I coach and catch my 12U daughter. A good catcher mitt is a must. I started wearing shin guards when a mid 40's pitch skipped into my shin and it ached all night. I also have a mask which I started wearing when she got consistently above 50MPH. The fastball is the least of my worries, as I started wincing a little when her rise started breaking late. It gives me a sense of security, especially if she accidentally throws when I am not ready.