My DD does not pitch - is primarily a catcher but also plays corners and when she does she always wears her mask. She made the choice at 13 and believe me she has heard all of these and more - and she is a big tough kid who is as far from being afraid of the ball as a player can get. She just likes her face. Oh and BTW, she did get recruited and still wears her mask in the field.
STOP the shaming...
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My DD does not pitch - is primarily a catcher but also plays corners and when she does she always wears her mask. She made the choice at 13 and believe me she has heard all of these and more - and she is a big tough kid who is as far from being afraid of the ball as a player can get. She just likes her face. Oh and BTW, she did get recruited and still wears her mask in the field.
- Jun 12, 2015
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Yes! I can't believe there are people who have never heard this kind of thing. It's all over the place online, but I've heard these from the mouths of parents I've interacted with personally too, plus coaches and ex college players. It definitely goes both ways. I think not wearing a mask at least at pitcher is pretty stupid. I don't really feel strongly about mandating it, because mine wears one either way. I will say when I see a pitcher or 3B without a mask it makes me very nervous.
I have personally never heard anybody shame somebody for not wearing one. Have heard people talk smack about players that DO wear masks all the time. Think it has died down a
little more recently with it being more accepted. But either way is unacceptable.
Its a personal choice. I am pro masks for certain positions, but to me its up to the player. If you want to wear them, fine, if not, fine. Which also means, you made
the decision and have to deal with any consequences yourself.
little more recently with it being more accepted. But either way is unacceptable.
Its a personal choice. I am pro masks for certain positions, but to me its up to the player. If you want to wear them, fine, if not, fine. Which also means, you made
the decision and have to deal with any consequences yourself.
Its only a matter of time, and it'll be mandatory for pitchers. Then people will complain because they "have" to wear one.
I personally see it as self preservation, and not a sign of weakness.
I just watched a game this weekend where another pitcher took one to the face... sorry I cant remember the teams. The fluke of it was the ball actually hit the bill of her visor, which deflected the ball away. Had the visor not been on, she'd have gotten hit right in the forehead...
I personally see it as self preservation, and not a sign of weakness.
I just watched a game this weekend where another pitcher took one to the face... sorry I cant remember the teams. The fluke of it was the ball actually hit the bill of her visor, which deflected the ball away. Had the visor not been on, she'd have gotten hit right in the forehead...
So if a kid doesn't wear a mask she dislikes her face?
This is exactly what I was talking about!
I believe it is the parents' decision. Kid has absolutely no say so in it. If a kid gets hit in the face without a mask, that is on the parents. Hope my daughter never gets hit, but if she does, the mask gives her a fighting chance to not have long term damage. Would never shame a kid for not wearing a mask. Again, that is up to the parent. Had a dad ask me, "if it was your son, would you make him wear a mask?" Good question. If he is only 35' from the batter at the time of contact like my daughter is when she is pitching, playing 3rd, or playing 1st, then i would really think about it.
- Jun 12, 2015
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So if a kid doesn't wear a mask she dislikes her face?
This is exactly what I was talking about!
She just said that's her daughter's motivation. I don't see a comment on anyone else's reasons in her post. Maybe other kids just think they're fast enough to avoid getting hit. We can debate whether that's true in every situation, but regardless, her saying that was her daughter's reason isn't a comment on anyone else's reasons for or against.
I can understand the braces comment. When I took my kid in for a consult, I asked what would happen if she happened to get hit in the face with anything. He basically said her teeth would fall out if the impact were hard enough. And it wouldn't just be one, it'd be multiple because they're all tied together.
IMO, if your kid wears one or not, it's none of my business. My business is my kid. And my comment to a lot of parents who used to try to say something to me about her wearing one was "worry about your own kid." I don't get those comments anymore though.
IMO, if your kid wears one or not, it's none of my business. My business is my kid. And my comment to a lot of parents who used to try to say something to me about her wearing one was "worry about your own kid." I don't get those comments anymore though.
Exactly!!
3-4 years ago it was the casual why doesn't so and so wear a mask. And year after it's getting more aggressive. Last fall the HP umpire asked a kid our team if her parents were crazy letting her pitch without a mask and asked her if she wanted to borrow one from the other team. Disgraceful.
I have found that many parents talk endlessly about this subject because it is the only thing that defines their DD as a softball player. Mask or no mask if their DD can hit, field, or pitch the conversation typically takes a different direction.
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