Kentucky HS equipment rule.

Sweet Lou said:

I'm fairly certain they didn't have a certification when they were first introduced and mandated.

If states adopt rules about masks you can be reasonably sure such certifications will not be long in coming.

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Sweet Lou said:

I'm fairly certain they didn't have a certification when they were first introduced and mandated.

If states adopt rules about masks you can be reasonably sure such certifications will not be long in coming.

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Rambler34 said:

I just think the way they have done this will cause unnecessary risk to an organization that regulates HS sports in Ky and one major lawsuit could impact thousands of athletes in the state in every sport.

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Rambler34 said:

Batting helmets with the NOCSAE certification have been required since 1985. The problem with the face masks is the NOCSAE has stated they will not certify them because they do not give enough protection to the head and entire face. The only way they get certified is if another entity starts doing it.

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Strike2 said:

I agree that parents should take charge of their kids safety. I've seen more than one instance of a parent wanting the player to wear a mask, but the player refusing. To me, that's a very easy solution...you're not playing until you put it on.

However...

The argument that the mask might itself contribute to injury / death when hit by a softball appears speculative, counter-intuitive, and without foundation. It certainly runs counter to everything I've personally seen with them. That's like saying we shouldn't have seat belts or airbags in cars because THEY could cause injury in a collision.

I'd really like to see an example of a successful lawsuit showing how a mask injured a player BEYOND what would have happened had the mask not been there. If such a lawsuit was brought, it would come against the manufacturer, and would allege some type of design or manufacturing defect. An injury lawsuit against a state sports regulatory agency for requiring a piece of commonly used gear in the interests of player safety seems a long-shot.

This requirement, I believe, only extends to high school. Most high schools are part of government organizations, and their sports are regulated by state agencies. So, the appropriate regulatory body "sticking their nose into this or other sports situations" is entirely normal. Your aversion to the government getting involved seems at odds with your argument that "there is no standard". In the absence of that elusive "standard", manufacturers have a vested interest in making their protective equipment safe and effective. Good products rise quickly, and bad products sink fast. Sometimes, an idea is good enough to not have to wait for one regulatory body to catch up with another.

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Sweet Lou said:

I disagree. In order for a parent to have a claim they'd have to show that the injury was more significant due to the use of a mask than if the player had no mask. It's claim that they would almost certainly lose.

I hear the liability claim often stated but in reality it doesn't hold any legal water.

My guess is Insurance Companies will be the ultimate drives if/when they put exclusions in coverage for players w/o masks.

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Rambler34 said:

Here is an example. The family sued Riddell because they did not explain the concussion risks while wearing a helmet. Do you not think that a similar law suit could be brought by a girl that is injured while wearing a piece of mandated non-certified safety equipment?This could be brought against the manufacturer and the organization that required she wear a non-certified piece of safety equipment. All it takes is her saying I could not see as well. We live in a society where you can sue McDonalds because they didn't tell you your coffee was hot. I guarantee in the event of an injury while wearing a mask a lawsuit will happen.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...ll-helmet-lawsuit-11-million-dollars/2083251/

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Rambler34 said:

The simple solution is for parents to make it mandatory for their child. None of this matters if parents use common sense. My DD wore one in 8U and wore it in the IF through her first year of 12's. I let her take it off during the first year of 12's when I felt her skill level was sufficient in the outfield but she still wore it when we practice in the infield.

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