FACE MASK

[USFA]

I heard some disturbing news this Morning, over the last 3 weeks 4 girls have been put in the hospital by line drives to the face.

Face guards are a topic of discussion every year at our rules meeting at this time in USFA they are not Mandatory. We highly encourage Pitchers and players on the corners to wear the face shields. I as a parent while my DD did pitch and play first without one in the early 2000's. Today with the new and improved bats would not allow my DD to play without one.
Some have asked USFA to legislate mandatory face shields I agree they should be used but it is untimely the responsibility of the parents to buy these shields and require their daughter to wear them.

I will copy and paste from our rule book our stance below.

Safety rules are NOT FLEXIBLE. We will adhere to all safety rules in their fullest, including safety rules that are mandated by the governing body of softball.

Rule 5003: All batting helmets and catching gear must be approved and in original condition. (Numbers and personalized designs are okay). PLAYER SAFETY IS THE MAIN CONCERN.

Rule 5008: All Helmets must have NOCSAE approved face guards. Defensive face guards are recommended and endorsed by USFA.

[GotNoGame]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to that player and we are hoping for a speedy recovery.

There's a great discussion on this particular subject going on right now on Fastpitchdirt.com (see thread entitled "Put Masks On These Girls"). I hope that discussion also makes its way to this board.

While advances in bat design have improved performance, it has also increased the danger to pitchers and corners due to the improved speed and reduced reaction times.

I urge all on this board to view the discussion on fastpitchdirt.com and talk with your DD's coaches/team managers to move from dialogue to action..

[Imperial SB Dad]

My DD got hit with a line drive on her mask this past Fall ball season. She was wearing the Rip-It defense. It dented the mask and knocked her a little loopy for about 5 minutes or so, but otherwise she was okay. I don't allow her to pitch without it anymore and encourage any parent with a DD that pitches to do the same.

[6th Sense]

I hope all these girls have a speedy recovery and are back on the dirt soon. Yes it's a no brainer for most parents, their kid will be wearing a mask. There will always be the ones that won't, since it is optional. USFA, I fully disagree with USFA's stance around defensive mask. "but it is untimely the responsibility of the parents to buy these shields and require their daughter to wear them". What's different for facemask on batting helmets? Doesn't hold water!

USFA, you have the ability to increase safety with one minor rule change. It's a done deal! My stomach gets in knots every time I see a kid pitching or playing 3rd halfway down the line without a mask. Let's not wait for a fatillity to force us to do the right thing.

Thanks,

[doittoit]

just thought i would keep this on the front page

pro mask
con mask

make your dd wear it you dumba$$es

To USFA and everybody else, please read through this thread and see all of the dumba$$es that disagree.

You don't have to go to the dirt to discuss it, it is right here!!

[Underdog]

just thought i would keep this on the front page

pro mask
con mask

make your dd wear it you dumba$$es

To USFA and everybody else, please read through this thread and see all of the dumba$$es that disagree.

You don't have to go to the dirt to discuss it, it is right here!!

Maybe you could persuade them more easily if you didnt accuse them all of being dumba$$es.

[just sayin]

It is a sad when a parent won't be a parent. Don't throw it across the plate is not a defense, it's stupidity. This weekend in Sugarland a girl was hit in the forehead and was knocked off her feet and flipped 360 deg. I guess that was her punishment for a bad pitch. If your daughter was a leader instead of a follower when she walks onto he college campus it would be mask in hand to start a trend. That is as smart of statement as you are safer in a car without a seatbelt or air bag.

[dgorsuch]

My daughter took a line drive to the forehead last weekend. Never saw it coming. The ball hit her square on the right temple, bounced up in the air 30ft. and landed in center field. As she was going to the ground she looked at me a yelled, "Daddy help me". By the time I got to the mound she had a baseball sized contusion on her head and I was pretty sure her skull was crushed. At this point the thought crossed my mind that this might be life threatening. I told her I loved her and worked to keep her still along with the UIC and many other wonderful people at Allen Station who were helping out. She was rushed to the ER and immediately taken for a CT scan and x rays. We spent Monday at the Texas Spine Institute and Wednesday and Thursday getting MRI/brain scans. She has swelling on her brain, a concussion and neck injuries but will be ok with some rest and rehab.
Mask?
No Mask?
I hope no parent or coach ever has to experience what my team, coaches and parents experienced last weekend.
Wear the masks if you are pitching or playing corners!

[pbj2000]

dgorsuch...my heart goes out to your family...I can't even imagine how deep your heart sunk during that moment.

Coaches please make these girls wear masks on the corners and pitch.

[Ice97]

dgorsuch...my heart goes out to your family...I can't even imagine how deep your heart sunk during that moment.

Coaches please make these girls wear masks on the corners and pitch.

PBJ:

Agree fully...

On www.fastpitchdirt.com where the conversation is much more logical and void of the consistent smart remarks famous for this site the last vote had a 5-1 ratio of voters in favor of the mask.