go to a good cause.

We are not sponsoring this event at this point, but when someone of Ted's character asks you to do something, you simply respond "yes".

Regarding the camp, Ted says:

"The Umpire Life is excited to announce 'The Umpire Life Dream Camp 2010'. Our goal is to provide you with the most amazing umpire experience ever.

This event is going to take place in Arlington, Texas in 'The Rangers Ballpark in Arlington' February 18-21, 2010. Your training and teaching will take place right in the stadium of the Texas Rangers. You will also get the chance to meet an incredible teaching staff that will include three legendary former Major League umpires. Bill Haller, Joe Brinkman and Ken Kaiser who will both entertain you and teach you the things that helped them through their 78 years of umpiring experience.

Please check out the link here for (more information on) this incredible opportunity. This camp is going to be limited to only 50 umpires so don't delay in reserving your spot in what is sure to be the greatest four days you ever spend umpiring!"

If you have or know of an umpire camp in your neck of the woods, feel free to add information or comment about it below.

Sponsor an MLB Umpire at UMPS CARE Golf Marathon

2009-09-23T07:52:00.005-05:00

Nearly 30 MLB and minor league baseball umpires are striving to raise a minimum of $2,500 each to support UMPS CARE charities youth programs through the 2nd Annual UMPS CARE Charities Golf Marathon on November 11th at the August Ranch Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.

You can support the charity by sponsoring one of the umpires playing 100 holes that day through an online donation or personal check. We chose to sponsor the following golfers:

To find out more about the event, visit the Golf Marathon event page here where you can view all umpires participating by clicking the "Sponsor a Golfer" link. If you choose to sponsor someone, click their link to see their page and click the "Sponsor Me Now" button.

For more information on UMPS CARE and its programs, visit www.umpscare.com.

Newspaper Names Jim Kirk All Time First Baseman at High School

2009-09-09T12:45:00.004-05:00

On Friday, September 4th, Harlan High School located in Harlan, Kentucky celebrated its 100 year anniversary. As part of its festivities, the local newspaper, the Harlan Daily Enterprise named its All-Time Harlan High School sports teams in football, basketball and baseball.

I was extremely flattered to be selected at first base for this unexpected honor. The entire selected team with graduation years and positions are below.

1B - Jim Kirk - 1988
2B - Eric Browning - 1996
SS - Dickie Parsons - 1957
3B - Sean Kirklin - 1987
C - Tommy Ward - 1948
RF - Bucket Lequire - 1950
CF - Bob Muse - 1968
LF - Bob Anderson - 1958
DH - Chris Goss - 1998
P - Jim Ed Gibson - 1965
P - Wah Wah Jones - 1945
P - Bobby Brown - 1958
P - Jack Ledford - 1959
P - Charlie Rutledge - 1995
P - John Smith - 2007
P - Cotton Robinson - 1950
P - Lawson Howard - 1998
P - Patrick Ball - 2007

UMPS Care Cincinnati Children's Hospital Event Puts Smiles on Kids' Faces

2009-09-03T10:02:00.017-05:00

We recently sponsored, along with Bristol Myers Squibb, MLB umpires' visit at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital as part of UMPS CARE charities. Myself along with crew chief Randy Marsh, Angel Hernandez, Marvin Hudson, Lance Barksdale and James Hoye, who were all in town for the Reds-Giants series handed out Build-A-Bears to and signed autographs for sick children in their activities' center.

Personally, the smiles on these kids faces were more a gift to me than anything I could have brought to them, and I was extremely impressed by how well the MLB guys can work a room and interact so positively with the children we met, some of them who you could tell were very sick. So, I was touched.

So you know kids would be impressed by MLB players like Derek Jeter coming to visit and signing autographs. How would they feel about MLB umpires? Well, from their reactions, I think they thought it was pretty cool.

Some select photos below. Complete slideshow from event here.

