Catchers helmet/added concussion protection

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May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Thanks to all the catcher's dads for posting their tips. For those who have eliminated the forehead mounts, has DD had any trouble getting their catching helmet pass equipment check at the beginning of a tournament? Most of the time, do they even notice the modifications?

Umps usually just check for the NOCSAE stamp and make sure the cage is securely attached. If there are screws obviously missing, they will also disallow it until it is fixed. As long as there are screws in the holes, I would be very surprised if they have an issue. However, my backpack will have the removed parts, just in case.
 
Jun 19, 2012
306
18
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal

That's the first time I've seen the new Rawlings. The foam inside looks like it might be very good. You're right about the cage being close to the shell, but it might be okay. Not having a direct connection point at the forehead is a good sign. I'm very interested to see this helmet in person.

The UA helmet is made by All-Star, and incorporates some of the same features and materials as the All-Star MVP2500-series helmet.

Overall, I'm very much in favor of the trend across the industry for better padding material and eliminating the forehead cage mounts.
 
Jun 19, 2012
306
18
Well I have decided over these past days reading this forum and this post it's time to move on from her current mask and invest in something that's a little more proactive in protecting her dome.

Glad to see the game evolving some with this considering when I played football and caught for baseball and got rocked it was "shake it off son dont be weak get back in there" looking back I know I have played with concussions from football and baseball(blocking the plate looking for a collision was encouraged. Lol
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Well I have decided over these past days reading this forum and this post it's time to move on from her current mask and invest in something that's a little more proactive in protecting her dome.

Glad to see the game evolving some with this considering when I played football and caught for baseball and got rocked it was "shake it off son dont be weak get back in there" looking back I know I have played with concussions from football and baseball(blocking the plate looking for a collision was encouraged. Lol

I grew up playing ice hockey. Between that and doing things like jumping my bike off stuff in the neighborhood, I saw stars and put ice on big lumps on my head more times than I can remember. The jury is still out on whether I'm okay in the head.
 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
Catcher's helmet design is an issue I've looked at very closely since my DD took a hard foul tip to the forehead 2 years ago, resulting in a concussion that had her out for 6 weeks. After that incident, I went the route of adding improved padding to her Easton M10 helmet, using a trimmed Unequal Gyro football helmet liner in place of the stock thin comfort layer. My DD commented that things were much better with the new liner. However, last December, she took another hard foul tip to the forehead. The concussion was more mild than the previous time, but it resulted in a few weeks on the bench. Recently, she switched to an Easton Mako II helmet (a change in color was the biggest reason), and we moved the Unequal padding layer to the new helmet. 2 weeks ago, she took yet another hard shot off her forehead, and is out of the game for a few weeks. Something has to change.

The design issues with the Easton M-series, Prowess, and Mako II helmet are the forehead mounting points for the cage, the layer of rigid EPS foam, and very little soft material to allow the head to travel while impact forces are being absorbed and dispersed. The Unequal padding helped, but it's not enough for this helmet design.

Easton has a new Pro-X catcher's helmet (https://www.easton.com/baseball-equ...KSILVER&cgid=baseball-catchers-helmet#start=1) that is about to hit the market which addresses the cage mounting point issues, and uses a much better combination of padding materials, including a layer of Poron XRD which is great stuff for this application. It looks like they did a really good job putting thoughtful design into the helmet. Unfortunately, it's not available right now, and I need something right now.

Yesterday, I received the new Force3 Version 2 helmet (https://www.force3progear.com/defender-hockey-style-mask-2.html). It is easily the most protective catcher's helmet on the market. The cage is mounted on springs at the temples and chin, and extends upward to cover the forehead. This means that all of the hits my DD took would have hit the cage, where the energy would have been transferred away from the forehead, being absorbed by the springs. Additionally, the padding is 3 layers of varying-density foam. The downsides are that it's a bit heavy, and it looks a little different due to the extended cage. My DD hates the way it looked in the pictures, and seems to have already made up her mind that she won't wear it. I think it looks much better in person, but she hasn't seen it yet. I also ordered the youth size (my kid has a small-ish head), but I don't know if it will fit her.

I have also ordered an All-Star helmet. Our previous attempts with this helmet were cut short because she didn't like the way it fit. My intent is to remove the soft internal padding, add a layer of Unequal material inside the shell, and then replace the soft padding, making whatever adjustments I need to make it fit her head in a way she is comfortable with.

My DD hasn't had any concussions that have been so significant that she has lost consciousness, or had her coordination or balance compromised, but these little bumps add up. It will break her heart if she has to give up catching, but if we don't get something better figured out, that's the road we will be heading down.

I'm kinda in the same boat as Maddie, Eric. I had my first concussion during the high school season. It took me a few weeks to recover from the concussion before I could return to school and softball. Then, during fall softball season, I had a foul ball come back and bite me right on the cage of my facemask by the helmet at my cheek. I was so shook up after taking that foul ball. I had a headache and was a little disorientated after taking that shot...but I passed the concussion protocol and I had to sit out of softball for a week. Then, I had my most recent scare during cheerleading. During practice, we were walking through a routine for the next football game on a Tuesday. I was on one of the sides with a few bases and a back spotter. My bases didn't have a very good grip on my ankle while I was hoisted 6 feet in the air. I pulled my scorpion and I was supposed to be thrown and come straight down into my bases and back spotter's arms. Well when I was being thrown, I was feeling wobbly while I was doing my scorpion and when I was thrown, I didn't get the altitude I thought I should have gotten. When I came down, my bases and back spotter didn't have a very good net for me to fall into. I hit their arms...but they left go and I fell onto the ground head and neck first. I had a headache and I was seeing some floaters after I became conscious again. Once again, I did the concussion protocol and luckily and thankfully, I only had a mild concussion. What saved it from being worse was that my fall was greatly slowed up by my bases and back spotter. If I wouldn't have been slowed up, I probably would have had a broken neck let alone having a severe concussion. I was very lucky. The worse part was missing two weeks of school while I recovered and not being able to drive.

I also was looking at that Force 3 catcher's gear you were citing for Maddie. I was looking at it and I love it. I think it looks really cool. I recently selected the college I want to go to where I will be playing softball and be on a academic scholarship. If they don't care where I get my gear from, I will be getting my gear through Force 3. It looks like it would be pretty safe and would be good for keeping concussions at bay.
 
Last edited:

999

May 13, 2015
112
0
Ernie and Eric,

Riddell Speedflex football helmets are one of the more recent helmets, and get a 5 star rating from Virginia Tech (seems to be the best 3rd party ranking system).

Anyway the quick releases for the facemask are designed so they are side mounted and not mounted in the forehead area. To me it seems they are designed with some flex or give in them. If you were looking to remove the forehead mount and strictly use the side mounts, I would strongly consider the $30 Riddell sells the quick release for. Seems like you would just need to drill larger mounting holes.

I have access to some if you wanted me to see if the would fit a catchers mask or show a pic of what the hole on the helmet needs to look like.
 

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