It's really simple. Anything we can do to make the game safer, that doesn't interfere with or give advantages to players, or change the game fundamentally should be done. I don't see how facemasks are a bad thing, especially for pitchers. While getting hit in the face may be rare, when it happens the injuries are potentially deadly at worst, but painful and usually fairly serious (concussions, broken bones, teeth etc). If kids are made to wear this equipment from the get go, the issues of getting them to wear it later on disappear. Forget all the macho stuff, or letting kids decide, take the decision out of their hands. While the masks may not be necessary 99% of the time, you'll be happy your child is wearing them if you're the lucky one%. This is not a situation where you want to say, "I wish I had". My feeling is not different for baseball.

My daughter plays third and I have been trying to get her to use a mask but she had always refused. Then, while watching Highlands play in a tournament setting, she saw Shelby hit a screamer down thirdbase line foul. She imagined what it would have been like if the ball was fair and she was playing at the time. We went to Dicks the next day. Thanks Shelby.

My daughter plays third and I have been trying to get her to use a mask but she had always refused. Then, while watching Highlands play in a tournament setting, she saw Shelby hit a screamer down thirdbase line foul. She imagined what it would have been like if the ball was fair and she was playing at the time. We went to Dicks the next day. Thanks Shelby.

 

I am glad she made the decision for herself! That is how it should be not be forced upon them.

Say what you want but I have seen many more BASEBALL players get line drives hit back at them then softball and that is playing the sport in some of the best tournaments in the country. So because Chapman (Cuban missile) got hit in the face with a line drive do you think he should wear a face mask now? If a kid doesn't want to wear don't make them. It is like the face mask on the helmets why are we not having baseball players wear them? Don't they get hit in the face by a thrown or batted ball. This is girl vs boy thing in my opinion. I am in the medical field and have watched/played sports for the majority of my life and I don't agree with making this requirement.

 

I don't think this is a girl v boy thing, it's a fundamental difference in the sport and the distances. Baseball is not played the same way FP is. It is much closer to the batted ball and the strategy is designed that way.

 

As for amount of softball played and experiences, I would have to believe you played a few years ago….the bat dynamics and engineering change so dramatically year to year that I believe the speed of the game changes each year.

 

When you continue to redesign and re-engineer the tools of the game, you have to make adjustments for the safety equipment as well. All sports adjust safety equipment periodically based on the nature of the sport. Concussion protocol is a great example of this.

I am glad she made the decision for herself! That is how it should be not be forced upon them.

 

Should we allow batters to go up without a helmet, how about football players without a face mask. At one point those were left up to the player and had to be mandated to get everyone to wear them. It is silly to even think that players would now opt to go back and play without them, but as they were phased in players refused because many thought it made them look week by wearing extra safety equipment.

Babies and infants can't decide for themselves. Softball players can.

 

I guess we should let 12u kids drive a car then ? NO 12u an 14 u KIDS can not decide whats best for them -- are you a parent ?

I'm the farthest thing in the universe from a " govt watch out for me guy " but regulation is needed for the safety of the players whose parents allow 12 and 14 year olds tell mom and dad " I'm the boss and I'm not wearing that mask"

 

My opinion is based towards the pitcher ONLY but smart corners who play the game correctly ( crowd bunters ) should wear the mask also .

 

How many pitchers with mangled faces need to be photo'ed in the OR before everyone wises up ? Ky's ace wears one , bless her courageous heart .

Everyone has their own point of view on the subject. I think it should be put on the table as an acceptable option for players. I played fastpitch for 13 years, yes men's fastpitch. I have never seen a player hit in the face with with a hit ball, I do know it happens though. One thing I do know, I wouldn't get in too much of a who knows what competition with memyselfandi about top level club softball or college softball. You may find she happens to know quite a bit about the game.

My fear at the high school level is the age and talent gaps. You have girls who have D1 power playing against girls who play just to have fun and be with friends.

