I went back through the recent threads, and it looks like it's been over a year since it was really discussed (which is a good sign, IMO). Looking for feedback / opinions on removing it for pop-ups (not plays at the plate) at the 10U/12U level. I teach leave it on, but during recent practices was hearing an instructor telling one of our catchers to get the mask off on a pop-up. I'm now only an AC, so I need to resort to logic and persuasion, rather than just dictating it as a team rule. If I've missed anything in the list of reasons below, please add to it.
1. Vision - Hockey style masks are better designed, to allow for a wider field of view, especially in regards to peripheral vision
2. Vision / Obstructed View - If vision is still obstructed, chances are the mask isn't fitted properly for the player. As @Tatonka mentioned in this thread:
3. Ball Height - at this level, I'm just not seeing the towering pop-ups like in baseball - they're staying low, with the majority only being 10'-15' high. I don't believe you have time to remove the helmet, find the ball, get rid of the helmet, and then catch the ball. You only have time to find the ball (maybe someday the pitcher will decide to help her out, but maybe that's just crazy talk...) and go get the ball.
4. Field Size - We're years away from playing in a stadium. Some of our HS fields have lots of foul territory, but our tournaments are all at complexes where there's barely room for an on-deck batter. Quick reaction is at a premium with the lower ball height, and there's limited opportunity to drift around behind the plate before finding a fence or dugout. Which leads me to...
5. Field Size / Safety - When she's playing in OKC in a few years, sure, take the mask off on a towering pop-up as you wander around the acre of foul territory. But in our typical tiny sandboxes, I don't want my player staring straight up and:
6. [ETA] Comfort / Fit - sort of related to #2 - if the helmet fits properly, it shouldn't be that easy to "rip it off". And if the catcher is wearing sunglasses - I've never had much luck keeping them on my head anytime I tried to remove my helmet.
If anyone has any good video or podcast clips I could reference, that would be very helpful - google wasn't really showing me much. Not that I'm expecting parents / other coaches to say "prove it" when I suggest that Jen Schroeder, Mike Candrea, and multiple catching academies all teach "leave it on", but it never hurts to have a link or two ready just in case.
Thanks as always for the invaluable feedback I always get from this community.
1. Vision - Hockey style masks are better designed, to allow for a wider field of view, especially in regards to peripheral vision
2. Vision / Obstructed View - If vision is still obstructed, chances are the mask isn't fitted properly for the player. As @Tatonka mentioned in this thread:
If a kid is repeatedly having a problem tracking the ball it is likely caused by something else...look into that before jumping to the worn out, old school, tired and stupid assumption that they need to remove the mask!
3. Ball Height - at this level, I'm just not seeing the towering pop-ups like in baseball - they're staying low, with the majority only being 10'-15' high. I don't believe you have time to remove the helmet, find the ball, get rid of the helmet, and then catch the ball. You only have time to find the ball (maybe someday the pitcher will decide to help her out, but maybe that's just crazy talk...) and go get the ball.
4. Field Size - We're years away from playing in a stadium. Some of our HS fields have lots of foul territory, but our tournaments are all at complexes where there's barely room for an on-deck batter. Quick reaction is at a premium with the lower ball height, and there's limited opportunity to drift around behind the plate before finding a fence or dugout. Which leads me to...
5. Field Size / Safety - When she's playing in OKC in a few years, sure, take the mask off on a towering pop-up as you wander around the acre of foul territory. But in our typical tiny sandboxes, I don't want my player staring straight up and:
- Walking / running into the fence
- Tripping into the dugout
- Tripping into a gate/pole
- Walking / running in a gate/pole!
- Discarding the helmet then immediately stepping on said helmet
- Discarding the helmet and damaging the helmet
If anyone has any good video or podcast clips I could reference, that would be very helpful - google wasn't really showing me much. Not that I'm expecting parents / other coaches to say "prove it" when I suggest that Jen Schroeder, Mike Candrea, and multiple catching academies all teach "leave it on", but it never hurts to have a link or two ready just in case.
Thanks as always for the invaluable feedback I always get from this community.
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