Another arguement FOR facemasks

[MTR]

No, it just means we have a difference of opinion. It's incredibly rude to state something like that.

Welcome to the USA. Trust me, you will know what your opinion is when they tell you

Like I said in my reply, I've played the sport for 27 years. No-one needs to lecture me about the danger of sport. I've seen it first hand, I've experienced it first hand. I still don't think face masks are needed, nor should they be compulsory.

Well, that is your opinion and you are more than entitled to have it. But you need to remember, we are basically discussing children who have not yet peaked in physical and athletic attributes and in many cases, get minimal coaching.

You will notice that a lot of Americans believe in the word "mandate", a standard most socialist buy into. I don't.

A couple years ago, after years of insistence that ASA mandate facemasks on batting helmets, it finally happened. It should never have happened. We are talking children whose parents were afraid or incapable of making their child wear the equipment THEY deemed necessary, but that's another story.

Of course, because we are such a litigeous country, ASA secured the proper safety standards for the masks THE PARENTS AND COACHED demanded. This takes over a year from the time of initiation to end of the probationary period, so it wasn't available right away. But when the rule went into effect, all masks had to meet the safety standard set by NOCSAE. You would think someone suggested mooning the Queen of England! The same people went ballistic when they found out that they had to buy the properly certified equipment even though the existing presently being worn by their players may or may not have met those standards. This is exactly what many folks, including myself stated would happen if such a rule passed, but no one seems to want to hear anything other than what they have been sold.

Now, you would think people would hesitate before "demanding" another rule change that would cost them money just for doing the job a parent should be doing anyway. Alas, these folks aren't that smart as you are witnessing on these boards. The real shame is that when you ask a parent why they just don't tell their child to wear the equipment or they don't play, there is more backpedaling than you see at the Moon-walking break out session at a Michael Jackson convention.

I agree, as an adult you should be able to make your own decisions. And as a parent, these folks shouldn't wait around for someone else to protect their child from what they consider a dangerous circumstance.

 

[Texarkana]

Wow. Lots of valid points. As we got back to the game, the base umpire said "that's why it ought to be a rule that pitchers wear masks". My response was that "It shouldn't have to be a rule, just the parents ought to make them wear them." We are a fairly competitive UTrip "B" team and play a lot of "open" tournaments. All our IF wears masks except third baseman (her call). I have seen funky hops off the lip hit girls in the facemask and it was no biggie. I have also seen a girl backing up a throw where ball was tipped and hit her in the lip. Still no big deal, but a mask would have eliminated a lot of blood and tears. I just don't see the downside. Seems to be most folks think rec ball is more suited to their use, but I actually see more in use at higher levels. My daughter used to not want to, but all it took was another girl or so to start and everybody was fine with it. I had heard some rumors about it becoming mandatory in Arkansas, and we play there some, but it won't be a big deal as most of our girls are plenty used to them. I agree with all the "teach them to react" statements, but why not just "wear a belt and suspenders"? Never saw anybody lose their pants with both!

 

[starsnuffer]

Softball is fun to watch because it is a fast paced game. Everything happens much quicker then baseball, which gives the perception that softball is a more athletic sport.

If professional softball is going to stand a chance of being a viable business, then softball needs to continue to cater to the strength of the sport from a spectators point of view. The game cannot be slowed down and made "more safe" on one hand, while trying to increase viewership on the other.

Keep the hot bats, keep the speed going, if that means that the smart girls wear masks, so be it. I'd rather see the sport become more successful at the top tier then see it dumbed down for the sake of parents worrying about their little girls.

-W

 

[Amy in AZ.]

Slow pitch, of course, discusses this a lot because their personal injuries are much worse than I see in fast pitch. Some of their pitchers are also wearing helmets. But, what these men say over and over is "I don't care what the ball is made of. It could be a tennis ball. I just want to hit it with a bat."

I tend to agree.

This morning, as I left for a lesson, I grabbed an extra gameface from the garage. I showed it to my 10 YO student and asked her to put it on. Not only did she like it, she asked if she could take it home. Great! Now, let's see if she will actually wear it in a game. It shows me that some girls will wear one, they just need someone to buy it.

 

[MTR]

I wonder how many people don't know there is no ASA rule requiring a player to wear a glove? But who would send their daughter out there without one?

Sometimes you have to wonder what the hell people are thinking about.

 

[littlereddeer1]

My 9yo daughter is a pitcher on her travel ball team. she took a line drive to the inside of her leg the other day and went down crying. Thank goodness it was a small bruise and easily forgotten. If she is pitching she is wearing a mask PERIOD. I have also made it clear to the coaches about the facemask and they have started to get her mask out of her bag if they are going to put her in to pitch. I don't care what anyone else's opinion of it is. I am looking out for the best interest of my daughter. Things happen too fast and at this age they do not have the reaction time. I would rather have spent the $50 on a face mask and it never be needed than to have not bought it and face multiple surgeries to repair the damage that could be done. I have seen the pictures and heard the stories and that is enough evidence for me.

 

[3'sDad]

DD is 1st year 14U. About 3 weeks ago one of her teammates was playing catch in practice....ball tipped off the end of her glove, hit her right under the eye. Slight scratch or the cornea, but no long term issues. DD came home and asked if it was ok for her to wear a mask. We said, your decision but we both think its a good choice. We've been trying to get her to wear one for over a year aas she is a pitcher.

DD tried both the game face and the Shutt. She liked the light weight of the game face and practiced with it this week and wore it yesterday for the 1st time in a game. Took almost nothing to get accustomed to.

Team we played yesterday moring had a 3rd baseman wearing a mask. In the 2nd inning throw from another infielder was directly coming from the East as the sun was rising. caught the kid flush on the mask. Scared her but that was about it. Without the mask, that was a trip to the local ER for the parents.

 

[MTR]

We've been trying to get her to wear one for over a year aas she is a pitcher.

Okay, this is my point. WHY were you trying to get her to wear one?

Who pays for the equipment?
Who pays the registration?
Who provides the transportation?
Who pays for the insurance?
Who sits in the hospital while she is being treated?

THIS ISN'T BRAIN SURGERY. YOU ARE THE PARENT, ACT LIKE IT!

 

[Amy in AZ.]

I see more accidents during practice, than at any other time. When girls are warming up and they think that they hear someone call their name, they look around and their partner has already thrown the ball.

Wearing your mask during warm ups is no different than the catcher having hers on while warming someone up.

I had a boy at lessons today, that saw me give the mask to his sister. He asked me why boys don't wear them. I said "I wished that they did, but maybe with their further mound and bases, it isn't as necessary." I really didn't have an answer for him.

 

[Texarkana]

I agree on the issue of practice being a prime time for accidents. Happened more than once on our team. Even worse, during HS ball this spring, my DD's old babysitter was warming up to pitch (wore a mask in the past, but quit in HS) and somehow was distracted and took one to the face. Broke her palette and had her mouth wired shut. My DD pitches a little and we had a coach that would call the girls name and if she looked at him without the ball in HER hands, she had to do knee bends or something like that. Good thing to teach them, but still, stuff happens and a facemask will prevent or lessen the severity of injuries.