Inspect your DD's Face Mask!

[wheresmycar]

The new Schutt Titanium mask arrived today. Pretty happy with the weight difference to her steel Schutt. Saved 3 oz which is 25% weight savings. Not happy with the foam head band. It is the same super soft comfort foam that will do nothing for absorbing an impact. I'm going to try my hand and making a better head band using the foam from my racing days.

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

Honestly, do you really think you know more about protective headgear than SCHUTT? They make all manor of sports protective gear, including pro football helmets. Do you really believe your backyard solution using foam padding intended for racing seats will offer better protection? Most likely the foam you are using is too firm, and will transfer the impact energy, rather than absorb it.

Fit the Schutt mask correctly, and keep it in good repair, and it will offer excellent protection for your DD. I've personally seen many direct impacts to these masks (mostly rip-it masks) and the girls pop up like nothing happened, the padding (when in good condition) does it's job of absorbing the impact.

 

[The Man In Blue]

Know more? Probably not. Choose to do more? Possibly.

You could have a point about the foam being too stiff. However he is using foam designed to disperse force and lessen impact, not just foam he cut out of a pillow (which is pretty much what many of these face masks have).

Again, face masks are NOT rated/tested for any type of concussion resistance or prevention. They are solely a “cosmetic” protector designed to prevent direct impact to the face. Does Schutt know that, too? Yes. So why use higher cost materials if you don’t have to? (I may be sounding a bit too cynical.)

I’m not trying to crap on Schutt ... just the opposite — please buy Schutt as the are a local employer in my area! No matter what the brand, please have a good understanding of the gear you are buying and what protections it actually provides.

 

[uncdrew]

I've seen dozens of girls take a ball off the face mask and get right back into the game immediately.

Without the facemask, they would have been hurt and many hospitalized. I really don't think "cosmetic" is a proper term to use.

 

[MNDad]

I've seen dozens of girls take a ball off the face mask and get right back into the game immediately.

Without the facemask, they would have been hurt and many hospitalized. I really don't think "cosmetic" is a proper term to use.

That’s a big problem if dozens of girls are taking shots to the face and getting back in the game immediately. Don’t they have any sort of concussion protocol? After the masks are struck they’re supposed to be replaced. I’m assuming since these kids are getting back in the game immediately they didn’t swap their masks out for ones that were structurally sound. Lastly, I’m not sur where you’re seeing these dozens of girls, but I’d suggest more practice playing catch and keeping their eyes on the ball. Masks are great insurance, but these kids must be using their masks like a mitt.

 

[MNDad]

Honestly, do you really think you know more about protective headgear than SCHUTT? They make all manor of sports protective gear, including pro football helmets. Do you really believe your backyard solution using foam padding intended for racing seats will offer better protection? Most likely the foam you are using is too firm, and will transfer the impact energy, rather than absorb it.

Fit the Schutt mask correctly, and keep it in good repair, and it will offer excellent protection for your DD. I've personally seen many direct impacts to these masks (mostly rip-it masks) and the girls pop up like nothing happened, the padding (when in good condition) does it's job of absorbing the impact.

You’re seeing “many” direct impacts too? Good grief you guys must be watching some horrible softball. I fully understand there’s going to balls they can’t stop, but if this many kids are getting hit, somebody isn’t teaching them properly. I only witnessed one kid get hit in my DD’s entire career from 10U to college.

Hate to break it to you about the Rip-It and Schutt masks, but the padding is for comfort and does squat for protection. They’re designed to stop a direct hit from striking a girl in the face. They won’t help prevent concussions or brain trauma. They’re NOTHING like football helmets which are tested regularly and constantly undergoing improvements. If a parent really wants to protect a kid, put a helmet on them. As previously stated, masks are to prevent cosmetic damage like black eyes, broken teeth, facial lacerations.

They “might” protect a girl from having her face smashed in, but they’re not designed for that. They could also collapse and prevent absolutely nothing. Nobody knows because there’s no safety standards. Even so, I DO think the masks are a good idea. I’m only against mandating them.

 

[The Man In Blue]

I've seen dozens of girls take a ball off the face mask and get right back into the game immediately.

Without the facemask, they would have been hurt and many hospitalized. I really don't think "cosmetic" is a proper term to use.

When I typed that, I was hesitant to use the word “cosmetic” but I did, as the injuries that could be caused without one, while still very serious and with the potential to be more serious, are still “cosmetic” in nature when compared to a concussion or internal injury. The correct term would be maxillofacial. I thought that was a little high-brow for my point.