I think masks are a good option that is and should remain available to those who choose to use them.

I do not believe KHSAA, OHSAA, ASA, NFHS or any other governing body should "require pitchers and corner infielders to wear a mask".

Nor do I believe a person is a "bad parent" or any other internet forum accusation/label just because they don't agree with your belief on the subject. I believe in personal freedom and responsibility, and acceptance of consequences.

I've had this discussion many times and I'm not saying I'm right or wrong. This is just my opinion and it has a lot to do with what several have said already. I do believe the differnce in talent levels can be tough in high school. We have a team in our district (that we have to play) and I could sit all my starters and I would still be worried one of their players may get hurt. Now I know that is an extreme scenario, but high school teams are scattered with kids that play for fun and like the competitiveness. But playing against kids that are going D1 and hit the ball as hard as some men is a whole other story that kids may not be ready for.

 

Secondly, I'm for making it mandatory for the pitchers and here's why.

Pitchers are coming forward and concerned with pitching when they are on the mound. They must change focus in their brain from being aggressive to being defensive. Yes, they may end up in a better defensive postion than baseball players, but sball players are much closer by the time they release the ball. I don't have an issue with whether an infielder wants to or not because they can chose where to they play. Pitchers can't scoot back".

 

Also, colleges don't like to see kids they are recruiting wearing masks. They can't in college, so it is one thing (on a list of many) that they look at. If a kid that has desire to play in college and gets wind of that, there is no way they would chose to wear a mask. Also, it's hot. It slips around. i can see. These are all arguments they have with their parents, including the college argument. Most coaches don't feel they can inforce it without the backing of the parents. So we move on. If it were a state rule, there would be no choice but to wear them. No fights with the parents and coaches and the excuse about college gets taken out of their hands. They are still kids that think they know everything. I say fail on the side of saftey. If you've ever seen it happen, there is no doubt you would be the first one on here promoting it. If it saves one kid, it's worth it to me. Take the decision out of their hands and make is safe.

 

And for all you guys comparing it to baseball, it's not baseball. It's a MUCH faster game. That's why it's fun! And if masks for save a baseball pitcher, i'd be all for that as well. The games always evolve. Just like someone said, we used to have football helmuts without face masks. You guys that are against it were probably on BGP in the 50's saying to hell with the face masks. We don't need it!

 

Here's the speed of the game

Sport Science: The Speed of Softball - ESPN Video - ESPN

Everyone has their own point of view on the subject. I think it should be put on the table as an acceptable option for players. I played fastpitch for 13 years, yes men's fastpitch. I have never seen a player hit in the face with with a hit ball, I do know it happens though. One thing I do know, I wouldn't get in too much of a who knows what competition with memyselfandi about top level club softball or college softball. You may find she happens to know quite a bit about the game.

 

No one arguing that point, however the game is changing dramatically, primarily in the bat engineering area and that is what creates more of safety issue.

 

I also agree with MeatPuppy that part of the issue is a skills gap. Some of the lesser skilled teams have to schedule more athletic teams because of district issues. Not singling any one player out but if you have a D1 potential hitter against a girl just wanting to have fun, and an obvious skill gap, you have a recipe for disaster.

 

I'm not sure why the strong argument against the KHSAA making it mandatory ? They have and do enforce safety related issues in multiple sports. I'm not a fan of big brother at all, so don't get me wrong there. I just wonder if it's going to take a fatality to get the attention to address the issue.

 

Let's hope not.

I guess we should let 12u kids drive a car then ? NO 12u an 14 u KIDS can not decide whats best for them -- are you a parent ?

I'm the farthest thing in the universe from a " govt watch out for me guy " but regulation is needed for the safety of the players whose parents allow 12 and 14 year olds tell mom and dad " I'm the boss and I'm not wearing that mask"

 

My opinion is based towards the pitcher ONLY but smart corners who play the game correctly ( crowd bunters ) should wear the mask also .

