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Mask - Properly adjusted your mask should be loose enough to fall away
slightly from your chin when you are in the proper slot stance. A mask that is to tight will transfer any shock from a foul ball as opposed to
absorbing or deflecting the force. When wearing a traditional wire frame mask, the hat should always be worn with the bill facing forward. Practice removing the mask, while keeping your hat on. To do this, grab your mask at the lower left hand corner with the thumb, index and middle fingers of your left hand, pull the mask out, away from your face and then up.
Once your mask and harness are properly adjusted, it is recommended that any unnecessary straps be cut close to the adjusting mechanism. Nylon harness straps should be singed with a match or lighter to prevent fraying. Elastic straps can be wrapped with black electrical tape.
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Chest Protector - Unless you are using the old-fashioned balloon
chest protector, the modern chest protectors should always be worn inside the shirt. The harness should
securely hold the protector to your chest, but still allow for enough movement so that when you are in the "B position" waiting for the pitch, the top of the protector adequately protects your
clavicle.
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Shin Guards - should always be worn underneath the pant legs. Even without special "umpire plate" pants, you should be able to wear your shin guards underneath any pair of pants. Always wear your shin guards so that the hooks and loops of the straps are on the outside of your leg.
It is also recommended that the loose ends of all straps be oriented in such a way so that the ends are underneath the actual strap and not on the outside of the strap. Strap ends can also be sewn to prevent them from coming loose.
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Shoes - both plate and base shoes should be mostly black. Black shoes with white or other subtle color trim or logos are acceptable.
Plate shoes, made with steel instep protectors, are a good idea, particularly in the older age divisions. Black steel toed work shoes or boots are also certainly acceptable, when working the plate. Tennis shoes or sneakers...not such a good idea behind the plate.
While your shoes do not need to be "spit shined" between games, you should at a minimum give them a good wipe with a soft cloth or brush to remove dust, dirt and grime after each game.
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Hat - umpire hats come in different brim lengths, from the standard full size 8 stitch brim all the way down to the smallest beanie. Even with the full size brim, you should be able to wear the brim facing forward when working the plate.
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Shirts - similar to hats, umpire shirts come in many different colors. When working with more than one umpire ALWAYS wear the same color shirts. If wearing a Little League Umpire patch, if should go on the left sleeve, with one inch between the bottom of the patch and the ribbing on the sleeve. (This is how District 25 does this, other districts or regions may be different.)
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Pants and Belt - umpire pants should be either heather or charcoal gray and the belt black. Places such as
Honig's or Ump-Attire are just two of the many umpire specific suppliers of umpire
equipment. For the beginning umpire, just about any gray pants will work.
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Ball Bag(s) - the plate umpire may choose to wear either one or two ball bags. If using two they should always be the same color.
Base umpires please do not ever wear a ball bag while working the bases.
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Indicator, Plate Brush, Lineup Holder, etc. - plate umpires should always have a plate brush and indicator, it's recommended that at least one base umpires also use an indicator, just in case. Even though this device used to keep track of balls, strikes and outs may make a 'clicking' sound when in use, please always refer to this device as an "Indicator" and not a "clicker."
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Red Flag - Each base umpire on the 60 foot field, should carry a red flag with them to throw or wave to indicate that a runner has left the base before the pitch as reached the batter.
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Protective Cup & Compression Shorts or Tights - YES! A protective cup is mandatory for all male umpires.
Many umpires also find using "compression" shorts or tights really helps prevent fatique to the thighs, knees and calves while working behind the plate.
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Sunglasses and Sun Protection - While not explicitly part of the uniform, umpires are encouraged to use adequate protection from the sun for both safety and health reasons.
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Rule Book - While you should always keeps a rule book in your equipment bag, do NOT carry it with you on the field!
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