Skip to main content

19 replies

Concussions and Umpires

Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
So kind of a random question and I'm sure it may vary by state. As I'm sure you know, concussions have become a major issue over the last few years which have led to various policies and legislation to be enacted.

In Illinois, if a player is suspected of having suffered a head injury he/she must be removed and cannot return until he receives written clearance from a physician or a certified athletic trainer.

My question is: If I suspect an umpire has suffered a concussion (say a foul tip off the mask) do I, as an athletic trainer, have the authority to remove him from the game?

What do you think?

"Every Athlete Deserves an Athletic Trainer"

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

yawetagyawetag100+ posts
I've never thought about, and it's definitely a question you should get sent to the state (and even Fed) to think about.

I remember hearing professional sports do a baseline test on all their athletes at the beginning of the year and these results are used against a test after the incident to determine concussion status. Is this true and what is the process? Is it something umpires could do and carry a sheet with notes, or is it more complex?

Personally, if a trainer is telling me I need to get checked out, I'm going to listen to him. At that point, it must be obvious I'm exhibiting signs of something that's triggering a trainer's education. I'll believe his years of work.

Of course, it could also be their way of getting my butt off the plate, too. Smile
Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
Most professional sports teams utilize what is known as ImPACT Testing and yes they do baseline testing. But ImPACT is not utilized on the sideline and really it would not help me to determine if you have a concussion or not on the field.

I believe that umpires in Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball are also tested utilizing the ImPACT software, but I am not sure.


Now, yawetag, I'd never just run you off the plate Wink All that does is delay the game and my school's team is expected to be iffy so we don't want to delay more than needed!
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
it certainly is an insteresting question, as I have had my "bell rung" once or twice in my career....

I would hope as a good partner, I would recognize any effects of a concussion on my partner and act accordingly.... but as YAW states and I agree 100%, if a trainer is telling me I need to get checked out, I'm going to listen to him.

At that point, it must be obvious to him and I hope my partner, that I'm exhibiting signs of something that's triggering a trainer's concern.....
Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
I had a situation a couple of years ago where we had an older umpire that was having some health issues so he was only working a limited schedule. He was working a double men's league game and he said he was feeling bad between games. I told to stay at the truck and I would cover his base job. He left while we were on the field. After the game I found out he had taken a bad shot square to the mask. Turns out he had a concussion and should have been transported and absolutely not driving. I told his partner that if I had known he had been hit he would not have been left on his own. I was very unhappy to not have been given all the pieces.
TX-Ump74TX-Ump74100+ posts
Here you go...

3 years ago I was the Plate guy for a big game for 2 of the area's best teams. Both pitchers are in big D1 Programs now... both throwing in the high 80's / Low 90's... First inning first batter I take a Fast ball just off the bat square in the mask... Ok we are good... bottom of the 1st.. first batter 2nd pitch same thing fast ball just off the bat and plows square into my mask... this time I take a step back, 2 batters later a third foul the same as the first two take me to one knee... the Trainer for the home team comes out brings me water and asks me how and I doing... I look at him and kinda say fine I will be ok... we resume and the next pitch is at the kids eyes.... I ring him up... "STRIKE 3".

At that point both trainers come out with the HC's and my partner comes in... home trainer takes a look and tells the others that my pupils are dilated and he thinks I have a concussion... the other trainer takes a look and concurs with the the first trainer... I say no I am fine...but my partner says "no you'er done for the night"

From there a few calls were made and the game was delayed for an hour-twenty before another umpire could show up. Both coaches insisted on a second umpire, I wanted to work the bases but the trainers said "No". Still got paid went to ER and got checked out and I did have a concussion...

Thanks to Trainers and my partner for not letting me go on that night...

OK before the comments... yes I was in the Slot, and yes my mask fits very loosely so it should come off when hit. These 3 were square and my masked moved very little. Just wanted make those additional points.
Last edited by TX-Ump74
Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TX-Ump74:
Here you go...

