Say yes or no to the face mask?

[softballphreak]

All those wussy boys are probably wearing cups. If they just learned how to field properly and weren't such scaredy-cats, they wouldn't need them. ;-)

The reason girls don't wear cups is because their brains are in their head.

 

[ConorMacleod]

So I have stated my true story here before but with all the noobs here I should share this again (to represent what we as concerned parents may be facing)

This should only be considered by parents that are striving, along with their DD's, to get a "paid-ride" through college. (If we were not needing the paid ride for DD she would be wearing a mask too!)

A couple years back we went to a mid-D1 camp that we had interest in. As soon as they brought the group of 100 or so girls into order the coach broadcast to the campers: "All you that are wearing masks I want you to go back to your bag and bury it. We will teach you how to field a ball."

This was a MAJOR message to get rid of the mask or we will NOT respect you.

I personally do not agree with this anti-mask behavior. BUT at the same time there is a validated risk here that your DD might get considered after another DD that does not wear a mask. Terrible-but-true.

That's just assinine machoism taking over. Now, let me be clear about something. I coach 12U, and I do NOT require face masks to be worn by my players. My pitcher DD wears one. I encouraged all the parents to buy one. But, it is not my responsibility to make other girls wear one. I also don't tell my players what to eat, what time to go to bed, etc. A coaches job is to coach (especially if he is being paid to Coach!). If a player can field, she can field. If she was afraid of the ball, she probably wouldn't be at a college showcase event in the first place, because she wouldn't be a good enough player to be on a high level team. I have no idea if either one of my daughters will play college softball. But, I know they won't take a ball to the face without a mask on, and they won't have any permanent damage because they were not wearing a mask. Beyond softball, I hope my daughers get a great education and have a happy, wonderful life. And if not wearing a mask changed that then I would feel guilty my entire life. Apparently, some parents and/or coaches don't have that worry.

 

[smddad]

A thought occurred to me while I was watching the boys' LLWS a month or so ago. Currently, the Little League division — mainly for 11 and 12-year-old boys — is played on a field with a 46-foot pitching distance, 60-foot base paths and with a harder ball. Yet not a fielding mask to be seen, and rarely on batting helmets. If your son were on one of these LL teams, would he be compelled by you to wear a mask? Or are girls different?

/yes, I realize I'm opening a can of worms.

They are not required in LL for either the boys or the girls. Years ago in LL my DD only had a mask on her batting helmet because she also wore it in ASA, USSSA and NSA ball where it was required. As for the fielder's mask, she wears on when pitching and there is one on her catcher's helmet, but she no longer wear one at 3rd. She does wear a mouthguard. Maybe I should teach her to field better.

:/

 

[Rocketech1]

Just this past weekend, DS playing Pinto 7-8 YOs (PONY) baseball game. The fall local rules allow kid pitch for two innings. Opposing kid pitcher fast but wild. Throws a pretty fast pitch that hits our batter right in the face, blood everywhere. Nose not broken but will be out this week (hopefully he isn't afraid to get back in the batters box?) Had he had a cage on his helmet like the girls softball rec league, none of this injury would have happened. There's certainly a mentally that boys are tough and don't need protection. I read an article about Kristina Thorson, former NPF pitcher, and she explained that she won't wear a mask because the men don't, why should she. There needs to be a balance between safety and letting kids play without having to resort to wearing full body armor in order to play youth sports. Not sure what the right answer is but incidents like what happened this past weekend could have been avoided quite easily.

 

[RubberBiscuit]

Love the screen name Rubber Biscuit!!! Blues Brothers are awesome. Those of us that are old enough to remember the good old days... Sorry for the off topic post.

Spot-On ArkFP!

Everytime I see my name here it takes me back to my youth in Cook County and always wanting to own an old cop car

 

[RubberBiscuit]

That's just assinine machoism taking over. Now, let me be clear about something. I coach 12U, and I do NOT require face masks to be worn by my players. My pitcher DD wears one. I encouraged all the parents to buy one. But, it is not my responsibility to make other girls wear one. I also don't tell my players what to eat, what time to go to bed, etc. A coaches job is to coach (especially if he is being paid to Coach!). If a player can field, she can field. If she was afraid of the ball, she probably wouldn't be at a college showcase event in the first place, because she wouldn't be a good enough player to be on a high level team. I have no idea if either one of my daughters will play college softball. But, I know they won't take a ball to the face without a mask on, and they won't have any permanent damage because they were not wearing a mask. Beyond softball, I hope my daughers get a great education and have a happy, wonderful life. And if not wearing a mask changed that then I would feel guilty my entire life. Apparently, some parents and/or coaches don't have that worry.

You might be surprised to hear then that this coaching staff was ALL FEMALE - So maybe SoftballPhreak your brains might be somewhere else too! ;-)

 

[Axe]

Spot-On ArkFP!

Everytime I see my name here it takes me back to my youth in Cook County and always wanting to own an old cop car

The other day, I had a WISH sandwich............

 

[Eric F]

Just this past weekend, DS playing Pinto 7-8 YOs (PONY) baseball game. The fall local rules allow kid pitch for two innings. Opposing kid pitcher fast but wild. Throws a pretty fast pitch that hits our batter right in the face, blood everywhere. Nose not broken but will be out this week (hopefully he isn't afraid to get back in the batters box?) Had he had a cage on his helmet like the girls softball rec league, none of this injury would have happened. There's certainly a mentally that boys are tough and don't need protection. I read an article about Kristina Thorson, former NPF pitcher, and she explained that she won't wear a mask because the men don't, why should she. There needs to be a balance between safety and letting kids play without having to resort to wearing full body armor in order to play youth sports. Not sure what the right answer is but incidents like what happened this past weekend could have been avoided quite easily.

I'm a firm believer that cages on batting helmets should be required at all levels of youth baseball and softball (up to 18yo).

 

[Sweet Lou]

I'm a firm believer that cages on batting helmets should be required at all levels of youth baseball and softball (up to 18yo).

I noticed Jason Heyward was wearing the C-guard on his helmet last night in the ATL-LAD game. I guess having your jaw wired shut and drinking your meals for a few weeks will do that for you.

 

[ArkFastpitch]

I don't have the experience with the older age groups. My experience is more with 8u, 10u, 12u. I can see where it might be seen as a security blanket for a 18u. However with the age groups I'm familiar with they tend to be a little timid when a ball is hit 70mph at their face. The masks do help them feel safer and get over the fear of being hit which makes it easier to teach proper fielding.

10 years ago you very rarely seen a defender mask now it almost seems strange if you see a team without them. Whether you love or hate them I believe its an evolution. Maybe in 10 more years it won't even be a discussion.

Me personally, I would never ask a player to do something they didn't feel comfortable or safe with. I teach the same fielding mechanics mask or no mask. I expect the same from either girl.