(Marvin, Angel, Lance, myself, Randy and James Meet in Lobby)

(Executive Director, Samuel Dearth and I Prepare Build-A-Bear Outfits)

(Angel and Randy with Child and Parent)

(Boy with Reds Build-A-Bear and Autographed Shirt)

(Boy and I Smile for Camera)

(James, Lance and Marvin with Reds Fan)

(Randy, Angel and Reds Mascot "Gapper" with Girl)

(Girl Says "No" to My Cheerleader Outfit Suggestion)

(Girl with Her Selection is Too Cute for Words)

MLB Umpire Andy Fletcher Uses Mouthguard to Prevent Concussions

2009-08-17T16:32:00.008-05:00

Andy Fletcher is the only MLB umpire who wears a mouthguard.

During a recent conversation with him via phone, he tells me why he wears one and whether or not it has helped him to prevent injuries.

When I began looking into whether or not umpires could benefit from wearing a mouthguard or whether or not they even would wear one, customer and umpire Aaron Baggett alerted me that while watching an MLB game on TV he saw umpire Andy Fletcher wearing what he thought was a mouthguard behind the plate. I was not aware than any MLB umpire was, indeed, using one so I was eager to speak with Andy, an umpire from Mississippi who worked this year's Tokyo round of the World Baseball Classic. So, thanks Aaron for the heads-up.

I was able to talk with Andy while he was in Cincinnati for a recent Reds-Nationals series. Although he made it clear he was not attempting to champion the cause of umpires wearing mouthguards, he felt very strongly that the mouthguard he has used for 3 years has saved him personally from concussions and jaw injuries.

EARLY INJURIES
What was his motivation to start wearing a mouthguard? Andy was candid in mentioning that he experienced a concussion and several jaw injuries such as jaw pain earlier in his career (he's been at the MLB level for 9.5 years) as the result of blows to his jaw area. He began searching for solutions to prevent them from happening again. He first tried a hockey style helmet, but he admitted he didn't like the feel of the helmet vs. a traditional style mask, so he returned to the traditional.

At the suggestion of MLB Umpire Trainer Mark Letendre, he began wearing a mouthguard. He chose one that covered both the upper and lower teeth, so that it would absorb much of the impact and keep his jaw in proper alignment to prevent blows from causing concussions and TMJ type injuries.

ADJUSTMENT AND RESULTS
How did he feel about the result? After an adjustment period where he felt wearing a mouthguard "took some getting used to", he mentioned that he was "surprised" at the noticeable difference from blows with one in and those without. And although he is aware that there is some debate in studies as to whether or not mouthguards are useful in preventing concussions in addition to non-debatable teeth protection, for him he is a big believer in their use for umpires in doing so.

I discussed in detail with Andy the concerns several umpires have expressed to me in regard to wearing a mouthguard and how he had specifically addressed those.

AUDIBILITY OF CALLS
The most frequently discussed concern is the ability to audibly call balls, strikes and outs. Again, after a "very short time" of adjustment Andy said he had no problem doing so, even as a MLB umpire who he confessed is "one of the loudest out there."

TALKING WITH PLAYERS AND MANAGERS
Andy initially admitted that although some of his fellow umpires made fun of him when he first starting wearing a mouthguard, he said no player or manager has ever taken note or discussed this with him. He reasoned that with many players wearing mouthguards these days in the field, that to them, wearing a mouthguard for safety has become accepted practice.

MOUTHGUARD MECHANICS
What does he do with his mouthguard when he needs to talk to a player or manager? Andy says that he simply takes out the mouthguard using his hand and typically places it in his pocket. He admits he's often so quick with it that to an observer, he or she might only think that he is covering his mouth to cough. See photo on Bleacherreport.com of Andy that appears to show him with his mouthguard in his left hand.

I truly appreciate Andy's candor, openness and availability on this issue. I'll have more to report later as I talk with others in the know on this very important subject.

Staff Night at the Louisville Bats AAA Minor League Game

2009-08-17T11:18:00.010-05:00

We have all been badly overdue for getting together outside of everyday work here at Ump-Attire.com. I was able to arrange for a luxury box at Louisville Slugger field for a recent Bats vs. the Toledo Mud Hens contest.

These guys work extremely hard and are very deserving of a little luxury, food, beer and baseball.

Here are some select pics from the night out.

