Kentucky HS equipment rule.

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Apr 20, 2015
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I think it's necessary to prevent coaches from telling players you can't wear one.

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Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
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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.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ll-helmet-lawsuit-11-million-dollars/2083251/

Had to search for that one, but this case was about warnings, and the fact that Riddell marketed their equipment as being more protective against concussions than other brands. It doesn't mean that mandating a football helmet (or a mask) is a bad idea, and I bet that Riddell helmet was "certified". Anyway, that's what insurance is for, and I'd very much like to see what happened on appeal. As a result of that decision, I'm sure there is language in every single face mask package that talks about about how it can't prevent all injuries. I doubt that the Kentucky HS AA did this without talking to their lawyers and their insurance company.
 
Mar 28, 2016
164
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If we mandate face masks, where does it end? Suppose a girls takes a comebacker that snaps her leg in half and severs an artery. She bleeds out and dies. Do we then mandate leg guards for all? All of this silliness needs to stop. The fact is, bad things happen to good people every day, and no matter how arrogant we are to think we can stop them, we can't.

I have no problem with the mask rule. Hockey players didn't have to wear helmets 20 year ago, and the mandated protection level hasn't gone much above that.

Do you think that wearing seat belts should be a law?
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
The mask debate is taking care of itself. The older players did not have masks available when they started. Coaches and players looked at them as unnecessary when players started wearing them. As more younger girls started using them they became more common place at younger ages. This has eventually spread into older age groups as these girls got older. Now you are seeing them more than ever in college.

Masks have been around for more than a decade, so the "older" players certainly did have them available. I have no problem with masks or those who wear them, I just don't like the mandating of equipment that has yet to be tested to see i it can do the job
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
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.

Where did you see such an assertion in the post you cited? Never mind, I can tell you there was nothing there to suggest such a thing

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.

From what I understand, there is already legislation in the works in KY That would apply to everyone, most likely including visiting players. Do you remember what happen when the NJ legislature tried to regulate bats in NJ?
 
Apr 5, 2013
2,130
83
Back on the dirt...
They may have been "available", but until very recently, some college coaches would not even recruit you if you had a mask. That is flat ignorant.

A mask may offer no more protection than allowing a player to take the hit and recover during the game. That is enough for me to allow it.


Many layers to this issue. Def not as black and white as an IP not being called. :)
 

MTR

Jun 22, 2008
3,438
48
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.

It will hold water the minute an insurance card is handed to a clerk in an ER. Here are a couple lawsuits where a completely legal and tested piece of equipment being used as intended ended up in court.

New Jersey

Montana

Nothing is going to stop a lawsuit
 
Jun 29, 2013
589
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You are right about not stopping lawsuits, MTR, people will sue no matter how careful you are. But I don't see that as the issue here. The real issue is, as many others have said, insurance. When the insurers say wear a mask or we won't cover you, and the alphabet agencies say you can't play without insurance, masks are going to be mandatory for corners and pitchers. And that day is coming. I personally think that the governing agencies want this to happen so they don't have to be the bad guy.
 

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