Game faces essencial

[default]

What are all these girls going to do when (if) they end up playing in college? I have yet to see a single girl in a college-level game wearing a mask.

That's because the girls playing college ball now didn't have masks when they started out as kids. You will see more and more each year with most or all wearing one by the time my 12u reaches college age.

When I was a kid you had to wear a helmet to play hockey but no pro's wore one. Now they all do.

 

[default]

we required them 3 years ago, for all our pitchers, and encouraged all infielders to wear them. We were the first in NWO and took criticism for it, but I see it the same as a face guard on a helmet, routine safety equipment.

That said, it's the stinking composite bats. They should just say alloy bats and nothing more. People want the composite bats, because just about everyone has the ability to hit one out with one, which IMO deminishes the ability to do so. So instead of banning composite, we talk about moving the pitchers mound back, making the bases 65 feet, we need to wear masks etc. etc. Greatest player I ever coached used a 31/19 alloy bat, and rattled fences, we need to bring the game back to where it should be.

 

[default]

A) A broken nose is NOT a tragedy. It's an injury. I'd rather have a broken nose than a jammed knee (should we have break-away bases? Outlaw sliding?);

B) 40 Feet is too close for pitchers to be standing away from hitters swinging composite bats. Move the rubber back to 45 or 46 feet. It's stupid to have it that close.

c) Outlaw composite and bring back one type of alloy only (every bat equal) or wood.

D) I don't care what ANYBODY says, the infielders (including pitchers) who wear them make MORE errors than the ones who don't--- especially on balls that hug the ground. They all seem to turn into little Bill Buckners out there.

 

[default]

Liniluna I have to agree with you. I just finished my college career competing in over 200 games, and in all 4 years, I never saw a single college player wear one. I see both sides of this argument and am not picking sides... How many players in the women's college regionals/super regionals/ (and soon to be aired) world series have you seen with one on? On the other side... is the risk worth it? The injuries we have all witnessed are tragic...

 

[default]

Re: Game faces essential

TRB
The last update that I received was a broken nose but wasn't sure about the orbital bone around the left eye due to swelling ,she was back at the field on Sun.to cheer on her team but may have to go back for more X-rays.

Thanks.... Please keep us posted if you get any updated info.

 

[default]

OK, I'm putting this out there NOT to discourage game masks in the infield, but to disseminate information. I put the question to the NCAA Division I Coaches at the last National Fastpitch Coaches College course that we attended and I was a bit surprised at the resulting answer, which was that if they observed a potential recruit using a game face mask, it did enter into the calculation whether to recruit that player. I agree with the above posts that point out what a small % of players play Division I ball. Because there were no Division II or Division III coaches conducting the clinic in question, I'm not sure what their response would have been.

Again, this post is not intended to advocate either way, but simply to pass on information. Personally, I watched a player take one to the face that resulted in serious injury requiring plastic surgery, so I'm not going to judge anyone who opts for the mask approach.

 

[default]

I say FREEDOM of CHOICE.

Together with their parents, the players should be free to choose.

Every sport has a potential for injuries, you take the chance.

Don't we have ENOUGH RULES in this world??

My daughter will be wearing an eye mask- that is our CHOICE. We don't need someone

making that decision FOR us.

 

[default]

Count the ohio Jaguars 10u behind you. Why put our young ladies at risk.

 

[default]

Was at a try out for a team and saw a girl take a shot off the face pretty bad knocked her out was taken the the er and no broken bones but a nasty concussion talked to her dad two days ago asked how she was doing dad said better but still has short term memory problems from the concussion it happened over 3 months ago now she wears a gameface no matter were she plays she also missed alot of school because of this.

 

[default]

Statistics:

One weekend.
Five tournaments.
250 teams.
850 games.
2,450 balls hit to 3rd base.
one broken nose.

Kids still have a much better chance of getting hurt in a car wreck on the way to the game, or of slipping in the shower after the game, or of getting violently ill from eating tainted hot dogs. Should they not ride in cars? Not take showers? Not eat hot dogs?

More statistics:

---t happens.
---t will happen again.

next time the ball could hit her in the rib cage, the knee, the collar bone, the pelvis, the elbow or the neck. Perhaps we should dress our little girls in suits of armor. Clank, clank.

Sorry truth but this was one of the dumbest analogies I've read in a long time. Taking a ball to the knee, ribs, collor bone, etc. is no where near the trauma of a ball to the face or heart. A head injury can leave LIFELONG LIFE CHANGING after effects. Bad comparison. Nobody has suggested wrapping the girls in bubble wrap. I think everybody understands that injuries like rolled ankles, bruised knees, dislocated fingers, etc. are part of the game. A blow to the face is a completely preventable lifechanging injury that is not even comparable to a broken kneecap from a batted ball.

 

[default]

Im with the ringer. A long time ago they wore leather helmets in football, and no maskes in hockey. WOW now we have carbon fiber and lexan in both sports. My girls wear thers and I will make sure they get used to them. As this grows as a sport the more they are used they will become commonplace. If they start young the will not know how to field without them, and we will be dealing with the bumps, bruises and sprains-not reconstructive opperations and life long scares on there faces.

