STOP the shaming...

My goodness this mask topic comes up every year.

My DD will be heading off to play college ball this coming fall and I have been hearing “make the mask mandatory thing since she was 6 years old.”

For starters there is NO rule that says you can Not wear a mask. So you are free to wear them. It’s actually pretty simple. Want your daughter to wear a mask, then have her wear a mask! I don’t understand a need for a rule for something that you can already do.

This wanting “acceptance of wearing a mask” is something I don’t understand. If you think some coaches take a dim view of a girl wearing a mask. Then just move on to another team. Problem solved. I would suggest, just be a parent and don’t worry about what other people think. Everyone always seems to be worried about everyone else. You don’t want to wear a mask, don’t wear one. You want to wear a mask, well wear one.

As for the coach that makes a player wear a non NOCSAE approved masked. That seems pretty risky for a large lawsuit. We watched a league get sued big time and had to pony up a boat load of money for having a mandatory slid rule at home plate. Some kid got hurt because of this rule. Well there is no mandatory slid rule anymore.

It does make me wonder why there is no NOCSAE approved masked. Usually where there is money to be made… Well there is money to be made!

This is going to win a lot of you over but when I coach I mandate ALL players wear face masks. I've seen too many infielders and outfielders with wrecked faces and/or teeth. The trigger for me was when a local, highly touted college recruit got lit up at 3rd base by a line drive. She shattered her eye socket and they were concerned about permanent damage to her face and possible sight in that eye. A week later in a local tournament a 14U outfielder lost a ball in the sun and it drilled her in the face breaking her nose. Both of these girls were GREAT players and GOOD fielders. I usually get some push-back from 2-3 players about it but usually after a couple of weeks, everyone settles in and is comfortable playing with one on their noggin. In any case, I know that in the years I've coached it has saved me or the parents numerous ER visits. To each their own and I have no problem with individual coaches, players and their parents being able to decide what is right for them. I let all players know ahead of time that on the team's that I coach, all players wear masks in the field... then they can decide if it is the right team for them.

BTW my daughter has always worn one. When she was younger it was me reminding her to wear it when she went out on the dirt but as she gotten older she accepted it as part of her equipment that is just as important as her glove, batting gloves, batting helmet, bat, etc. She simply won't go on the dirt without a mask on as she feels "naked" without it. BTW my daughter can flash leather with the best of them so, her wearing a mask isn't a sign that she's a poor fielder.

I think the proper answer is just to require bubble wrap suits for all kids in ALL sports. It's the only way to reduce the "risk" of injury. After all, sports should not come with any risk. Well, except lawn darts and bottle rocket wars.

slugger said:

My goodness this mask topic comes up every year.

My DD will be heading off to play college ball this coming fall and I have been hearing “make the mask mandatory thing since she was 6 years old.”

For starters there is NO rule that says you can Not wear a mask. So you are free to wear them. It’s actually pretty simple. Want your daughter to wear a mask, then have her wear a mask! I don’t understand a need for a rule for something that you can already do.

This wanting “acceptance of wearing a mask” is something I don’t understand. If you think some coaches take a dim view of a girl wearing a mask. Then just move on to another team. Problem solved. I would suggest, just be a parent and don’t worry about what other people think. Everyone always seems to be worried about everyone else. You don’t want to wear a mask, don’t wear one. You want to wear a mask, well wear one.

As for the coach that makes a player wear a non NOCSAE approved masked. That seems pretty risky for a large lawsuit. We watched a league get sued big time and had to pony up a boat load of money for having a mandatory slid rule at home plate. Some kid got hurt because of this rule. Well there is no mandatory slid rule anymore.

It does make me wonder why there is no NOCSAE approved masked. Usually where there is money to be made… Well there is money to be made!

Click to expand...

Congrats on your DD playing college ball!

Yes, it does come up every year. But my kid wearing a mask is only half of the equation. It could also be my kid who hits the line drive straight into your DDs unprotected face... To think that sending a fellow player to the ER has no impact on the batter (or possibly thrower), is short sighted. Fortunately, in Georgia, face masks at the 10u and 12u level are the norm, even for the entire infield, Rec and Travel ball. Our Rec league mandates masks or mouth-guards for all positions, infield and outfield. Everyone uses masks, as mouth-guards and softball field dust are not really compatible. I've had a few dads question the masks, and opt for a mouth-guard, couple of weeks later, their kid shows up with a shiny new mask.