As MNDad stated and as we have been beating into the ground, fielders’ face masks are not designed to withstand concussive forces. The minimal structure and design of them do not provide any place for the impact force to disperse to. NOCSAE will not even provide a testing standard for this reason.

Compare the padding and design of those masks to an umpire’s or catcher’s mask and tell me that the sweatband and chin cup placed in the fielder’s mask is meant to provide any level of force dispersion.

If a girl takes a direct shot to the face mask, a few things (already mentioned) should happen ...
1) the mask should not be used further
2) the player should be evaluated and possibly CPed (concussion protocoled)

Like MNDad, I’m not saying don’t use a mask. I’m saying understand what they do and don’t do. It would be like wearing a bicycle helmet to ride a motorcycle ... is it better than not wearing any helmet? Sure. Is it providing you the protection you need? Eh.

 

[wheresmycar]

You’re seeing “many” direct impacts too? Good grief you guys must be watching some horrible softball. I fully understand there’s going to balls they can’t stop, but if this many kids are getting hit, somebody isn’t teaching them properly. I only witnessed one kid get hit in my DD’s entire career from 10U to college.

Hate to break it to you about the Rip-It and Schutt masks, but the padding is for comfort and does squat for protection. They’re designed to stop a direct hit from striking a girl in the face. They won’t help prevent concussions or brain trauma. They’re NOTHING like football helmets which are tested regularly and constantly undergoing improvements. If a parent really wants to protect a kid, put a helmet on them. As previously stated, masks are to prevent cosmetic damage like black eyes, broken teeth, facial lacerations.

They “might” protect a girl from having her face smashed in, but they’re not designed for that. They could also collapse and prevent absolutely nothing. Nobody knows because there’s no safety standards. Even so, I DO think the masks are a good idea. I’m only against mandating them.

You guys amuse me.... In one sentence... masks"do squat for protection", then in same post "I DO think the masks are a good idea".
There is no way, Rip-it or Schutt are going to assume the liability of selling a protective mask that has not been tested. It's not a full helmet, so it doesn't meet NOCSAE standards... yes there is a standard for defensive head gear. It's basically a batting helmet.



Yes, unfortunately, I have seen many girls take a hit to the head/face. Consider yourself lucky, you've never seen a pitcher carried off the field after taking one to the face/head.

 

[Westwind]

Weird- I saw four pitchers get SMOKED in mask area a year or so. One was dd, 10u, wearing a mask. Hit hard enough that it was bent slightly.

My dd is now a first year 18.

I just realized I haven’t seen this happen since the year I saw 4. My math sucks, had to be 2011 or 2012?

Bad luck I guess. I never want to see it again.

 

[uncdrew]

That’s a big problem if dozens of girls are taking shots to the face and getting back in the game immediately. Don’t they have any sort of concussion protocol? After the masks are struck they’re supposed to be replaced. I’m assuming since these kids are getting back in the game immediately they didn’t swap their masks out for ones that were structurally sound. Lastly, I’m not sur where you’re seeing these dozens of girls, but I’d suggest more practice playing catch and keeping their eyes on the ball. Masks are great insurance, but these kids must be using their masks like a mitt.

Not a big problem at all.

I'm talking girls that are 7, 8, 9 years old. Bad hops, not paying attention, errant throws at warm-ups. Things happen. Watch any 8U practice and one girl gets a ball to the mask. Watch 2 years of 10U practices and games, you'll see dozens of times the masks helped. No concussion protocol needed, not inspecting masks for damage needed.

I'm sensing perhaps you're discussing line drives off the bats of bigger, stronger girls. My apologies if I joined the conversation from the wrong side.

 

[sjw62000]

I feel like we've spiraled a bit. "I've seen dozens of girls take a ball off the face mask and get right back into the game immediately." "Take a ball off the face mask," in no way means line drive to the dome.

I read that as "in the years of playing softball many girls have taken a glancing blow, that might have otherwise caused injury (e.g. bloody nose, black eye). This is a fact. A face mask (RipIt, Schutt, Champro) will in fact protect the face from a bad hop, ball tips off glove and hits face, etc. These are the things that the masks are designed to protect against. None of these require concussion protocols.

Considering that as girls age up they may elect to not wear a mask at all, there really is no need for the mask to be NOCSAE certified because they aren't designed or intended to comprehensively protect players from injury (read line drive to forehead). Additionally, because they are not designed or intended to be a comprehensive personal protection device, the padding is not designed to absorb, insert arbitrary psi number here. Should someone decide to increase the protection of this device then I say, well played.

I think it is important to remember that by and large these players wear masks to prevent most likely injuries rather than catastrophic things that can happen.