§ 409-c. Athletic safety equipment. The board of education or trustees of every school district and the principal or other person in charge of every nonpublic elementary or secondary school within the state shall arrange for and require that batboys or batgirls participating in baseball or softball competition conducted as an activity of such school district or nonpublic school shall wear protective headgear at all times when a game is in play and such batboys or batgirls are on the playing field.