As for the NOCSAE... they will not approve a face mask without a helmet, not because the masks do not offer protection, clearly they do, but they do not protect the entire head, so the NOCSAE will not stick it's neck out for fear of "you certified this mask, and my daughter still got a concussion when she turned her head and got hit in the unprotected side" type litigation.

As for the "Elite Players don't use them because the hinder performance" crowd, the sooner these dinosaurs age out of our sport the better... I don't care how much knowledge they add to forums like this one, discouraging kids from wearing a protective mask, (Yes that is exactly what you are doing) is despicable.

I think with just a few more posts this whole mask thing could be settled once and for all.

Andy

wheresmycar said:

Congrats on your DD playing college ball!

Yes, it does come up every year. But my kid wearing a mask is only half of the equation. It could also be my kid who hits the line drive straight into your DDs unprotected face... To think that sending a fellow player to the ER has no impact on the batter (or possibly thrower), is short sighted. Fortunately, in Georgia, face masks at the 10u and 12u level are the norm, even for the entire infield, Rec and Travel ball. Our Rec league mandates masks or mouth-guards for all positions, infield and outfield. Everyone uses masks, as mouth-guards and softball field dust are not really compatible. I've had a few dads question the masks, and opt for a mouth-guard, couple of weeks later, their kid shows up with a shiny new mask.

As for the NOCSAE... they will not approve a face mask without a helmet, not because the masks do not offer protection, clearly they do, but they do not protect the entire head, so the NOCSAE will not stick it's neck out for fear of "you certified this mask, and my daughter still got a concussion when she turned her head and got hit in the unprotected side" type litigation.

As for the "Elite Players don't use them because the hinder performance" crowd, the sooner these dinosaurs age out of our sport the better... I don't care how much knowledge they add to forums like this one, discouraging kids from wearing a protective mask, (Yes that is exactly what you are doing) is despicable.

Click to expand...

Now hold on... No need for name calling. I’m old... Just not sure about dinosaur old. But whatever.
Nobody is discouraging anybody from wearing a protective mask. Why would you make stuff up like that? Don’t assume that if a person doesn’t agree with the “make mask mandatory movement” that their DD doesn’t wear one.

And for this, what about the player that sends another player to the ER due to a batted ball, collision or throw. Come on now! The “your DD needs to wear a mask because it could affect my DD is an angle I haven’t heard before. At any time there is any sort of incident on the field. Parents, player and coaches are concerned. Granted, the player that was involved might also be shaken up at seeing an injury to an opponent. But let’s not make this in to a PTSD type of thing.

Yes I’m well aware why NOCSAE won’t approve them. But you stated that there could be some sort type litigation if a player got hit on the side of the head. I agree with this statement you made. But here’s the thing. You see why they won’t approve it, yet some coach on this thread makes it mandatory! See the issue? Why not mandate a heart protector, sunblock, Rubber cleats etc… those items protect also. Why is a coach, hand picking what is a safety item and what is not? Isn’t that the parent’s job?

Look, I’m not speaking for anybody on this board when I say this. I think some parents feel that if they make their player wear a mask, they think everybody needs to wear one also. Why? Are they worried about what people will say? The perception? Come on get over it. Honestly, again, just be a parent and do what you think is right for your child.

This is 2018! Nobody cares if a player is wearing a mask or not. If you can hit, throw and catch well… you can be wearing a clown suit and nobody will care.

AndyS said:

I think with just a few more posts this whole mask thing could be settled once and for all.

Andy

Click to expand...

That’s funny stuff right there.

wheresmycar said:

...As for the "Elite Players don't use them because the hinder performance" crowd, the sooner these dinosaurs age out of our sport the better... I don't care how much knowledge they add to forums like this one, discouraging kids from wearing a protective mask, (Yes that is exactly what you are doing) is despicable.

Click to expand...

Who said that? Like [MENTION=10391]slugger[/MENTION] said now you are just making stuff up. If it does not suit your narrative on the issue, say so. But do not just make it up. Be better than that!

We should a facemask section, let everyone get it all out.

Had a Facebook interaction this AM with a guy who essentially said that he would not let his daughter play for Patrick Murphy because he didn't mandate that Alexis Osorio wear a mask and she got hit. I violated my own rule of never arguing with a drunk or a fool. Shame on me.