Another young pitcher hurt by a ball

When DD2 said she wanted to pitch the first thing I did was go find a mask for her. She's 10 so she doesn't have any issues with it for now. I am not looking forward to the possibility of her feeling like she doesn't need it in the future.

Last fall during a travel ball practice the mask discussion came up. I was blown away by a grand parent that was there that said their grand daughter wanted to wear a mask but they had told her she didn't need one. Basically she was good enough that she shouldn't be wearing one according to them.

MightyMO said:

she was good enough that she shouldn't be wearing one according to them.

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Unfortunately, this statement by grandpa is all too common. And the player will be the one that pays for his overconfidence.

Out in Left Field said:

The parents raise cain when their 9th graders are put on JV, never mind cut completely. So I would say the parents put the 9th graders on the Varsity team who don't belong there. In fact, I have a competitor who did this to his team's demise this year, and I feel sorry for the pitcher, she is getting bombed out there and could get hurt. But it will be two wins for us, painful as it is to watch.

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Ultimately this is the coaches decision and they alone are responsible for that decision. No player should be allowed on the field if they cannot defend themselves in the face of whatever competition is before them.

riseball said:

Not saying this is the case in the example cited. But I have often wondered why it is acceptable in HS softball to have 14 year old rec players players on the same field as 18 year old women who are signed to college programs?

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When my daughter was 13 she had to move up to the 18U because our rec program had no 14 or 16U. She is a pitcher and I made her start wearing a face mask. She hated it but she got used to it....and she will continue to wear it as long as she plays.

Smfox77 said:

When my daughter was 13 she had to move up to the 18U because our rec program had no 14 or 16U. She is a pitcher and I made her start wearing a face mask. She hated it but she got used to it....and she will continue to wear it as long as she plays.

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And that was in REC. Even with the mask how scary would it have been for her to throw against 18U Gold TB players?

Far too many programs at all younger levels have knucklehead coaches that say that masks are for kids, including helmet masks... and they do this in front of the team... so that the players that do have/use them feel self-conscious.

Wasn't too popular with the parents originally... but I made a cut-up of a bunch of players getting drilled as well as some sports science videos... emphasizing the importance of protective gear. Fundraising for one day had our teams equipped with fielding masks and ankle/elbow guards.

I wish insurance companies required this... it would put an end to the majority of these types of injuries.

javasource said:

Far too many programs at all younger levels have knucklehead coaches that say that masks are for kids, including helmet masks... and they do this in front of the team... so that the players that do have/use them feel self-conscious.

Wasn't too popular with the parents originally... but I made a cut-up of a bunch of players getting drilled as well as some sports science videos... emphasizing the importance of protective gear. Fundraising for one day had our teams equipped with fielding masks and ankle/elbow guards.

I wish insurance companies required this... it would put an end to the majority of these types of injuries.

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I am pretty sure that an applicable industry standard would be a prerequisite before an insurance company went near this.

At a camp at a local Oklahoma college. The pitching coach told my daughter, 12, that if you field the ball correctly you don't need that mask. He then says to the parents that many coaches won't even look at a pitcher who wears a mask, because either she is afraid or all she can do it throw right down the middle and has to do a lot of ducking.

I told my daughter to keep the mask on and throw the ball.

This was an older guy, 65+.

marriard said:

It's OK... Georgetown is ranked 192nd and struggle to field a team (they have the smallest D1 official roster I have ever seen - 13 players currently)

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With that good of a coach I suspect that her players don't need to wear seat belts, either!

JAD said:

Pitchers (and 3B) parents need to realize it is their responsibility to decide if their DD will or will not wear a mask. Mask are NOT illegal and if they want their DD to wear one they damn well can make her.

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