Hate to keep beating the horse but ....

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Do boys wear masks? I honestly don't think I have ever seen a boy wear a mask!

 

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Do boys pitch from 40 +/- feet? I don't think I have seen them do that, either.

 

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Do boys wear masks? I honestly don't think I have ever seen a boy wear a mask!

Nope, but Io know some MEN do now. Most of them pitch an wear all kinds of protective gear. Does that tell you something?

 

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Do boys pitch from 40 +/- feet? I don't think I have seen them do that, either.

My son's 8U travel and Rec team pitches from 40', and the thought has crossed my mind a couple times. We are one of the only cities that let our kids pitch 2 of the innings at that age. The other innings is coach pitch, but the pitcher position is still right there. Some of these kids hit hard at that age. You can tell the one's who work on their swing on their own. When I am out there pitching during the coach pitch innings, I try to give the pitcher my unsolicited advice to back up depending on which of my batters is up.

 

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Nope, but Io know some MEN do now. Most of them pitch an wear all kinds of protective gear. Does that tell you something?

Men wearing a mask? All kinds of protective gear? Like a catcher? Really...no I have NEVER seen that either....!

 

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Just a quick search, but here is the USSSA Major/Open Championship in 2012, and the Laser Vision pitcher has his mask/helmet combo on. A lot also wear shin guards under their pants as well.

Resmondo vs Laservision: 2012 USSSA Slow Pitch World Series - YouTube

Here is another

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFD07OmMqk4

 

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My son's 8U travel and Rec team pitches from 40', and the thought has crossed my mind a couple times. We are one of the only cities that let our kids pitch 2 of the innings at that age. The other innings is coach pitch, but the pitcher position is still right there. Some of these kids hit hard at that age. You can tell the one's who work on their swing on their own. When I am out there pitching during the coach pitch innings, I try to give the pitcher my unsolicited advice to back up depending on which of my batters is up.

True. I hadn't thought of the very little ones. I was thinking in terms of the10u+. I just think the boy vs girl argument is stupid. Field dimensions are different relative to age.

 

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I just think the boy vs girl argument is stupid. Field dimensions are different relative to age.

I won't argue with you, I am pretty stupid especially when it comes to fastpitch. But I don't think I was comparing, just making an observation that I had NEVER seen ANY boys wear a mask except a catcher. I just wondered out loud why that is. In this post men are announcing no girl could play for him unless she wore a mask. And here I am wondering out loud again, if he were coaching boys, would that same declaration be made. It was interesting someone posting the video of the pitcher wearing a catchers mask, but it only looked like one pitcher and he and the rest were going against 400'+ hitters...so I agree THAT comparison is stupid - but I think THAT comparison was used as an argument FOR girls wearing a mask? I think?

 

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I won't argue with you, I am pretty stupid especially when it comes to fastpitch. But I don't think I was comparing, just making an observation that I had NEVER seen ANY boys wear a mask except a catcher. I just wondered out loud why that is. In this post men are announcing no girl could play for him unless she wore a mask. And here I am wondering out loud again, if he were coaching boys, would that same declaration be made. It was interesting someone posting the video of the pitcher wearing a catchers mask, but it only looked like one pitcher and he and the rest were going against 400'+ hitters...so I agree THAT comparison is stupid - but I think THAT comparison was used as an argument FOR girls wearing a mask? I think?

So what exactly is your point?

Yes boys should probably wear masks as well but baseball is a lot slower game than fastpitch -

If this were a Baseball forum I would advocate for boys wearing masks - This is not a sexist thing it's simply a Softball forum and generally played by girls.

 

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Point? Not sure I needed to have one...just musings...when I hear 'coaches' declare they will not accept players unless they wear facemasks, I just comment, it seems pretty disingenuous-I mean do they make the same requirement about seatbelts, that is actually a law...but you know, just wondering...I assumed this forum was set up exactly for that...but see previous posts, I'm not that bright...

 

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Do boys pitch from 40 +/- feet? I don't think I have seen them do that, either.

Yes I have seen boys wear masks and I also now see pitchers in the boys game wearing solid plastic helmets, Im on board with Crystelmc here, you are comparing apples to oranges here anyway and it just doesn't compare well! Boys are also usually faster and pitch from further back! If you have ever played the game yourself you will see that men in slo pitch softball and some in fastpitch indeed to wear masks, Heck at the elite level in slow pitch the pitcher wear hockey masks! ITS TRUE! Is it really asking to much for coaches to protect the kids on the field?

 

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I won't argue with you, I am pretty stupid especially when it comes to fastpitch. But I don't think I was comparing, just making an observation that I had NEVER seen ANY boys wear a mask except a catcher. I just wondered out loud why that is. In this post men are announcing no girl could play for him unless she wore a mask. And here I am wondering out loud again, if he were coaching boys, would that same declaration be made. It was interesting someone posting the video of the pitcher wearing a catchers mask, but it only looked like one pitcher and he and the rest were going against 400'+ hitters...so I agree THAT comparison is stupid - but I think THAT comparison was used as an argument FOR girls wearing a mask? I think?

Why do boys catchers wear masks? You could say the same thing.

 

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Men wearing a mask? All kinds of protective gear? Like a catcher? Really...no I have NEVER seen that either....!

So here lies the problem, You haven't seen and you don't know! Well you are wrong, the men wear masks and shin guards also! There are 100 videos online that will prove it you if you want to investigate!

 

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View attachment 1668 Now you have seen it!

 

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View attachment 1669

 

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I really don't even know why this is a debate,,, some people think safety does not matter

 

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bingo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

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It all goes with attrition. The need is there and until major injuries come up, the problem will be ignored. I'm an old fart and when I started playing High School football most helmets has a single bar across the front. No mouth guards either. By the time I graduated, most helments had full masks. I worked with a gentlman a bit older who played semi pro ball (no face guards). He used to comment that before each game everyone would remove their false teeth. I sure would hate to see all these young ladies,with their perfect brace ehanced teeth go though that.
If you don't care about their safety, weigh the cost of a mask againt dental implants.....

 

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Last night during warmups, dd was staring right in the sun. Normally, I don't care if she doesn't wear a mask playing middle infield. That's her choice. Well, last night she missed handled a ball and about took one in the chin. I walk up to her and mentioned with the suns position, it may be wise for you to wear your mask. She told me after she mishandled the one ball, I was already planning on it since the sun affected my vision.

Train them young, and allow them to make the choices at an early age whether or not you may agree. If you guide them properly with common sense explanations, they'll make the right choices.

 

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So here lies the problem, You haven't seen and you don't know! Well you are wrong, the men wear masks and shin guards also! There are 100 videos online that will prove it you if you want to investigate!

The video posted as proof that men wear catcher gear in the field showed only 1 pitcher...I just mentioned I had never seen it...I didn't deny such a thing existed...but you are right, I probably haven't seen much and I don't know much, especially about fastpitch....but I am scratching my head if you all are advocating girls wearing catcher gear while playing in the field...!