High School player !ltook a line drive to the face last night. She has several facial fractures and a fractured nose. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I took the name off the post and this is from another softball web site. This was not a pitcher.
Facemask for infielders
- Thread starter sanchosj
- Start date
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
My concern is this: to my knowledge, there are no ASA standards for this equipment, and the shields come in different designs. I don't want to encourage players to wear something that makes them *feel* safe but in fact isn't giving them the full protection they need. We wouldn't tell players that they have to wear a batting helmet but that it doesn't matter what kind of helmet. The fact is, the girl in California was wearing a mask, and her face was still crushed. If she was wearing a *different* mask, could the injury have been less severe? If so, then players need to be directed to the right kind of mask, not just any old mask. To that extent, I'd like to see some documentary evidence.
Blimp326 has a good point about no ASA or NOCSAE standards. I understand specific facemasks may be "safer" than others however this doesn't mean the girls should not wear one until there is a standard.
What I guess we should be doing with the proliferation of these masks everywhere is pester ASA or similar governing body to get NOCSAE to create that standard that masks need to have.
Anyone want to write a letter?
What I guess we should be doing with the proliferation of these masks everywhere is pester ASA or similar governing body to get NOCSAE to create that standard that masks need to have.
Anyone want to write a letter?
It's like saying that someone was still hurt while wearing a seatbelt, so why wear one at all? I agree there should be standards by the governing bodies, just as there are for helmets and bats.
I still play and I don't even warm up w/o a face mask. It is just common sense.
Last season, I had 6 girls wearing them when they pitched. This year, only one is. The parents just won't enforce it.
Last season, I had 6 girls wearing them when they pitched. This year, only one is. The parents just won't enforce it.
I actually did a lot of research when looking for a mask for my DD and there are standards published by ASTM for eye protection in baseball/softball. However, no fielders mask manufacturer that I've found uses them.
faceOff
This link has videos of different facemasks getting impacted by softballs. Admittedly, the website is selling the new COMBAT facemask, but it is still enlightening.
When she pitches, my DD currently uses a metal lacrosse style half-mask (lacrosse goggles), along with a full-contact mouth guard. I had concerns with the softball specific masks on the market. From what I've read the plastic facemasks are more likely to break the older they get and something is better than nothing only if it doesn't end up shoving shards of plastic into your face.
faceOff
This link has videos of different facemasks getting impacted by softballs. Admittedly, the website is selling the new COMBAT facemask, but it is still enlightening.
When she pitches, my DD currently uses a metal lacrosse style half-mask (lacrosse goggles), along with a full-contact mouth guard. I had concerns with the softball specific masks on the market. From what I've read the plastic facemasks are more likely to break the older they get and something is better than nothing only if it doesn't end up shoving shards of plastic into your face.
I just bought a Schutt sports mask. The plastic(faceoff) obscures her vision on grounders
up the middle. The Schutt also has pads that absorb sweat
up the middle. The Schutt also has pads that absorb sweat
The Schutt is very lightweight as well. The straps cross in the back for ponytail too
http://www.youtube.com/user/SchuttSports#p/u/0/I_WpiLSx5qA
http://www.youtube.com/user/SchuttSports#p/u/0/I_WpiLSx5qA
Last edited:
At a tournament last month a local sports store had samples of the face masks from most of the manufacturers. DD choose GameFace for fit and comfort. DD also liked Schutt. Comfortable but fit on her wasn't quite as good as GameFace. Rip-it didn't fit well and wasn't comfortable on DD. I recommend trying on the masks first if at all possible.
