Pitching Mask and College

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Jul 4, 2014
141
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2 out of 3 of our Pitchers on our Travel Ball team have decided that they don't want to wear face masks anymore. The reason is, they feel that college coaches will not take them seriously and think that they are poor fielders if they wear a face mask. Apparently they have this notion in their heads that coaches will strike them off the "list" if they wear a mask. My dd is on the fence. She wants to continue wearing one but fears that she'll get passed over if she wears one. Has anyone's dd (who wears a face mask) been recruited to play college ball? Thanks in advance.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
2 out of 3 of our Pitchers on our Travel Ball team have decided that they don't want to wear face masks anymore. The reason is, they feel that college coaches will not take them seriously and think that they are poor fielders if they wear a face mask. Apparently they have this notion in their heads that coaches will strike them off the "list" if they wear a mask. My dd is on the fence. She wants to continue wearing one but fears that she'll get passed over if she wears one. Has anyone's dd (who wears a face mask) been recruited to play college ball? Thanks in advance.

This is a great time for her to grasp the notion that you make personal safety decisions based on facts and what is right for your situation, and to hell with what anyone else thinks or does. Life is full of cautionary tales. If your instincts say wear the mask, then keep wearing it.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
I am not one who pushes kids to wear a mask. I'm sure there are a few coaches out there who won't recruit a player with a mask. I'm also sure that
the vast majority care more about how well they pitch. If 2 pitchers are equal than hitting, personality, and how how they interact with teammates will
be the tiebreaker, not who wears a mask. Tell her to keep wearing it and get better as a pitcher.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
No one ever said they were glad they WEREN'T wearing a mask after getting hit in the face..... Be a parent and make the right call. College coach's first and foremost want players who will help them win.
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
DD was recruited while she wore a mask. I've talked to coaches who don't care for the masks, but I don't know of any who won't take a talented kid with one. Likewise I'm sure no coaches would pass over a girl not wearing a mask fearing she'd be killed or maimed and unable to pitch in college.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Mask or no mask if they have the goods to play college ball they will get recruited. This myth has been debunked numerous time, most recently by Rick Pauly himself.
 
Apr 14, 2014
33
0
Kansas City
As a coach I would prefer my corners and my pitcher's wear a mask. In the past I made it mandatory when my girls were younger. Now at 16U I leave it to the discretion of each player and their preference of wearing one or not.

I totally disagree with the argument that wearing one has some bearing on whether a college coach will take a look at you or not. I have not had one college coach tell me they consider that a factor when evaluating a player.

Lastly, I had a parent of one my pitching lesson students, who wears a mask, tell me her coach suggested that she not wear it, and made two arguments - 1) the college coach argument, and 2) that she wouldn't be taken seriously in the circle. Please let families and players make their own decisions.
 
Last edited:
Jul 19, 2014
2,390
48
Madison, WI
The times they are a changin'.

As the years go by masks are more and more common.
Same thing happened with football helmets, hockey masks, batting helmets, you name it.
In some tournaments in younger age groups it is getting to be unusual to see a pitcher without a mask.

In the meantime,

••• Any coach who would refuse to take your DD because she wears a mask is a coach she should never play for •••

I prefer coaches who care about my kids' safety.
 

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