I attend alot of minor league games and watch alot of major league baseball. A month or so ago, I was sitting near our team dugout at the high school game when a shot came straight towards my son and I about 2 feet over our heads.
It made me wonder, how come the base coaches aren't wearing helmets. The death of Mike Coolbaugh of Double A Tulsa led to Minor League and Major League Coaches having to wear helmets on the field. That was in 2007. In 2008 it became a rule. The fact that a coach is often not looking at the pitch and at base runners puts the coach in a dangerous spot. Its mandatory in college, MiLB, and in MLB.
However, in Illinois, there was overwhelming opposition to making it mandatory in high school. The thought process is that if you make a coach, will you make the pitcher, 3rd baseman, and first baseman wear one. Will the umpires on the bases be required to wear one. Will everyone have a helmet soon?
Why haven't helmet rules trickled down?
It made me wonder, how come the base coaches aren't wearing helmets. The death of Mike Coolbaugh of Double A Tulsa led to Minor League and Major League Coaches having to wear helmets on the field. That was in 2007. In 2008 it became a rule. The fact that a coach is often not looking at the pitch and at base runners puts the coach in a dangerous spot. Its mandatory in college, MiLB, and in MLB.
However, in Illinois, there was overwhelming opposition to making it mandatory in high school. The thought process is that if you make a coach, will you make the pitcher, 3rd baseman, and first baseman wear one. Will the umpires on the bases be required to wear one. Will everyone have a helmet soon?
Why haven't helmet rules trickled down?
