FACE MASK

[3monkeys]

Is it really about the numbers? How many times does a batter get hit in the head versus the ribs, or back? I would care to say that they get hit in the back or ribs 10x more often than in the head, so why are flak jackets not required? It is not about the numbers but about the severity of the injury. Funny how the batter has a helmet, but relatively speaking, they probably have twice as much time to get out of the way (to prevent a head injury) than does the pitcher who has a ball coming back at her twice as hard at her face, if not more.

[anonlooker]

DunninLA... what then are the odds of the same kid getting hit in the face twice?

[pbj2000]

It is unfortunate and tragic on what it takes to force a mandate. Playing the odds of probability with one's own and other peoples children's safety is illogical and irresponsible. And the post about not being able to mandate because the number of injuries doesn't justify it, is plain idiotic. So tell us, what WOULD it take for a mandate????

I'm not saying they shouldn't wear a mask. I think they should but a TD is NOT going to mandate it.Period. End of discussion.

I believe...correct me if I'm wrong, that the sanctioning body for the said tournament are
the ones who put it in there rules to wear a helmet, not the TD's rules.

[Bring it]

pbj2000 is correct...this should not be a mandate coming from the TD. I personally feel the mask should be required at pitcher and third base at a minimum, and I really think it should be worn at first as well. That said this should be controlled by the coach of the team, or mandated via ASA. USFA or any of the other governing organizations if their is to be a mandate.

[It's All Good]

Some thoughts on this:

-Why does your daughter not wear the mask. Folks on here keep saying that they have the right to decide for their dd but why does she not wear it? Just saying that it is your choice is not an answer. The new masks do not obsure any vision...
-As far as mandates are concerned, my son is a catcher. He wears a cup and I can assure you that is more unconfortable than a mask but it is REQUIRED for him to catch...
-The stats that were put up were incorrect as they did not take into account a hard grounder taking a bad hop. On my dd team a couple weeks ago our 3rd sacker took one to the mask after hitting the ground that hit so hard the mask flew off her face 20 feet and the ball went into the outfield. She went down hard and had a headache for a couple days. Without the mask she would have been in surgery and we would have been posting the following on eteamz: Need solid third sacker with good stick, great glove, cannon arm, willing to wear face protection...

[SoCalASABlue]

I believe masks are a reasonable safety precaution but should not be mandated as long as the parents sign iron-clad indemnity waivers for the organization/league their DD will play for.

My biggest problem with this whole debate are those few neanderthals that continue to say they don't want their DD playing with a false sense of security by wearing a mask or that somehow wearing a mask makes a player a coward. But perhaps they come from those places around the world where American football players are constantly ridiculed for playing with helmets and shoulder pads too. Funny, though...I bet those parents have never complained about their sons being forced to wear cups for baseball or any of the other assorted MANDATED safety equipment boys are required to wear to compete in sports.

[Bring it]

Well stated blue. Want to ump in Texas?

[Ovr_tha_Fence]

My biggest problem with this whole debate are those few neanderthals that continue to say they don't want their DD playing with a false sense of security by wearing a mask or that somehow wearing a mask makes a player a coward.

Maybe the old school approach to the game is just that. Some of us cavemen and women still believe in teaching the fundamentals of the game. There are many more than a few of us out there. That includes how to pitch and properly taking ground balls and fly balls. How many outfielders have you seen miss judge a ball and it hits them square in the face? To be honest, I have seen this happen more times then I have seen a pitcher get hit in the face. Which I have only seen once. Yes, once. I have seen more pitchers get hit in the Knee, Shin, Stomach, Hand, and Arm. A mask will not protect those areas of the body. What then? Body armor?

It's the game and it's is going to happen no matter what protective equipment you put on a child.

Again, show me ALL of those college players that suit up with these masks. At some point these girls will have to learn to play the game without them, unless they are made to wear them in college, if that's what your little Suzy wants to do.

I would not count on the NCAA making them mandatory.