In this picture: Anessa Arehart (customer service manager, second from left), myself and Chad Denton (stock manager, second from right)

Jeanne Nelson (operations manager) and Paul Nelson (warehouse manager), our resident married couple, catch some of the game

Sherry Spalding with husband Willie listens to funny story from Lori, my wife

Chad showing how not to wear an umpire cap with girlfriend Lindsey

Anessa showing her good side with U.K. friend Simon who attended his first baseball game ever

Sherry (marketing assistant) and I find it's hard to smile for the camera when laughing

Arizona Meeting and NASO Summit Starts Slow, Finishes Strong

2009-08-10T11:24:00.012-05:00

Ever have one of those days where everything that could go wrong does go wrong? This was our Saturday morning when 1,100 officials showed up in Tucson for a mandatory meeting just prior to the NASO Summit.

What happened? The shipping company who handles shipments for the hotel where the meeting took place did not have our items and materials for us when promised, then everything started earlier than it was supposed to.

Not to worry, everything finally arrived at 10:30am and things could only go up from there despite it taking us a while to gradually set up as we were meeting with people. (Actually, there was a time where it appeared that everything had been lost. If that had been the case, the whole trip would have been basically worthless. So, things could have certainly been worse.)

Overhead View of Exhibit Area - Arizona Meeting
(Us on the left)
We sure did see many officials that day, more than we ever have at an event of this type. Besides most officials being there for football, many were interested in the baseball items we brought as well. What gained the most interest? The Diamond Silver Frame Umpire Mask, Wilson Titanium Mask and Ultimate Shirts (all sports) plus New Balance and Reebok plate and field shoes.

Kirby Bollnow and I
Kirby is a football official from Arizona who has also been a good customer of ours for the past year. I always enjoy meeting customers face-to-face, especially for the first time, as it makes the sometimes impersonal experience of ordering online much less so.

Richard Jackson and I
Richard is a football official and customer from Phoenix who says "love your shirts and my New Balance 995". We were looking out for him as he was the only one who had previously commented on our Facebook page that he would be stopping by.

Federico Orozco and I
I met Federico at the NCAA Umpire Clinic in Chicago in January where we talked for a while there and at the NASO Summit. He is a native of Tucson and currently resides in Pennsylvania. Federico is also one of those multi-sport officials that we like having around.

Richard "Dick" Davidson and I
It's always good seeing Dick Davidson. This is my 3rd year in a row seeing him at the NASO Summit. Dick is a baseball umpire and football official from New York with a big heart and big supporter of Umps Care (formerly Blue for Kids), the MLB Umpires' charity that we support.

2010 Wilson Umpire Gear Changes: What I Know Now

2009-08-05T09:52:00.013-05:00

I plan to meet with Wilson in Chicago at the end of the month and will have more to report at that time, but for now here are some additions and changes to Wilson's Umpire Gear lineup for 2010 to keep you as informed as I can.

The Platinum and Gold chest protectors will undergo minor cosmetic logo-related changes. This includes adding back the "WV" (West Vest) logo, that was on these several years ago, underneath the Wilson "W" and MLB logos. So yes, if you currently own a Wilson Platinum or Gold you'll need to upgrade to the 2010 model only if you want 3 logos instead of 2.

The "W" logo also moves up on the Platinum for more prominent placement on the sternum or neck padding that is specific to the Platinum... again, all minor.
The Shock FX umpire helmet cage is being changed to provide added durability to the shell and shock absorbers. I wanted to use the word "re-shaped" or "tweaked" but it's more than tweaked and less than re-shaped. Will share more when I receive new pics.
There will be an offering of all-black full grain leather replacement padding option in wrap-around style. I know many of you have been asking for that. Your next question will be what the price will be, and the answer is it will likely be the same price as the A3815 deerksin pads.
Shock FX umpire helmet replacement padding for forehead and chin padding will be offered. The helmet's been out for a while, so the time is ripe to have those available.
Wilson will no longer being offering the Davis gear umpire chest protector and shin guards that we have sold for years, and instead will offer the newer Davishield and Davishins. We currently do not have plans to sell these items, and I'll share more info as to why in a separate post should that continue to be the case.

