It's time to quit complaining and to do something about it

[longball00]

riptit makes a mask for youth baseball. i bought one 2 years ago for my son for these same reasons... he is 12 yr old now... never got him to wear it. Had a kid bounce a fly ball off his nose / cheek in left field just last week god bless the kid was playing the next game and is so lucky it didnt bounce off his mouth, one of his eyes or forehead. looked really bad and scary but he was one lucky kid!!

i was thinking of adding flames or something cool to it but ... never worked out. he plays SS and outfield and glad he doesn't pitch!

I'm trying to get him behind the plate. He is a good pitcher, but I think would make a great catcher. Besides, pitching lessons for one kid is enough LOL! Catching work would be fun for both of us !

 

[Grammysoftball]

As the technology in bats has improved dramatically over the years, I feel protection of those who play has been compromised more and more. Say 10 years ago, pitchers didn't throw quite as fast and the bats were not as "lively" as they are today. Therefore, I am all for masks for pitchers and corners in fastpitch. The reason corners need them is you never know when a bunt situation will occur and creeping up to defend it makes the corners so much more vulnerable to injury....and for a pitcher it just makes sense all the time....those up the middle shots are rockets, making this a major issue in my mind. I believe any college coach worth a grain of salt will come to realize they don't want to give up the skill of an awesome recruit just because they wear a mask, be it a corner or a pitcher. Just my HO.

 

[SAmMaydayMalone]

Slow and steady...more softball on TV with more girls wearing masks will help the cause. My DD's both wear them, ones a pitcher and one plays the corner.

Not all people are on board. During one of our preseason games this year a girl comes to bat with 2 or three pieces of protective gear. The conversation in front of me goes like this.

"Jim, your daughter looks like a beast with all that equipment on, she's a warrior."

"Yeah her hitting coach wants her to to move up towards the plate and be more aggressive on the inside pitches and she was afraid of getting hit. Once we got those those it's been a different story."

"I see, she's been crushing the ball. She's a beast!"

Later in the game my DD comes out to pitch and the same two guys have this conversation.

"I don't get these mask things."

"I know, just don't throw the ball over the middle of the plate and you won't have to worry about it."

"You right, sign of a weak pitcher. Just hit your spots."

Those that know me know I'm just a laid back dude, so I didn't say anything, but why is it OK for your DD to be all geared up batting, but my daughter is weak for protecting her face. Maybe a double standard there.

 

[Pacerdad57]

Here is my dilemma. My 14U DD is a pitcher (43 ft) and my Son a 9U travel Baseball Pitcher (45 ft) I'm sure the Flames will get thrown, but pitching speeds at the 9U baseball level are close (age appropriate) to the Fastpitch speeds, although 2 feet further. Why is there never a mention of masks for the boys playing baseball? I won't accept the they are girls argument, because I have seen a lot of girls who's glove skills and reaction times are far superior to most baseball kids. I know about the helmet hat thing they are trying to go with for baseball, but nothing for the face. Just something to add to the Facemask mix discussion.

agree completely, not sure why there is no movement at all in boys baseball, pretty sure it boils down to the sissy, macho thing which seems almost useless to argue with anyone that goes that route.
i'm sure if you asked Aroldis Chapman if it hurts when that happens he would tell you it sure does! i think it's going to take an awfully long time to progress with this type of safety issue in boys baseball, sad to put these boys at risk also.

 

[coachjwb]

Lol ... good story, Sam. I do think some people have a double standard. I've seen college strike zones that were the size of postage stamps, not to mention that it always amuses me when non-pitcher's parents just think that a pitcher should be able to throw it every single time to a spot that's good enough to be a strike but not good enough to have a chance of being hit back at them. We all agree that we are seeing more masks in college ... it's just too slow of a growth for me to think about how many kids are going to get hurt in the meantime.

There's a couple of other comparisons being made to baseball and, while they are somewhat legitimate, one thing that's different about our game is that bunting and slapping are a much bigger part of the game, and that brings two more positions into the mix as well (i.e., the corners). Plus, just because baseball doesn't do certain things doesn't mean that softball shouldn't. Baseball is a much slower paced and more traditional sport ... things are slow to change there, and there's a certain "macho" element ... e.g., try to get long-time baseball coaches to even consider wristband systems ... or, the thinking that if a player celebrates something like a home run that they're disrespecting the other team and there needs to be retaliation. I'm probably a little bit off topic, but my point is that our sport has grown up on it's own and surpassed the game of baseball in many respects, and we should be at a point where we worry less about what the baseball only people think about our game, because we know it's better!

 

[Dad of Daughters]

Tara Trainer dominated Wisconsin last night and Barnhill gave up 1 hit to Ole Miss in 4+ innings, both appeared to be skill deficient softball players who were weak pitchers that often missed their spots. Probably due to the masks.....

 

[tankerlab]

Slow and steady...more softball on TV with more girls wearing masks will help the cause. My DD's both wear them, ones a pitcher and one plays the corner.

Not all people are on board. During one of our preseason games this year a girl comes to bat with 2 or three pieces of protective gear. The conversation in front of me goes like this.