But perhaps they come from those places around the world where American football players are constantly ridiculed for playing with helmets and shoulder pads too. Funny, though...I bet those parents have never complained about their sons being forced to wear cups for baseball or any of the other assorted MANDATED safety equipment boys are required to wear to compete in sports.

Funny you'd bring boys into this. If this is such a priority for softball, then why isn't there a even louder cry for baseball? Why not make boys wear them too? Are there parents just as stupid?

Better yet how about making MLB players wear them, right?

[Dunder_Mifflin]

My biggest problem with this whole debate are those few neanderthals that continue to say they don't want their DD playing with a false sense of security by wearing a mask or that somehow wearing a mask makes a player a coward.

Maybe the old school approach to the game is just that. Some of us cavemen and women still believe in teaching the fundamentals of the game. There are many more than a few of us out there. That includes how to pitch and properly taking ground balls and fly balls. How many outfielders have you seen miss judge a ball and it hits them square in the face? To be honest, I have seen this happen more times then I have seen a pitcher get hit in the face. Which I have only seen once. Yes, once. I have seen more pitchers get hit in the Knee, Shin, Stomach, Hand, and Arm. A mask will not protect those areas of the body. What then? Body armor?

It's the game and it's is going to happen no matter what protective equipment you put on a child.

Again, show me ALL of those college players that suit up with these masks. At some point these girls will have to learn to play the game without them, unless they are made to wear them in college, if that's what your little Suzy wants to do.

I would not count on the NCAA making them mandatory.

But perhaps they come from those places around the world where American football players are constantly ridiculed for playing with helmets and shoulder pads too. Funny, though...I bet those parents have never complained about their sons being forced to wear cups for baseball or any of the other assorted MANDATED safety equipment boys are required to wear to compete in sports.

Funny you'd bring boys into this. If this is such a priority for softball, then why isn't there a even louder cry for baseball? Why not make boys wear them too? Are there parents just as stupid?

Better yet how about making MLB players wear them, right?

I would guess there is not a loud cry in baseball because the F1 F3 and F5 don't play so close to the hitter and the fake bunt/swing away is not as popuar. Also, in regards to your point about baseball, MLB does not allow aluminum/composite bats due to the dangers posed to the pitcher, and remember baseball pitchers have been killed from line drives to the head from aluminum/composite bats. Don't forget, last year a base coach in the baseball minor leagues (90 feet away) was killed by a line drive off a wooden bat. Will masks ever be mandatory, probably not. Are they a good idea, Hell Yes!

[Ovr_tha_Fence]

I would guess there is not a loud cry in baseball because the F1 F3 and F5 don't play so close to the hitter and the fake bunt/swing away is not as popuar. Also, in regards to your point about baseball, MLB does not allow aluminum/composite bats due to the dangers posed to the pitcher, and remember baseball pitchers have been killed from line drives to the head from aluminum/composite bats. Don't forget, last year a base coach in the baseball minor leagues (90 feet away) was killed by a line drive off a wooden bat. Will masks ever be mandatory, probably not. Are they a good idea, Hell Yes!

We are finally getting somewhere with this argument. We could pine away all day and night about the stats and distances and types of bats used. We can try to justify or not why baseball and softball are different, but really they aren't. The same dangers of the games are there no matter what age or level of play.

The SEC conference (Softball) requires all Base Coaches to wear a batters helmet to protect against foul balls. This is due to an unfortunate accident that happened in a minor league baseball game. So, how many of you coaches wear a batters helmet? Isn't a bit of a double standard to make your girls wear a mask when you yourself don't set the safety equipment example?

If bats are the problem, then why not the balls? Why not soften the core?
If the fake bunt/swing away is the problem, then why not remove it from the game?
If reaction time is the problem for a pitcher, the why not move the pitching rubber to 46 feet?

Just because a kid wears a mask does not mean they will avoid the dangers of the game.
They will be there no matter what.

I appreciate a civil response, for once.
Safety in the game is important, but it isn't as simple as wearing shin pads or a mask.