Discussing Concerns With Parent

[Demonboy]

I thought I posted this but here is another try. Here is a video of a game my dd pitched. We are the team in red. My dd was 14 this past spring and so, pitched on our varsity in this, the championship game of our conference. If I've posted this before, please accept my apologies. Watch at the end of the video. #20 will be hitting and she will foul a ball off. The next pitch you will hear the sound of the bat hitting the ball and the next sound is my daughter's face. You can hear the crowd moan. This is the second time she was hit in the face last year while having an outstanding season. Point, even if they have talent, sometimes they miss their spot. She now wears a face mask. Naturally, some of you will argue that she has no business in the circle. I might agree.

http://varsity.thetelegraph.com/video/index.php?source=gsa&v=1.0&bcpid=1184866084&bclid=1184473608&bctid=1554446292[/url]

Ouch.

[Sam]

A) Batters are TAUGHT to hit the ball back up the middle.
B) Pull hitters often take outside pitches back up the middle.
C) The new bats amplify shots hit back up the middle.

Pitchers can spin the ball and hit their targets all they want...the bottom line is that hitters are getting exponentially better due to the bats and vastly improved instruction.

You don't see it in the NCAA as much because the umpires routinely give pitchers 6" off the black.

The mask will protect the face....I've had two kids that nearly lost the ability to have children due to line drives....at 14U.

[play-more/talk-less]

"Let me play devils advocate...

The coach is not going to tell me or my kid what equipment to wear, other than the required team uniforms. Especially, at 14U. That decision is the sole responsibility of the parents, not the kid and not the coach. You can choose to mandate, I can choose not to play with your team.

I do feel it is your responsibility as the coach to bring up your issues with the parent, whether they become offended or not.

What if the coach mandated shin pads, knee pads, elbow guards, heart guard chest protectors, and ankle braces?"




I have seen one of our pitchers hauled off in an ambulance and I would rather never see the kid play for me again or have her parents hate me than to witness that knowing I felt it might happen and did nothing .

[DonnieS]

Donnie where the heck are you? You're f****ing late! It's time for the "why dont' you liberals put them all in bubbles" tirade.

There's a comfort in being able to count on certain things. Don't let me down man.

DB, not in this discussion. Pitching protection is critical - my kid has tried the masks and they terrify her. And she has seen as bad an accident in pitching as they can be - her close friend lined one into a pitcher - ambulance drives onto the field to pick up the kid, kids screaming, sister is screaming, father is yelling. We are bringing in another mask for her to try - she is, like many others, a very good athlete, and is convinced that the mask obscures her vision enough to make her vulnerable , not just in the face but in the body. As is obvious, the mask only protects the face, lots more worth protecting as well.

She is open minded about it but wants it to be truly safe and allow her wide range of vision. Her daily work now includes the 'wall ball' drill and she spends considerable time work on accuracy to keep the ball off the meatball line. She has had the good fortune to pitch against some of the best hitters around and knows how vulnerable she can be if she is not careful.

[Demonboy]

Donnie where the heck are you? You're f****ing late! It's time for the "why dont' you liberals put them all in bubbles" tirade.

There's a comfort in being able to count on certain things. Don't let me down man.

DB, not in this discussion. Pitching protection is critical - my kid has tried the masks and they terrify her. And she has seen as bad an accident in pitching as they can be - her close friend lined one into a pitcher - ambulance drives onto the field to pick up the kid, kids screaming, sister is screaming, father is yelling. We are bringing in another mask for her to try - she is, like many others, a very good athlete, and is convinced that the mask obscures her vision enough to make her vulnerable , not just in the face but in the body. As is obvious, the mask only protects the face, lots more worth protecting as well.

She is open minded about it but wants it to be truly safe and allow her wide range of vision. Her daily work now includes the 'wall ball' drill and she spends considerable time work on accuracy to keep the ball off the meatball line. She has had the good fortune to pitch against some of the best hitters around and knows how vulnerable she can be if she is not careful.

Way to take the fun out of the discussion with reasoned logic and open minded insight.

Great post though. :::sigh::::

[REALLY]

So which one both my DD's use the Game face but my oldest wants to try the small Bangerz mask.

Just found the Rip-it I don't see how that thing could obstruct much

[REALLY]

Ripit

[GIMNEPIWO]

I say make them all wear Bubble Wrap and use Nerf balls

[bucketdad96]

My DD wears the defender sportshield.
http://www.defendersportshields.com/
I know for a fact it works. DD took a line drive just over her glove to the center of the mask last spring. The ball bounced all the way back to the backstop. She only had a headache to show for it. It is a quality product for sure.
These masks come tinted and offer different color foam options (for the "coolness" factor). I even saw one in a store the other day that was camo tinted and had bright orange foam (I guess if you were playing in the woods?)
Similar to the Gameface but only has one strap. DD uses her pony-tail to keep the strap at the height she wants it.
DD had taken a little ribbing about always wearing her mask before she was hit, but afterward we were swamped with questions about where we got it. She also had decided long before she was hit that she was going be one that set an example for the younger girls that might look up to her.

[Empire United]

I teach all of my kids to hit middle. If they are late...fair ball right field....if they are early fair ball left field....If they are right on time "Where a face mask" 2 of my DD's can pitch if needed. They have 4 pitches. To protect them they throw in safe locations. They throw hard outside. Off speed low & outside. Changes are low and inside. They still have a face.
I practice come backs all the time.
Defense is apart of the game. If they cant take it then put them in the out field and tell them to throw fast balls to the cut off. Or they can duck on every pitch and wear a construction helemt.