If you have any questions about Wilson, please feel free to post. And I'll answer them as best I can.

Why Us for Football? 4 Reasons You Might Not Know

2009-08-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

So you probably already know about us as a leading supplier of baseball/softball umpire equipment. What you might not know is how hard we are working to also become as competitive in other sports, including football.

So, how are we doing? In comparing us to a leading competitor, I'll list 4 simple reasons why you, as a football official, will want to consider shopping with us this year.

We have better prices.
If saving money is important to you, you can pocket over $22 when you purchase a football referee uniform from us instead of from our leading competitor.
$195.43 vs. $217.50 for the following items: Standard referee shirt, upgraded knicker, Reebok Low Quag II shoes, NFHS/NCAA socks, 1 and 1/4 belt, wool blend cap, Fox 40 CMG whistle, lanyard, nylon chain clip, cloth penalty flag, down indicator, vinyl throw down bag, wallet, info cards and pencil.
We have better products.
Just ask any owner of an Ultimate Referee Shirts in short or long sleeve who has worn other brand's shirts and they'll not hesitate to tell you whose shirt is best.

Our ball center penalty flags are the same ones the NFL guys use, not a less quality version made overseas.

Our referee socks are much improved this year. We were approached recently by the supplier or our leading competitor's football referee socks to buy from them instead of our current supplier. Sure, we would have saved money by switching but we'd rather have a better version and continue to charge you the same.

There are certainly items that we can only say they are the same. And there is likely a product here or there a competitor has that is better than our best in a category. We're far from perfect. And lastly, I'm sure someone will disagree with me on any of our above assertions. If so, not a problem.

But all in all, I feel very solid about the level of quality in our current football referee gear selection.
We have more specialty items.
Items that make life more comfortable while on the field in any environment not available or hard to find elsewhere such as:
-Waterproof "Rite in the Rain" Paper Information Cards
-All-Weather Pen that writes in any weather condition
-180s Exolite Acoustic Ear Warmers fit over your cap, not under
-Manzella Trekker Gloves sheds rain and snow keeping your hands warm and dry
We have more U.S.-made products.
If this is important to you, and for many Americans it is, I bet you didn't know that while most of our competitors' items are made overseas many of our items are made in the U.S. - in states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, North Carolina and Florida.

Which items? All of our Ultimate Shirts, referee socks, leather belts, penalty flags and throw down bags and most of our under apparel shorts and shirts are American made.

So there you go. Whichever reason you shop with us this year - for greater value, quality, specialty items or to support the U.S. or your home state's economy - we're looking forward to having you as our customer.

And if you have suggestions in how we can do better in football (or other sports), I'd love to hear them.

Umpires' High Marks on Hotsport Loose Fit Shirt

2009-08-04T12:48:00.006-05:00

Just happened to notice the multiple very good reviews posted on Umpire-Empire.com reviews section for the Diamond HOTSPORT Loose Fit Short Sleeve Shirt. View that site for full reviews, but I'll post some highlights below.

The shirts are great. I used to use a competitor's brand, but I really like the Diamond loose fit... They do a great job of wicking the moisture away from my body and the anti-odor coating on the shirts also seems to make a difference...

I have two of these shirts and love them... I also enjoy the somewhat extended collar...not a mock but not a crew either. They come up far enough to keep my CP (chest protector) from rubbing on my neck... Plus the added height of the collar looks great while on the bases...

I have worn both the McDavids and the Under Armour stuff in the past. The price point of these is better and I love the fit and feel...

We currently have in the works with the manufacturer of this item to replace Diamond's logo with our shield logo in the left chest area for 2010.

New and Enhanced Football Packages Now Available

2009-08-04T12:23:00.004-05:00

Just a quick note to say we added a new football referee accessory kit and enhanced one by adding 2 items.

Quick Pick Referee Kit
We noticed that the many of our football official customers buy a penalty flag, a throw down bag and a down indicator when they place an order. So with just a few clicks, you can have those 3 items in your basket then provide you with our popular pencil with pencil shield for free.

