STOP the shaming...

[quincy]

DD is good and quick, she has always worn a facemask. It has never been touched by a ball.

Most I have worried about her getting hurt was the infield lip when she was playing OF. She is back far enough now that she is older but IMO they are dangerous.

Opposing player got destroyed 1 game, she never had a chance ball hit wrong she was down.

 

[CoachJD]

Is there a NOCSAE-approved facemask yet?

I am not a big believer in mandates of this sort, but that does not mean "I don't care" about player safety. I simply would never support a rule which mandated a piece of safety equipment that has not been thoroughly tested by a recognized, independent safety authority.

As you noted, though, the market allows us to choose whether to participate. By the same token, if the reconstructive orthodontic business rises, facemask use will probably rise with it. Let the market handle it.

No NOCSAE-approved mask yet, which is why I'm currently against the IHSA mandating a mask (there are talks, but it is currently not mandated). I am legally not allowed to recommend or even suggest anything, but they might make it so I have to say they're required to wear one. It's dumb.

It's a tough spot since I've had girls ask me about them, and all I can say is, basically, "Masks exist. Try some out if you want, but you don't have to wear one" when I'd really prefer they wear them.

 

[ang2bmd]

No NOCSAE-approved mask yet, which is why I'm currently against the IHSA mandating a mask (there are talks, but it is currently not mandated). I am legally not allowed to recommend or even suggest anything, but they might make it so I have to say they're required to wear one. It's dumb.

It's a tough spot since I've had girls ask me about them, and all I can say is, basically, "Masks exist. Try some out if you want, but you don't have to wear one" when I'd really prefer they wear them.

I love masks but that's a very reasonable argument against the mandate

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[quincy]

There is no tackle football that is gaining tracking in our state.

 

[ksusouthpaw]

One of the local rec leagues our area just launched an agressive campaign to encourage pitchers to wear facemasks.
While I understand and appreciate the campaign what's starting to happen is now girls who do not wear facemasks are beginning to be ridiculed for choosing not to wear a mask
Over the last 6 months I've hear the following from kids, parents and umpires.

You're stupid for not wearing a mask..
You must not care about your teeth..
Didn't your kid have braces.. why no mask?
The girls at this age can really hit, where's her mask?
Can't your parents afford a mask - really heard that one
Don't be ashamed to wear a mask
Your not fast enough in reaction time to not wear a mask

And the list goes on and on...
Whats happened is in our intense desire to make girls feel comfortable wearing a mask we've begun to shame kids for not wearing one.

Poor rationale and needs to end.

There should be no shaming. But I don’t understand why kids don’t wear masks.

If a kid who didn’t wear a mask gets hit in the face I promise she’ll start wearing one after that incident. So why are her and her parents waiting to get hit in the face? That logic makes zero sense to me on any level.

My kid pitches. She was hot in the face during a 12u practice. She was wearing a white mask and was hit so hard there was paint transfer from the ball logo to her white mask. Had she not had it on, it would have crushed her orbital socket or hit her temple causing something far worse.

Kids are literally dying from head shots in softball. Dying. I really don’t understand why this is so controversial.


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[dbronstein]

If a kid who didn’t wear a mask gets hit in the face I promise she’ll start wearing one after that incident. So why are her and her parents waiting to get hit in the face? That logic makes zero sense to me on any level.

It's like how MLB hitters who have been hit in the face wear helmets with the extra face protection piece. It seems it would make much more sense for players to wear them before they get hit in the face.

 

[sbmom19]

So if a kid doesn't wear a mask she dislikes her face?
This is exactly what I was talking about!

No-I guess it is up to them and their parents if they want to take that risk. My DD decided that she didn't want to take that risk because she wants to keep her face like it is. Look up articles before and after Paige Lowery took one to the face and see how her opinion about face masks has changed. Players have gotten stronger, bats have gotten hotter and i have seen the results live of a pitcher and a third baseman not wearing a mask. I think that it is a no brainer but you do you.

 

[sbmom19]

So what’s the rational for masks in softball and not in baseball at 12 and under when field dimensions are the same? I know the pitcher is a few feet closer, but corners would play about the same.

The grass vs. dirt infield makes a big difference too..

 

[gamommax3]

Alexis Osorio, RHP for Alabama, got hit in the head yesterday by the second batter in the first inning at Auburn. So scary. Twitter update says she was hit in the face (we were playing, didn't see it myself). How much could a mask have helped in this situation?

 

[justanotherguy]

The grass vs. dirt infield makes a big difference too..

Around here, ALL fields are dual purpose. Dirt infield with a portable mound to convert to baseball.