Hitting and Hitters Discussion Batted ball safety poll

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Everyone is aware of the heightened concern these days about injury risk from batted balls in fastpitch softball. There are generally two schools of thought about what approach to take to reduce this risk. One is proactive: Alter the dynamics of the bats and balls to make them "less lively". The other approach is reactive: Leave the bats and balls alone, and have the kids wear protective gear (usually face masks) for protection.

 

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Maybe change the bat to make it cheaper on families. ha
From a safety standpoint I'd say wear a mask. Saw very few at the 16U ASA/USA Nationals in Montgomery.

 

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Players have always got hurt from playing the sport. The difference now is technology has got to the point where we have engineered the equipment past what should be adequate to play the game. Everybody wants that edge over the next guy. Why you hear about shaving, rolling, doctoring etc.
My point is the equipment isnt going to be dumbed down anytime soon, theres too much money involved. and even if you did either the manufacturers or some bat doctor will circumvent the rules trying to give the people what they want: the next big hot thing.
Wear protection.........

 

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You are right, too much money involved.
I wouldn't mind if they just eliminated composite bats. Stick with aluminum and require a certain thickness.

 

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Leave it as is, but make the responsibilty be on the parents/players. DD pitches and does not have a choice. When she pitches she wears a mask. I pay the bills, she wears the mask. When she plays other positions she does not wear one.
So if a pitcher gets a line drive to the shin, are we going to make her wear leg guards like a catcher?
We need to stop blaming the bat and ball MFG's and make the parents and players take on the responsibilty for there own safety.

So I vote - None of the above

 

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Agree with Coop. "None of the above"

 

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The results of this poll amazes me so far. How can we as softball people claim to be in favor of adding safety to the sport and not address the root cause? It isn't that reaction time of the athletes over the years has decreased. The players are better trained and to an extent better athletes. Its the equipment!!! Why did the sport require face masks on helmets? Why are there safety bags at first? Why are players no longer allowed to "block the plate/base" on out plays, why did they move the pitchers plate back, why are they concerned about which ondeck circle is used, why are facilities adding spectator netting, the list goes on and on. And yet the two biggest contributors to softball related injuries (and some of these are catystrofic) get ho-hummed. I will tell you why..... Ego and money - period

 

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Go to a higher level mens slow pitch game, the pitcher looks like a hockey goalie.

 

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yeabut hit the middle twice and there is an all out bench clearing fight!!!

Go to a higher level mens slow pitch game, the pitcher looks like a hockey goalie.

 

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Coop ... in all due respect, you can't compare getting hit in the leg with getting head in the face/head.

Mark ... I understand what you're saying about root cause, and I guess I would feel a lot better if that was addressed but, as others have said, there's little we can do about that in the meantime and likely the bat manufacturers are going to come up with the next technology somehow, or otherwise their product becomes commoditized and probably drops about 80% in price. Plus, the fact is, that some kids are still going to get hit in the head and hurt, and I'd rather "play it safe" that way ...

 

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Im not sure a shot to the shin has killed or permenantly removed a pitcher/player from the sport.

I also have to laugh at those who say that the players have to be trained properly to defend the ball. (yes there are those who could improve)

I have watched the best defensive pitchers in the game take some shots that they simply could not defend or get out of the way of.

The players (our DD's) will end up paying the ultimate price as long as the bat mfg's keep trying to out perform the competition.

DD's played in SC last week in a tournament where a low compression ball was used ...... hated it, changed the game completely.

 

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Coop ... in all due respect, you can't compare getting hit in the **** with getting head in the face/head.

Mark ... I understand what you're saying about root cause, and I guess I would feel a lot better if that was addressed but, as others have said, there's little we can do about that in the meantime and likely the bat manufacturers are going to come up with the next technology somehow, or otherwise their product becomes commoditized and probably drops about 80% in price. Plus, the fact is, that some kids are still going to get hit in the head and hurt, and I'd rather "play it safe" that way ...

You are correct, what about line drives to the chest and players hearts stop beating, you dont hear people pushing heart guards. I think safety starts with the players and parents.

