What protective equipment must catchers wear?

In a game, any player acting as catcher must wear a complete set of catcher's gear: a helmet, a mask with a throat protector, a chest protector, a jockstrap with a cup (men) or a Jill strap (women), shin guards and a catcher's glove (Baseball Canada Rules & Regulations for Championships 2026, Section 4.2, which applies to all age categories).

In bullpen and warm-up situations the full set is recommended. At a minimum, a catcher must wear a mask with a throat protector when squatting or when a pitcher is throwing off the mound. This applies to anyone acting as a catcher, including a position player or coach. Extension masks are acceptable as throat protection if the throat area is adequately covered together with the chest protector.

Source: Baseball Canada 2026 Rules & Regulations for Baseball Canada Championships, Section 4.2.