Helmets during practice

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Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
Should girls be required to wear helmets during batting practice with a pitching machine throwing 50 mph? I say yes. But I see many/most not wearing their helmets. I don't get it. I like helmets at all times (tee work, front toss, live, machine) because it is safe and better simulates game situation. I mean they are going to wear a helmet during the game, right? I think this no helmet inherited (from their macho fathers) mentality is kinda like the pitcher or 3rd baseman not wearing face mask.
 

NBECoach

Learning everyday
Aug 9, 2018
408
63
Practice like you play. Helmets at bat, masks and mouth guards in the field.

Liability can be very costly not to mention disfiguring or permanently handicapped should something awful occur.
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
Yup. Certainly at the younger levels.

I don't use them with small groups on the tee or with wiffle balls, but otherwise yes. By small groups I mean mostly "my daughter and I in the backyard." :)
 
Jun 17, 2009
15,105
0
Portland, OR
Tee work for me is simply to warm-up, introduce a new idea, or re-explain the sequence. I don't require a helmet at that time.

Front-toss, which for me has the ball coming at them slow, is a chance for the hitter to use an active learning process to use their sequence that was just reviewed. For me, helmets are optional during that time.

Live pitch (or machine pitch) is a time to put it all together. Thinking is performed outside of the box, short-term muscle memory is in play, hitters are "timing the pitcher" and reacting to "read of the pitch". For me, helmets are required during this time.

Some of my young hitters will wear a helmet starting with tee swings. The older hitters have zero interest in wearing a helmet at that time.

Some of my older hitters beg not to wear a helmet against live pitching. It's an age thing :).
 
Apr 20, 2018
4,581
113
SoCal
if given the opportunity some girls would not wear helmets during the game. Why would you allow them to hit without a helmet. Is it really that uncomfortable? What is the reason for not wanting to wear it. I think it has to do with how they perceive others view them for being a sissy. Same with the facemask in the field.

While I am on this topic. Catchers leave your helmet on! Helmet designs have greatly improved visibility and there is no reason to remove them. During a recent game the batter pops up straight up about 15ft. over home plate. Catcher removes mask and the ball hits off her and goes fair territory resulting in an error and a run scored. Dad stands up and says " nice try, way to get that mask off". The reason she missed the ball was because she was busy removing her mask. Leave it on.
 
Feb 20, 2015
643
0
illinois
YES!!!!!! If girls are swinging bats, any of them in the area should have a helmet on. I have unfortunately heard the sound that a bat makes when it hits a girl in the face. That was around 6 years ago, and I can still hear it.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
If we are on an open field I want all my players to be equipped as they would be for a game. In a cage I and somewhat more lenient. Helmets are not required in a cage when a tee is used or I am pitching. Helmet is required for machine pitch. Many of my current hitters are in college where helmet facemasks are no longer required.
 
Apr 26, 2015
704
43
If we are on an open field I want all my players to be equipped as they would be for a game. In a cage I and somewhat more lenient. Helmets are not required in a cage when a tee is used or I am pitching. Helmet is required for machine pitch. Many of my current hitters are in college where helmet facemasks are no longer required.

This is exactly DD's TB coach. And her hitting coach.
DD has a friend who was standing on deck waiting for her turn to hit and the girl at bat hit a line drive foul that crushed DD's friend's face. Not sure why she didn't have a helmet on at the time, but she had to have reconstructive surgery at 13. Not fun. DD has never argued about wearing her helmet.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Tee work for me is simply to warm-up, introduce a new idea, or re-explain the sequence. I don't require a helmet at that time.

Front-toss, which for me has the ball coming at them slow, is a chance for the hitter to use an active learning process to use their sequence that was just reviewed. For me, helmets are optional during that time.

Live pitch (or machine pitch) is a time to put it all together. Thinking is performed outside of the box, short-term muscle memory is in play, hitters are "timing the pitcher" and reacting to "read of the pitch". For me, helmets are required during this time.

Some of my young hitters will wear a helmet starting with tee swings. The older hitters have zero interest in wearing a helmet at that time.

Some of my older hitters beg not to wear a helmet against live pitching. It's an age thing :).

This ^^^.

That said, my DD has a tendency to whack herself in the head with her own bat on an alarming basis. A helmet is a good thing for her pretty much all the time.
 
Mar 4, 2018
126
28
About the only time, my daughter does not wear a helmet is when it is just myself and daughter in the cage doing tee work. Any time there is multiple girls in the same cage they all must wear a helmet, even if it is just tee work. Accidents happen. They all must wear a helmet during any bunting drills also, seems like more girls get hit in the head during bunting than any other time IMO.
 

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