"Jim, your daughter looks like a beast with all that equipment on, she's a warrior."

"Yeah her hitting coach wants her to to move up towards the plate and be more aggressive on the inside pitches and she was afraid of getting hit. Once we got those those it's been a different story."

"I see, she's been crushing the ball. She's a beast!"

Later in the game my DD comes out to pitch and the same two guys have this conversation.

"I don't get these mask things."

"I know, just don't throw the ball over the middle of the plate and you won't have to worry about it."

"You right, sign of a weak pitcher. Just hit your spots."

Those that know me know I'm just a laid back dude, so I didn't say anything, but why is it OK for your DD to be all geared up batting, but my daughter is weak for protecting her face. Maybe a double standard there.

I don't know you, but now I do... You my friend are too timid and passive...

 

[Coach_Dave]

Select Girls need to wear their masks, while playing school ball, and not be influenced by the fact that many Girls choose not to wear them. My DD was a Freshman this year and I noticed that many Girls do not wear masks, because they do not know any better. Wearing a mask is not a weakness.

 

[FastBat]

I feel very strongly about player's wearing face masks. This situation reminds me of when I was a young nurse. I worked in a SICU/MICU. Every Fall season, there would always be 40+ year-old men, who would get in really bad motor cycle accidents while going on that one last ride of the year. They would obviously push the limits a little too far and most would end up living as para or quadriplegics. What always struck me was the resounding regret they all shared. I could just look at them and feel it.

What's similar between softball player's getting injured d/t not wearing a mask and motor cycle accidents? The regret. All players/parents know what is safest, that is to wear the mask, but they keep pushing it. Most player's will be fine, but the ones who will get hurt, I'm sure, will be in that "regret club" for the rest of their lives. The years of fun won't be remembered, just the memory of getting seriously injured.

I very much dislike the idea of another rule to enforce, but maybe some of these players/parents just don't get it...no matter what how much we try to educate them!

 

[Fairman]

My dd just threw her last collegiate pitch. She has worn a mask for 15 years including college. She has thrown more than 100,000 pitches to batters in both games and practices over that time. She was only hit 4 times and only once was a glancing blow off of the mask. She had many near misses that were way to close for comfort.

The percentages are in her favor but the results of being wrong are catastrophic. We are not talking about a spike scar, we are talking about serious injuries ranging from concussions to blindness. A ball to the face can easily damage the orbital bones. (They are the tiny bones that surround the eye that allow it to rotate.) These are very fragile and damage can result in focus problems or even blindness. Why would you play those odds when a mask can be worn with no effect on the game?

As for all the college coaches that didn't recruit my dd because she wore a mask, the coach that did, appreciated her 31 career wins.

 

[Louuuuu]

... You my friend are too timid and passive...

Not necessarily. If every fan reacted every time some idiot next to them says something uncomplimentary, softball games would look like a Jerry Springer audience.

 

[Dougk30]

Here is my dilemma. My 14U DD is a pitcher (43 ft) and my Son a 9U travel Baseball Pitcher (45 ft) I'm sure the Flames will get thrown, but pitching speeds at the 9U baseball level are close (age appropriate) to the Fastpitch speeds, although 2 feet further. Why is there never a mention of masks for the boys playing baseball? I won't accept the they are girls argument, because I have seen a lot of girls who's glove skills and reaction times are far superior to most baseball kids. I know about the helmet hat thing they are trying to go with for baseball, but nothing for the face. Just something to add to the Facemask mix discussion.

My thoughts on the baseball thing is that the distances are much father back compared to their age. Even at the highest level of 9U baseball you don't see any boys hitting the ball as hard as your 14U daughter. I was at a baseball tournament in Cranberry Pa. and they had the 9U boys playing at a field that had a fence at 145'. You put 14U girls at that same field and you would have to count them as singles. Not saying that it still isn't a tough spot, my boy is playing 12U as a pitcher and has been a pitcher for the past four years and it does still make me nervous from time to time, but not nearly as nervous as I get when I see a pitcher from my daughters 14U team, up there against a big hitter that likes to rip it up the middle. I do agree that there are a lot of girls out there with just as quick if not quicker of a reaction time to the ball but I still think that at their respective ages boys have much more time to react. Also at the age of 14U I am pretty sure most boys pitch at 60 feet depending on the sanctioning body. This is my thoughts on why I think baseball is as concerning about face masks as softball. I don't think it is a tough guy thing, however the one boy who would wear would probably get made fun of pretty hard?

 

[coachjwb]

Just a quick update on this. At this point, we have 8 people committed and we are checking schedules and such, and hope to have our first team meeting later this week. If anyone else wants to participate and who hasn't volunteered and/or been contacted by me yet, please let me know ASAP. Even if you're not on the team, there will be updates on team progress from time to time here in the Forum and on the radio show. Thanks everyone for your support and ideas!

