STOP the shaming...

Vertigo · Mar 22, 2018

slugger said:
Black and white. Lol… This is a joke right? For crying out loud stop getting your information from Facebook.
Did you actually see the staff that writes for this website?

They are all journalist, throwing stuff out there to see what sticks.

Haha Facebook! Come on man!

I rather enjoy the feeds I get from the softball web sites that promote themselves via FB. Nothing wrong with getting some debatable info that was linked to FB. Just goes to show you what people out there are saying and talking about.

Now if this was a medical topic rather than an opinionated article about a sport up for debate I’d agree with you.

CMMom1740 · Mar 22, 2018

Vertigo said:
I’ll always engage in these conversations because I worked in the ER for over 10 years and I’ve seen more than my fair share of teeth knocked out, facial, nasal, and orbital fractures, as well as nasty lacerations from little kids up through college age and beyond that could have been prevented by wearing a facemask. To me the issue extends far beyond what my dd is capable of doing on the field. As a health care provider it is part of my job to educate my patients on potential safety issues and what can be done as prevention. As a parent what you take and utilize from that information is up to you.

That all being said, it is a personal choice and I won’t say out loud what I’m thinking about the fielder not wearing the mask, but yeah, in my mind I’m hoping that I don’t have to run onto the field and respond to the player that just took a ball to the face and now has a blown out globe.

Agree 100%. And as a psychologist who tests kids for a living, I will also echo what concussions and traumatic brain injury can do. Repeated blows to the head are a bad, bad thing. I don't let my son play football (he's never been interested, but still) and I will not allow DD to play without a mask. She is a catcher, so that's not up for debate, but sometimes plays first as well. Even one concussion can cause permanent changes. My mother slipped in the driveway two years ago and had a concussion and has vertigo to this day that sometimes keeps her in the bed. Why take chances? Makes no sense to me.

MNDad · Mar 22, 2018

I like facemasks on younger kids. I’m even in favor of outfielders wearing them at 8U and 10U. The most dangerous time to get hit in the face is playing catch so only the wearing masks in the dirt seems silly at that age. While in favor of masks themselves, I’m adamantly opposed to mandating them. Primarily because nobody has any idea how much they’ll protect against. I want to know how they’re as safe at 70 mph as at 30 mph. I want to know they won’t just collapse at 60mph and do nothing to prevent a broken cheek. My biggest issue with mandating masks is most of the proponents have no idea what they’ll actually protect against. Concussions are often cited, but masks offer little to no protection from the head snapping back and are virtually worthless in preventing concussions. How does that logic make sense? We need to mandate them to protect against something they offer no protection against? We need to mandate them to save lives, but nobody knows their breaking point or if they’ll actually save a life. Sure they’re “better than nothing”, but is that a safety standard we want to go by?

obbay · Mar 22, 2018

. Even one concussion can cause permanent changes.

DD #1 received her first concussion in January of 2012. She had a helluva time recovering, couldn't go back to HS ball until late May. She developed problems including spatial awareness which she still has. (I have the car with 1000 dents to prove it

)!

wheresmycar · Mar 23, 2018

MNDad said:
I like facemasks on younger kids. I’m even in favor of outfielders wearing them at 8U and 10U. The most dangerous time to get hit in the face is playing catch so only the wearing masks in the dirt seems silly at that age. While in favor of masks themselves, I’m adamantly opposed to mandating them. Primarily because nobody has any idea how much they’ll protect against. I want to know how they’re as safe at 70 mph as at 30 mph. I want to know they won’t just collapse at 60mph and do nothing to prevent a broken cheek. My biggest issue with mandating masks is most of the proponents have no idea what they’ll actually protect against. Concussions are often cited, but masks offer little to no protection from the head snapping back and are virtually worthless in preventing concussions. How does that logic make sense? We need to mandate them to protect against something they offer no protection against? We need to mandate them to save lives, but nobody knows their breaking point or if they’ll actually save a life. Sure they’re “better than nothing”, but is that a safety standard we want to go by?

The NOCSAE is NEVER going to approve a mask. If that is what you are waiting for, well stop waiting cuz it's never going to happen. Why? Because a mask alone does not FULLY protect the head against concussions. Most of the steel cage masks exceed impact resistant standard set by the NOCSAE, but without the addition of a helmet, they are not going to give their approval.

Mouthguards are not "Approved" by the NOCSAE, yet they are required in many sports, like football, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse and wrestling...

MNDad · Mar 23, 2018

wheresmycar said:
The NOCSAE is NEVER going to approve a mask. If that is what you are waiting for, well stop waiting cuz it's never going to happen. Why? Because a mask alone does not FULLY protect the head against concussions. Most of the steel cage masks exceed impact resistant standard set by the NOCSAE, but without the addition of a helmet, they are not going to give their approval.

Mouthguards are not "Approved" by the NOCSAE, yet they are required in many sports, like football, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse and wrestling...

Exactly. That’s why it’s so dumb to say they should be mandated to prevent concussions. If people are worried about concussions they’d be clamoring to mandate helmets. Can’t do that though cuz a fielder in a helmet would appear “weak” and never get recruited by colleges.

wheresmycar · Mar 23, 2018

MNDad said:
Exactly. That’s why it’s so dumb to say they should be mandated to prevent concussions. If people are worried about concussions they’d be clamoring to mandate helmets. Can’t do that though cuz a fielder in a helmet would appear “weak” and never get recruited by colleges.

Who says leagues should only mandate equipment that FULLY protects against concussions? Preventing some concussions and MOST facial injuries seems like a BIG step in the right direction. And given the finishing position of most softball pitchers is upright, facing the batter, the face is more likely to take a direct impact then the back of your head.

You like them or 8u and 10u, but they should not be mandated at that age because they lack the NOCSAE stamp?

riseball · Mar 23, 2018

Over many years I have noticed that many of the folks who want to mandate this and change that are the ones who thankfully spend the least amount of time involved with the sport. They get involved, make a bunch of noise and then exit around 14U when their DD gets into high school.

MNDad · Mar 23, 2018

wheresmycar said:
Who says leagues should only mandate equipment that FULLY protects against concussions? Preventing some concussions and MOST facial injuries seems like a BIG step in the right direction. And given the finishing position of most softball pitchers is upright, facing the batter, the face is more likely to take a direct impact then the back of your head.

You like them or 8u and 10u, but they should not be mandated at that age because they lack the NOCSAE stamp?

I'm not as concerned about the stamp as I am that masks do next to nothing to prevent concussions. They'll protect the face, but they don't do anything to stop the head from getting snapped back and that's where the concussion occurs.

This isn't applicable one way or the other, just thought it was funny since you mentioned getting hit in back of head. DD has never been hit in the face, but has been hit in the back of the head during a throw down.

Tatonka · Mar 23, 2018

Are there really people advocating face masks as an attempt to reduce the risk of concussions? I have not really heard that argument...perhaps in regard to the mask on a batting helmet but that's somewhat of a different issue. Also, at the younger age groups does anyone disagree that a face mask offers protection while the kid is developing skill and the average speed of the ball they might get hit with is much lower? The face mask for these applications (younger age groups) doesn't necessarily need to withstand a 100mph impact.

MNDad, 2 years ago while warming up for a high school game one of my DD's threw to a kid (who was a Sophomore pitcher at the time) from about 25 feet. This girl took her eye off the ball for some reason...busted nose and slight concussion.. . out for the season. So to your point of the "most dangerous time is while playing catch" I don't know but it sure happens!

And again, not suggesting mandating the face mask but highly recommend wearing one in many situations.

STOP the shaming...

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