Football Accessories Starter Package
We also added a chain clip and hardback wallet to our football accessory kit that includes most everything you'll need from whistle and lanyard to flag and throw down bag to information cards and pencil plus indicator and the additional items. We also added in the capability to upgrade flag and/or whistle.

I'm not a big fan of complete packages because I think most companies abuse it by trying to throw too much in of things you don't need and because upgrade options are often limited leaving you to settle on something you'd rather not have. So, we don't have one that includes everything, but you can order the accessories you need in the new kit above saving a few bucks and clicks in the process then add in your shirt, knickers, socks, cap and shoes you really want. Then, you'll be ready to go.

See You in Tucson at the NASO Summit July 25-28

2009-07-17T14:28:00.012-05:00

Get ready Arizona! Sherry and I will be attending the Tucson NASO Summit presented by National Association of Sports Officials in cooperation with the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Arizona Interscholastic Association on July 25-28th.

This will be my 3rd trip to the yearly NASO Summit after attending Denver in '07 and Cleveland in '08. We always manage to make the most of these trips and this year hope to see over 1,000 officials and officiating leaders from Arizona, the U.S. and other countries over a 4 day period. This is Sherry's 1st NASO Summit visit.

Here is our schedule.

Saturday, July 25th
10:00a – 5:00p
Exhibit Hall Booth (Arizona Officials' Meeting Day - Jim and Sherry)

Sunday, July 26th
7:00p – 8:00p
2009 Sports Officiating Summit Grand Opening (Jim and Sherry)

8:00p – 10:00p
Gala Welcome Reception (Jim and Sherry)

Monday, July 27th
7:00a – 12:15p
Exhibit Hall Booth (Jim and Sherry)

8:00a – 8:30a
Keynote: The Pursuit of Sound Judgment and Great Decisions (Jim)

12:15p – 1:30p
Luncheon (Jim and Sherry)

1:30a – 5:00p
Exhibit Hall Booth (Sherry)

Tuesday, July 28th
8:00a – 12:00p: Exhibit Hall Booth (Sherry)

Please stop by and see us if you are going to be in attendance during one of the times above. We plan to bring some newer products and some of our specialty items for multiple sports. If attending and there is anything you want us to bring, simply ask.

For more information, visit the mini-site set up by NASO.

Save Up to $15 on 2009 Football Referee Gear

2009-07-15T09:14:00.007-05:00

Just before each season, we re-visit the products and the prices of each upcoming season's sport. We'll consider things like competitor prices, our costs - as we may have gotten a better (or worse) cost on an item this year over last, and a few other factors.

As a result of this exercise, we have dropped the prices for the entire season on the following items for football, so much that if you bought all items on this list you'd save up to $15 this season on football referee gear.

Reversible Referee Jacket - $56.99 to $52.99
All Throw Down Bags - As high as $9.99 to $5.89
Ball Center Flags - $9.99 to $6.99
U.S. Flag Patches - $2.99 to $1.99
Nylon Chain Clip - $7.49 to $6.89
Ultimate Belt - $9.99 to $9.49
Cloth Penalty Flag - $5.49 to $5.24
Elastic Down Indicator - $3.99 to $3.89
Markup for Larger Sizes of Football Referee Shirts Reduced: 2X shirts from $2.50 to $1.99, 3X from $4.50 to $3.49 and 4X from +$6.50 to $4.99

We think when you add in these great values and our already low prices throughout our store, our largest selection ever with nearly 20 new items, our industry best U.S. made Ultimate Referee Shirts, the most user-friendly online shopping and world class customer service, why shop anywhere else in 2009?

Shop by Type Enhanced

2009-07-13T11:00:00.004-05:00

We just added 9 categories to our Shop by Type section and insured that all products were represented in each category. So now you can better shop for things like shoes, rulebooks and packages from all sports for you multi-sport officials or those of you who just prefer to do so.

View the Shop by Type section here or click on the "Shop by Type" link now predominantly displayed in the main navigation on the left of the home page:

With this enhancement plus our Shop by Sport, Shop by Brand and search feature, we feel Ump-Attire.com is the destination where it is easiest to find the umpire or referee gear you are looking for.