3 years ago I was the Plate guy for a big game for 2 of the area's best teams. Both pitchers are in big D1 Programs now... both throwing in the high 80's / Low 90's... First inning first batter I take a Fast ball just off the bat square in the mask... Ok we are good... bottom of the 1st.. first batter 2nd pitch same thing fast ball just off the bat and plows square into my mask... this time I take a step back, 2 batters later a third foul the same as the first two take me to one knee... the Trainer for the home team comes out brings me water and asks me how and I doing... I look at him and kinda say fine I will be ok... we resume and the next pitch is at the kids eyes.... I ring him up... "STRIKE 3".

At that point both trainers come out with the HC's and my partner comes in... home trainer takes a look and tells the others that my pupils are dilated and he thinks I have a concussion... the other trainer takes a look and concurs with the the first trainer... I say no I am fine...but my partner says "no you'er done for the night"

From there a few calls were made and the game was delayed for an hour-twenty before another umpire could show up. Both coaches insisted on a second umpire, I wanted to work the bases but the trainers said "No". Still got paid went to ER and got checked out and I did have a concussion...

Thanks to Trainers and my partner for not letting me go on that night...

OK before the comments... yes I was in the Slot, and yes my mask fits very loosely so it should come off when hit. These 3 were square and my masked moved very little. Just wanted make those additional points.

If you watch the pros, when an umpire gets wacked the trainer comes out and his partners come in. You will see the crew insisting the PU stop if it determined it is a good idea. I would like to think we would do the same.
D dash_riprock1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TX-Ump74:
Here you go...

3 years ago I was the Plate guy for a big game for 2 of the area's best teams. Both pitchers are in big D1 Programs now... both throwing in the high 80's / Low 90's... First inning first batter I take a Fast ball just off the bat square in the mask... Ok we are good... bottom of the 1st.. first batter 2nd pitch same thing fast ball just off the bat and plows square into my mask... this time I take a step back, 2 batters later a third foul the same as the first two take me to one knee... the Trainer for the home team comes out brings me water and asks me how and I doing... I look at him and kinda say fine I will be ok... we resume and the next pitch is at the kids eyes.... I ring him up... "STRIKE 3".

At that point both trainers come out with the HC's and my partner comes in... home trainer takes a look and tells the others that my pupils are dilated and he thinks I have a concussion... the other trainer takes a look and concurs with the the first trainer... I say no I am fine...but my partner says "no you'er done for the night"

From there a few calls were made and the game was delayed for an hour-twenty before another umpire could show up. Both coaches insisted on a second umpire, I wanted to work the bases but the trainers said "No". Still got paid went to ER and got checked out and I did have a concussion...

Thanks to Trainers and my partner for not letting me go on that night...

OK before the comments... yes I was in the Slot, and yes my mask fits very loosely so it should come off when hit. These 3 were square and my masked moved very little. Just wanted make those additional points.


If you were ringing them up at the eyes, Id want to keep you out there!

Just kidding. They all did the right thing.
Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
Thanks guys. I think I got the answer I was looking for.. While I may not have the authority to do so, I think that I'll win if I tell an umpire he needs to be done. He'll eventually give in whether I have to convince him, the coaches have to convince him, or his partner has to convince him.

I'll have the same mentality with umpires as I do my athletes: play until it is unsafe to do so. With a concussion, that's a quick trigger but otherwise it's lots of room to fail on their own.

There's no game so important that you must stay in with a concussion...
06catcherdad06catcherdad1,000+ posts
This is an interesting thread for me, as I took a direct hit just above my eyes last week, and had a very mild headache the next day or two. I'm suffering with allergies and my sinuses are miserable lately, so I have wondered if that mild, persistent headache was just allergies, or perhaps a mild concussion.

The ball that hit me was a fastball about 80 that was fouled into my mask. I was told the ball popped up and landed about 10 feet out in front of the plate so it definitely hit me squarely.

I wear a Wilson shock FX helmet with the shock absorbers. I've always felt that it protects me well, but lately I'm starting to wonder if a mask worn loosely might not offer greater protection. I've taken some hard shots to this helmet over the years and never had a serious problem, but am starting to wonder which style really is best and most protective.
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
As a traditional mask wearer, I've always felt that worn properly it gave me excellent protection. Ask the bucket wearers and I'm sure they say the same. Recently on umpire sites there has been some talk about the HSM contributing to the concussive effects.

I've never used one for a full game. I did One inning and didn't care for it.

Add Reply

Post
.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×