 

[Wreckinized]

I started coaching fastpitch about 5 years ago(12u,14u,high school) and I made every infielder wear a mask.PERIOD!!! I explained to the player's and parents a simple example: I'm in my 40's and back in the day we didn't have to wear seatbelts but once it became a law I began to wear it.( Did forget a couple of time's at 1st and paid the fine's LOL) but anyway's let's just say,I probably wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for that seatbelt. It saved my life(and have scar's to prove it).Same thing with " FACEMASKS". And I now sit back and see everyone of my girls I've coached now in high school still wears them.

 

[tankerlab]

Not necessarily. If every fan reacted every time some idiot next to them says something uncomplimentary, softball games would look like a Jerry Springer audience.

I'd have to agree with you on that...

 

[freddieball]

Any none believer show them this. This girl from Newark was hit last week. This girl was 1B and was playing bunt coverage, when the batter did not bunt.

https://www.facebook.com/Newark-Youth-Softball-1488471181459394/?fref=nf

 

[daboss]

I want to elaborate on my previous post on this subject. I'm not doing this because I feel the need to defend myself because I believe most read my post and understand my intent. I am not against facemasks. I never said I was against it. My point was it should be a personal choice like many of the other choices we should have in life. I went beyond the subject of this thread to defend personal choice or human rights as some may refer to it. I am not against any safety equipment for any of the kids. My statement was that I will not tell a parent how to raise their kids unless asked. If asked about safety equipment I recommend it. I go as far as telling parents and pitching students that if they plan to wear a mask when they pitch to bring it with them and wear it during our lessons so they can get used to having it on. Again, I don't tell anyone. I recommend if asked.

I don't believe the rules should dictate helmets, facemasks, chin straps, type of cleats, or chest protectors. Why should they? I am not against any of it. If I were still coaching a team I would want my players to wear anything that gives us an advantage. Choice of safety equipment would do that. If my girls had on all the best stuff I know they would play harder and be more aggressive. Turn them in to "SuperGirl" if you will. Having this stuff addressed in the rules simply evens the playing field and takes away from my girls having an edge. I'm not coaching a team anymore. If I were and during the tryout period I had a girl/family that is against wearing the equipment it would be a no brainer to me. I'd simply thank them for coming but I'm not interested. Good luck in your quest for a team. That's how I'd handle it. I wouldn't tell them anything else unless asked why.

Having said this, it is obvious that others feel the need to mandate rules that would take an advantage away from my team. I follow the rules so I don't say anything. My faith is in the sanctioning bodies to make the rules they see the need for and enforce them. I rely on them to take in to consideration that as the girls get older they should be allowed to make choices in life. If their parents buy them a motorcycle to ride to practice everyday I am not going to say anything unless asked. I can hope she wears a helmet as the law dictates a minor do if riding a motorcyle. I hope she's smart enough to wear good shoes or boots instead of flip flops. Until the sanctioning body makes a rule stating no player can ride a Hog to any events I won't say a word-------------------unless asked.

Don't think the sanctioning bodies are not aware of the mask thing. They have discussed it numerous times. I'm sure they don't believe the timing is right to mandate a rule on the subject except to have no rule against wearing them. There's your ruling.

Caution needs to be taken to not make a wrong decision. They have made mistakes in the past. Metal cleats were against the rules for a handful of years before they had enough data to prove that overall injuries went down when the girls were using them. Chin straps were not mandatory for helmets and now they are repealing that decision. The sanctioning bodies have access to more information and data to make the right call beyond the scope of because you believe you saw an incident or 2 where it could make a difference to prove your point. I participated with a Rules and Ethics Committee voluntarily during a yearly convention and ran for a trustee position unsuccessfuly for the NFCA. Trust me when I say they are aware but the data isn't in yet.

You can do what you want. Me? Well I'll tell you what I'd do if you ask...................

 

[coachjwb]

I don't see safety equipment as a team advantage kind of a thing, especially when we're talking about children. Just because I or you (daboss) coach a team and our players have to wear them, I don't want to see a child of an opposing team suffer the kind of injury like I see in the post above either. I'd rather lose ...

I am sure we are going to learn a lot about what's been considered and what has not, and we may or may not be successful in making progress on the issue. But I feel like I at least have to try. The team will decide as a group what approach we are going to take, but one of the things I think we're unfortunately going to have to do (unfortunate because I know it's going to make me sick to look at it all) is collect a bunch of videos, pictures and stories like the one above to help present our position.

 

[Pacerdad57]

i'm unsure how mandating safety equipment could possibly take away any advantage a team may or may not have??
if your team is equipped with safety gear and it makes them go harder, they're still going to be going harder, regardless of what the other team has along the lines of safety equipment. as Jef stated it's not about any perceived advantage, it's about keeping a child from a traumatic injury.

 

[TsDad]

daboss, I completely agree with you. I am also not against wearing face masks but it should be the players choice (with parents permission of course). Lets not legislate ourselves to death, we have the government doing that enough already. If you want to wear a face mask by all means wear one but don't mandate it. Maybe education is the better option. Why not just require everyone to watch a video on the subject so people are more aware of the potential risks and make their own decision. Its now mandatory to go through the concussion training this could be a similar process.