American Athletics

[burnemup]

My 12 year old DD and I toyed with the idea of her wearing a mask at the start of this season. I even went out and bought one. The place where I bought it actually tried to talk me out of it with the old it only happens in fluke situations and I've never seen a pitcher get seriously injured in umpteen years in SB.

After talking about it I decided to let my DD pitch without it. I am now seriously reconsidering that position. I have known the girl who got hurt since she was on my 8U rec ball team. When it hits close to home you get a real quick reality check. I am all for choice. But sometimes there are just things that need regulation. I am still on the fence about this one being mandatory but I certainly am reconsidering my personal choice.

[bringit]

Look until you see it happen right in front of you as I did here on this particular friendly. You will always say "oh it rarely happens" or "learn to play more defensively" or don't throw it over the plate. Whatever!! This player had no way to protect herself. It was so fast that she had no reaction time period!!!!!!!!! Prior to this friendly my daughter hated to see the other players wearing the masks; hoping she wouldn't need one. She witnessed this happen and came up to me and said she "wanted" a mask. Don't care if people think its necessary or not, whatever.......my daughter is not taking that chance and is wearing it proudly now.

[GSB]

Well, I guess we can put every girl in a full body Nerf suit and use a whiffle ball. The bats could be regulated to be made of hypoallergenic sponges and maybe ASA can eliminate sliding.

Oh, I almost forgot. No plastic water bottles. We all know that the plastic leaks chemicals into the water and promotes cancer.

Last year my DD was doing a drill. Just running back to the end of the line. She slipped, fell and managed to dislocate her hip. Two shots of morphine didn't even come close to helping the pain. Come on. Accidents are tragic, but they are accidents. They can happen to anyone at anytime and usually happen when you least expect it. I have to agree with Skarp, leave it up to the parents and kid. If a kid wants to wear a mask, so be it. Coaches should chastise any kid that made fun of her.

[Longdisttrvlballer]

I am not a proponent of mandating rules and I agree that it is the parents responsibility to make their DD wear a mask. However as noted no college or very few HS players wear masks these days. I think a lot of this is due to the social pressure of players looking weak or scared. By ASA mandating masks at early ages, maybe this will encourage girls to continue wearing them at the HS and college levels, gradually eliminating the stigma of wearing a mask.

[GSB]

I am not a proponent of mandating rules and I agree that it is the parents responsibility to make their DD wear a mask. However as noted no college or very few HS players wear masks these days. I think a lot of this is due to the social pressure of players looking weak or scared. By ASA mandating masks at early ages, maybe this will encourage girls to continue wearing them at the HS and college levels, gradually eliminating the stigma of wearing a mask.

I noted no college or very few HS players wear the full body Nerf suits. I think this is due to the social pressure of players looking weak or scared. ASA needs to mandate it. You see how silly that argument looks.

[Trophy Hunter]

If a kid wants to wear a mask, so be it. Coaches should chastise any kid that made fun of her.

It's not just players - I've heard coaches chastise their own kids for wearing a mask.

[bringit]

Wow that's bad.

[GSB]

If a kid wants to wear a mask, so be it. Coaches should chastise any kid that made fun of her.

It's not just players - I've heard coaches chastise their own kids for wearing a mask.

Thats just wrong. The team manager should have a talk with coaches like that. If the kid feels comfortable then why not let her wear it?

[Skarp]

I am not a proponent of mandating rules and I agree that it is the parents responsibility to make their DD wear a mask. However as noted no college or very few HS players wear masks these days. I think a lot of this is due to the social pressure of players looking weak or scared. By ASA mandating masks at early ages, maybe this will encourage girls to continue wearing them at the HS and college levels, gradually eliminating the stigma of wearing a mask.

I noted no college or very few HS players wear the full body Nerf suits. I think this is due to the social pressure of players looking weak or scared. ASA needs to mandate it. You see how silly that argument looks.

Obviously there is a slippery slope, but it works in both directions. By your implied logic NO safety equipment should be mandated. I wouldn't go that far. Obviously certain types of injuries would be very prevalent without some safety equipment (picture a catcher without gear). Relatively rare injuries are a different species though.

And again, the legitimate justification from ASA's perspective is preserving the viability of the game (and, as NavinR said, legal protection). Equipment mandates to protect against rare injuries don't qualify IMO.

[Ace]

I make my third base coach wear a cup..... She hates it.