 

[default]

OK, I'm putting this out there NOT to discourage game masks in the infield, but to disseminate information. I put the question to the NCAA Division I Coaches at the last National Fastpitch Coaches College course that we attended and I was a bit surprised at the resulting answer, which was that if they observed a potential recruit using a game face mask, it did enter into the calculation whether to recruit that player. I agree with the above posts that point out what a small % of players play Division I ball. Because there were no Division II or Division III coaches conducting the clinic in question, I'm not sure what their response would have been.
.

Okay cgs, did it enter in as strongly against kids who use one? And did the tell you why it was a concern?

 

[default]

Count me in with Ringer as well. Everyone has a right to seek what protection they feel is adequate.

However, as parents, and charged with the responsibility of getting our children through to adulthood without getting maimed, I think a face mask for pitchers, 1b and 3b is a reasonable precaution. We didn't wear batting helmets when I played, but no one gives a second thought to batting without one now from youth to the pros. The same can be said other sports as well and has been pointed out on this thread.

Injuries are part of the game, true, Truth. But why risk a lifelong physical trauma on your daughter if it can be avoided? As far as baseball players, there was an accomplished high school pitcher struck in the head with a line drive in Lorain County just a few weeks ago and hat to undergo brain surgery.

This is the same safety or looks argument that's been going on about motorcycle helmets for years. Just ask any emergency room nurse about riding a bike without a helmet, and she or he can describe any number of tragic injuries that could have been avoided.

And as for college players not wearing them, more and more are. Just about every game I watched of the NCAA current tournament has some players on both sides who wear some type of protection. And as somneone mentioned earlier, as the younger players now get older, they'll still be wearing them in high school and college.

 

[default]

Lester - Taking the approach of the "TD's" is a good one...

IMHO - The kids and teams that are heavy into travel ball are virtually "self policed". They know the speed of this game. I can't remember a time when 1st, 3rd, or Pitcher was not wearing a mask (experienced team).
Where I see the problem is with the teams that are just breaking into the travel scene. I really don't think they understand or recognize the risk and speed of this game... This is where the TD's can help.... and make at a minimum the 3 position mentioned above mandatory.

Two weeks ago in Greenville we saw 2 or 3 teams not wearing masks... I mentioned it to the teams and the Umpire.... and got similar responses as mentioned on this and other threads "No, she is fine" and "It's her choice" All I could do was pray the inevitable wouldn't happen.... Sure enough just one week later, it has...

Can someone post a status on the DD who got hit?

TRB - i 100% agree. I know our home town rec teams get into these tourneys sometimes, not having any idea what kind of game play they are in for. I agree that although things happen, we cant bubble wrap our children... this shouldnt be their choice at all. It just takes one time, and our dd's could be gone, why risk it? IF you can protect them, do!

 

[default]

I have required the corners and pitcher to wear masks but left it optional for SS & 2nd UNTILL Sunday when I saw this little girls face. After almost 24 hours of constant Icing she had a little squint of an eye. The Stitches of the ball were still clearly tatood to her cheek and half her face was a nice shade of blue/green. Fot those of you who seem against it being a requirement I will pray for your DD because if it happens to your kid you will wish you had dropped the $40 or someone took away your RIGHT to decide. My DD is playing 2nd and Sunday I got her a Rip-it. She said she didn't want to wear it so I gave her a chioce, start wearing it or sit on the bench out of harms way!

 

[default]

My dd pitches, plays 1st/3rd/2nd/ss. Pretty much where ever she is needed. If she wants to pitch or play corners she wears her mask. She doens't have a choice!! She argued with me about corners, but guess who won? That's right, ME!! I am the parent!!

 

[default]

What are all these girls going to do when (if) they end up playing in college? I have yet to see a single girl in a college-level game wearing a mask.

If you watched the Texas - Texas A&M game a few weeks back the first basemen was wearing a rip-it mask for Texas and the shortstop for A&M was wearing a mask as she took a line drive to the eye a few weeks before and has a plate holding her eye in place now. I watch alot of college ball and have seen several players this year opting for the mask.There has been some close calls this year that could have been alot worse if it werent for the mask.It was a bit of a fight to get my daughter to wear hers but she has been wearing it for two years now and whats the harm if it can keep her safe? She was with me at a high school game and the pitcher who was not wearing a mask narrowly ducked a very hard hit line drive at her head, fortunately she did btu my dd (13 yrs old) turned to the crowd and said THATS WHY YOU WEAR A GAME FACE!!! I was very proud!!I am just saying I dont ever want to say "If she was only wearing her mask". The way the game of fastpitch is played It is a lot shorter than baseball.

 

[default]

If I remember correctly last years college playoffs a pitcher took a line shot off the right side of her face and the SS actually made the flyball out. The only thing that hit the ground was the pitcher. "Is that a charged error or and assist"?

 

[default]

So how many of you are requiring your daughters to wear the heart guards? A blow to the heart is much more life threatening than a shot to the face. If it's about protecting our daughters and keeping them safe where are the heart guards? Surgery can fix broken bones, a heart can't always be restarted.

 

[default]

My girls use both and have for a few years.