 

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There is a certain level of performance that we have to attempt to not allow bats and balls go beyond. Sure there are ways around it but we have to make our best attempt. Along with that certain positions need to protect themselves. Pitcher for sure, corner infielders most likely.

 

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That is my point. In effect we are allowing the manufacturers to put pour kids at risk because they only think about $$$$$. Remember - backintheday aluminum bats were introduced to save the baseball players money because the bats would break. Now they are made to last a certain amount of "hits" and force families to spend more $$$.

My issue with the responses to the poll is that it is written as a way for parents to make a choice that I thought was to be based on safety in a vacuum. Not based on the reality of the situation. How I see the answers simply tell me that those that wouldn't want to see a change except that players will be maimed. Sad.

Coop ... in all due respect, you can't compare getting hit in the **** with getting head in the face/head.

Mark ... I understand what you're saying about root cause, and I guess I would feel a lot better if that was addressed but, as others have said, there's little we can do about that in the meantime and likely the bat manufacturers are going to come up with the next technology somehow, or otherwise their product becomes commoditized and probably drops about 80% in price. Plus, the fact is, that some kids are still going to get hit in the head and hurt, and I'd rather "play it safe" that way ...

 

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Coop ... agree that it's hard to draw the line as to what's necessary and what goes too far, as well as what's enforced by the rules vs. what's just the responsibility of the parents. Unfortunately, sometimes parents are either not knowledgable or not responsible and society has to protect their kids for/from them. It's more like safety seats in cars than belts for front seat adult passengers.

Mark ... doesn't wearing masks almost eliminate the chance of a head injury, while dumbing down the bats/balls just reduce the number or severity of some head injuries?

 

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You are correct, what about line drives to the chest and players hearts stop beating, you dont hear people pushing heart guards. I think safety starts with the players and parents.

my DD wears a mask and Heart guard. Mask are for saftey as seat belts in cars. Bat limits are tested and limits are set for saftey, as speed limits are set on the roads. changing the equipment is the same as putting governors on a car to ensure that it cant go past a safe speed. Be smart buckle up, I mean wear a mask

 

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That is my point. In effect we are allowing the manufacturers to put pour kids at risk because they only think about $$$$$. Remember - backintheday aluminum bats were introduced to save the baseball players money because the bats would break. Now they are made to last a certain amount of "hits" and force families to spend more $$$.

My issue with the responses to the poll is that it is written as a way for parents to make a choice that I thought was to be based on safety in a vacuum. Not based on the reality of the situation. How I see the answers simply tell me that those that wouldn't want to see a change except that players will be maimed. Sad.

Good point and I think you are right. In the chase for the big bucks companies are putting our kids at risk and we go along like sheep.

After deliberating from this discussion I would vote for changing the bat, banning composite and requiring aluminum to be a certain thickness. It would be cheaper, safer and I don't think it would take away from the excitement of the game.

 

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The results of this poll amazes me so far. How can we as softball people claim to be in favor of adding safety to the sport and not address the root cause? It isn't that reaction time of the athletes over the years has decreased. The players are better trained and to an extent better athletes. Its the equipment!!! Why did the sport require face masks on helmets? Why are there safety bags at first? Why are players no longer allowed to "block the plate/base" on out plays, why did they move the pitchers plate back, why are they concerned about which ondeck circle is used, why are facilities adding spectator netting, the list goes on and on. And yet the two biggest contributors to softball related injuries (and some of these are catystrofic) get ho-hummed. I will tell you why..... Ego and money - period

It appears more parents are concerned about Sally hitting 200+ foot bombs than they are the true safety issues. Masks are nothing more than a band-aid for the real root of the problem.

Len

 

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I couldn't help but notice that both the shortstop and second baseman (2nd basegirl?) for the Tennessee Fury 97 wore face masks (game faces). They just went 10-0 at ASA/USA nationals in Sioux Falls. So perhaps they're not "old school," but they are national champs.

 

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I couldn't help but notice that both the shortstop and second baseman (2nd basegirl?) for the Tennessee Fury 97 wore face masks (game faces). They just went 10-0 at ASA/USA nationals in Sioux Falls. So perhaps they're not "old school," but they are national champs.

See what the SS and 2B are wearing next year at 16u when colleges are looking.......\

Len