Fielding Masks in College

[spinner]

I was hit with a line drive last week, but I wear a GameFace. It knocked me back to reality.

I am sure it did Amy, I know it would with me also! I have yet to purchase one as I wasn't pitching to our hs team only helping coach the pitchers. Last week I threw a little bit of batting practice from behind a net and that was hard to do, but I didn't feel comfortable without it as I am not that young and fast anymore (ok...old )with pitching and reaction time. I think I am going to get one this weekend and give it a try.

 

[Dragoncoach]

I think Fielders will play more agressive with a mask. and college coaches should utilize this to their advantage!

 

[Greenmonsters]

I don't know if anyone has studied the results of better equipment in football--BUT:

It doesn't reduce the number of the injuries. The more protective equipment people wear in sports, the more risks the person takes, resulting in the injuries remaining constant.

E.g., football helmets are light years more advanced than those of the 1950s and 1960s, but the number of concussions has not been reduced. Why? Football players take more risks because they have better equipment, and therefore they get hurt as much. (This doesn't happen in driving with seat belts because there are limits (speed limits e.g.) on the risks a person can take.

Perhaps as soon as the girls wear face masks, they (or the coaches) will be more aggressive about charging bunts and playing iin.

Sluggers,

Agree w/ what you're saying about head injuries in FB not being reduced despite helmet improvement. However, FB is a contact sport and the helmet can be used to initiate tackles. FP SB is not a contact sport and the purpose of the face mask is preventative. As far as injuriy trends, for SB and face masks, I believe comparison w/ downhill skiing and the documented decrease in serious head injuries associated w/ the increased use of helmets is a more appropriate comparison. I require my kids to wear them so I also wear one to set a good example. Since I started wearing one, I've never been inclined to intentionally ski into a tree headfirst. Similarly, I haven't seen any corner IFs charging the batter and trying to block shots w/ their masks!

Just sayin' - GM

 

[AZball]

Really,you guys want a ruling to force players to wear a mask,pitchers and infielders RARELY get hit by balls.Nobody wants players to get hurt,Ive seen more players get hurt sliding wrong then pitchers hit in the face with a line drive...If ya wanna complain about something why dont we talk about all the college players that seem to think its smart to slide head first into firstbase.

 

[Lozza]

Do people go feet first when going back to first? If its trying to get to the base quicker on a hit, its stupid because diving slows you down.

I've seen injuries from people taking line drives to the face and they're not pretty. (worst one was one of my chargers. 13 year old playing seniors line drive to the face. I thought she was dead for sure) I don't know if they do much though. Have there been any studies?

I don't think I've ever seen them in Australia. They look odd to me. Even the batting helmets with masks on the front look odd to me. (look like cricket helmets) I am old enough to remember helmets becoming complusry (and old enough to think it was stupid to have to wear them, no need! Now I couldn't play without one) and when they first brought in the throat guard on face masks for catchers/umpires. (in my state that was because of my grandfather. He got badly injured when umpiring)

 

[Ivy's Dad]

I was hit with a line drive last week, but I wear a GameFace. It knocked me back to reality.

I was watching a 12U travel team this morning and I don't know why, but they had their batting helmets on on defense. It was at a practice. They haven't done that in the past.

My 12 year old DD was hit in the chin by a bad hop, and had trouble being aggressive afterward. She didn't like being afraid of the ball, and asked me if she could wear her batting helmet (with face mask) while fielding. Of course I said she could, and her aggressiveness returned as soon as she put on her helmet. She's been hit in the face mask by bad hops twice since, but just laughs about it. I am a little concerned about her being too hot now that the summer is here, but she prefers the helmet with mask over just a face mask. If the helmet becomes too hot, we'll get her a face mask. She's definitely a better player wearing her helmet than when she isn't.

It is unusual for a fielder to wear a helmet with mask (or just a mask for that matter) around here, and some of the other kids do look at her kind of strange, but my opinion is a player should do what they need to do to play their best. If a mask helps, then wear the mask.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

I played before batting helmets were even thought of. Now, no one would consider playing w/o one. Did we like the change? NO. But the change to require facemasks is very necessary, in my opinion. When the glove goes on, my mask goes on.

Here is a vintage photo. Note the runners on 1st and 2nd. Also, that is me coaching 1st base as an 18 YO.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p233/SHS1972/2010_03_25_11_57_18pdf029.jpg" border="0" alt="softball"></a>

 

[SoCalSoftballdad]

I played before batting helmets were even thought of. Now, no one would consider playing w/o one. Did we like the change? NO. But the change to require facemasks is very necessary, in my opinion. When the glove goes on, my mask goes on.

Here is a vintage photo. Note the runners on 1st and 2nd. Also, that is me coaching 1st base as an 18 YO.

<a onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', '/outgoing/http_photobucket_com', 1]);" href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p233/SHS1972/2010_03_25_11_57_18pdf029.jpg" border="0" alt="softball"></a>

I like the short hair Amy! Also, maybe we should go back to the soft bases in your photo. We use the hard plastic bases with the metal post in the ground as the anchor and of course there is no give when sliding. We recently had our #1 pitcher slide into 2B and sprain her ankle. She was out for over a week.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

Hi. It was 1972 and my hair was down to my waist band. I am thinking that it must be in braids, there.

Yes, we probably should go back to a lot of things, that we got away from. But, there were only 2 age groups. 16 and under and 17 and up. I am 18 there and the runner had a 15 YO son. So, Jo Anne had to be 35. She was a pitcher.

Everyone wore shorts and we knew how to slide. The men showed us.

Aluminum bats were already in use, but they were like tanks. We got away from wood in 1969.

Everyone of any age wore metal cleats.

We played through out IL., IN., and MO. Most teams were throughly sponsored. I never paid much to play softball.

This picture was taken in Shelbyville, IL. prior to me traveling to Casey to play there. I think that the other team is Robinson, IL. Most little towns had their own teams and you always played with your own town. The city would help sponsor some times.

The fields were great because they were maintained and were all black dirt. Oh, and the games were always 7 inning minimums. One pitcher generally pitched the whole time and 1 catcher was all we carried.

I was not happy with the way the game had changed when my DD got started in it in the mid 90s.

 

[SoftSocDad]

I love the 70s! Great shot, Amy.

The infielders want to be on display and although I'm mandating a mask for my little pitcher, I don't think they should be mandated for all. Although they can be devastating or even deadly, the frequency of infield injuries is too rare as to warrant a change.