Infield Face Masks and College

I was reading on another board about how wearing an infield mask hurts your DD chances with D1 coaches. My DD is not in the age group, she plays 10U, so it doesn't affect her at this time. But what quite a few posters are saying is that it makes them look weak, that their skill level is not what it should be to play D1. They also say that they talked to college coaches about this and they say it's true it will hurt.

My questions are is this true, have any of you heard about this and how many college players wear masks?

So:

1) Not true for most coaches I know and I wouldn't want my DD playing for a coach who believed this anyway. Skills will shine through no matter what you are wearing. It is like saying "that girl is a bad batter because she wears an elbow guard".

2) Infield masks are fairly new (or at least the ones that are now light and easily wearable so ripit/schutt/etc). As the girls who have been wearing them since they are young come through the ranks, you will likely see more infield masks in college as the girls who have worn them a long time become college age. We have not come through a full generation of players with this equipment yet.

As an example, you are starting to see more and more batting helmet cages in college since we are now getting more players through the ranks who have worn them since they started playing (i.e. it was mandated by their youth league/travel league from day one),

I have yet to see an infielders mask at the D1 level. DD wore one at 3rd when they came out. That was maybe the 03/04 time frame? So the idea has had 7 or 8 years to catch on in the college ranks. If it ever does it will be a slow process. Every D1 coach I have spoken to is neutral about the helmet mask but dosent care for the fielders mask. Ii guess time will tell.

Tim

MagicDad said:

I was reading on another board about how wearing an infield mask hurts your DD chances with D1 coaches. My DD is not in the age group, she plays 10U, so it doesn't affect her at this time. But what quite a few posters are saying is that it makes them look weak, that their skill level is not what it should be to play D1. They also say that they talked to college coaches about this and they say it's true it will hurt.

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MD, don't believe a word of what you read on the NJ.com forums. They are way over the top in terms of what they think they know and what they think is good for the sport. I read it for amusement, not real information.

PA SB Dad said:

MD, don't believe a word of what you read on the NJ.com forums. They are way over the top in terms of what they think they know and what they think is good for the sport. I read it for amusement, not real information.

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PA. Yea I know, they can be funny and I really don't take them too serious but this one caught my attention and I just wanted to put it out there. I was looking up softball forums and I found one from another state and believe it or not it was the same thing. Thanks

Bouldersdad said:

I have yet to see an infielders mask at the D1 level. DD wore one at 3rd when they came out. That was maybe the 03/04 time frame? So the idea has had 7 or 8 years to catch on in the college ranks. If it ever does it will be a slow process. Every D1 coach I have spoken to is neutral about the helmet mask but dosent care for the fielders mask. Ii guess time will tell.

Tim

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UCLA's starting short stop, Monica Harrison wore a Bangerz fielding mask in the 2010 season, had a .977 fielding percentage with only 5 errors (best in the Pac-10). This is the same year UCLA won the WCWS. Safe to say, the fielding mask didn't diminish her playing ability.

I have seen three total and all IIRC were because of a previous injury or in one case, a disability with vision where she could pitch but not field.

I like the Bangerz if you have to have one. It is small and covers the temple, eye socket and nose.

Most college players and coaches are against masks.

The fielding ability is higher so many in college don't need them. 3rd baseman now stand further back than they used to, so don't need the mask. The college ball they are experimenting with will probably take the need away for a mask for most except maybe the pitcher, it is quite a new concept in ball.

It is their faces and their decision, and they can do what they want. I personally would not wear a mask if I was an infielder wanting to go to college. A pitcher, maybe, but not if I was a fielder.

If masks don't affect visibility then why do catchers throw them off? (FYI I am personally against throwing off the mask.)

Hopefully this new ball idea will trickle down but the bats need to change.

You are going to get the hard nose college coaches that refuse to even look at anyone that wears them, or let them wear them for that matter. Look at what the lady that used to catch for USA (name completely skips my brain at the moment) did to her college team. Told them to get all their batting helmet masks off and toughen up.

Comp said:

You are going to get the hard nose college coaches that refuse to even look at anyone that wears them, or let them wear them for that matter. Look at what the lady that used to catch for USA (name completely skips my brain at the moment) did to her college team. Told them to get all their batting helmet masks off and toughen up.

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Stacey Nuveman. I wonder what she tells the players with a head injury, "get a drink of water and get back in there"?

SoCalSoftballdad said:

UCLA's starting short stop, Monica Harrison wore a Bangerz fielding mask in the 2010 season, had a .977 fielding percentage with only 5 errors (best in the Pac-10). This is the same year UCLA won the WCWS. Safe to say, the fielding mask didn't diminish her playing ability.

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Didn't she start wearing that mask after a serious facial injury, however? Or was that someone else? I feel like the players will get leeway from the D1 coaches if they have been injured.