 

How many pitchers with mangled faces need to be photo'ed in the OR before everyone wises up ? Ky's ace wears one , bless her courageous heart .

 

I'm not against them using them or even be made to. My point was a seatbelt and wearing a mask is 2 total different things. If they pass a by-law requiring that would be fine with me.

 

They can wear them now if the player, a parent,or a coach wants them to.

I've had this discussion many times and I'm not saying I'm right or wrong. This is just my opinion and it has a lot to do with what several have said already. I do believe the differnce in talent levels can be tough in high school. We have a team in our district (that we have to play) and I could sit all my starters and I would still be worried one of their players may get hurt. Now I know that is an extreme scenario, but high school teams are scattered with kids that play for fun and like the competitiveness. But playing against kids that are going D1 and hit the ball as hard as some men is a whole other story that kids may not be ready for.

 

Secondly, I'm for making it mandatory for the pitchers and here's why.

Pitchers are coming forward and concerned with pitching when they are on the mound. They must change focus in their brain from being aggressive to being defensive. Yes, they may end up in a better defensive postion than baseball players, but sball players are much closer by the time they release the ball. I don't have an issue with whether an infielder wants to or not because they can chose where to they play. Pitchers can't scoot back".

 

Also, colleges don't like to see kids they are recruiting wearing masks. They can't in college, so it is one thing (on a list of many) that they look at. If a kid that has desire to play in college and gets wind of that, there is no way they would chose to wear a mask. Also, it's hot. It slips around. i can see. These are all arguments they have with their parents, including the college argument. Most coaches don't feel they can inforce it without the backing of the parents. So we move on. If it were a state rule, there would be no choice but to wear them. No fights with the parents and coaches and the excuse about college gets taken out of their hands. They are still kids that think they know everything. I say fail on the side of saftey. If you've ever seen it happen, there is no doubt you would be the first one on here promoting it. If it saves one kid, it's worth it to me. Take the decision out of their hands and make is safe.

 

And for all you guys comparing it to baseball, it's not baseball. It's a MUCH faster game. That's why it's fun! And if masks for save a baseball pitcher, i'd be all for that as well. The games always evolve. Just like someone said, we used to have football helmuts without face masks. You guys that are against it were probably on BGP in the 50's saying to hell with the face masks. We don't need it!

 

Here's the speed of the game

Sport Science: The Speed of Softball - ESPN Video - ESPN

Your best post in at least a year :lol2:

 

Except players can wear mask in college either pitching or in the field.

 

3.8.5

Face mask

.

An offensive player may wear a helmet with a commercially

manufactured protective face mask attached. The face mask should meet

the NOCSAE standard for the mask and helmet combination and must be

permanently attached by the manufacturer or attached by a procedure approved

by the manufacturer. In addition, any defensive player may wear a face mask,

whether attached to a helmet or not

 

Also, colleges don't like to see kids they are recruiting wearing masks. They can't in college, so it is one thing (on a list of many) that they look at.

 

 

Here's the speed of the game

Sport Science: The Speed of Softball - ESPN Video - ESPN

 

I'm not saying your wrong, but I was watching UCLA play Stanford this weekend and I swear I saw a first basemen wearing a mask. I've also done some google searches and don't see where the NCAA doesn't allow fielders to wear facemasks. From what I've read too, most coaches only care if the player can field the position. I'm not connected in anyway to softball aside from occasionally watching, so I really have no idea.

I'm not saying your wrong, but I was watching UCLA play Stanford this weekend and I swear I saw a first basemen wearing a mask. I've also done some google searches and don't see where the NCAA doesn't allow fielders to wear facemasks. From what I've read too, most coaches only care if the player can field the position. I'm not connected in anyway to softball aside from occasionally watching, so I really have no idea.

They are allowed to, see my post I listed the rule...I thought they could but wasn't for sure. I'm sure RCC just missed it, he may not know football playoffs or any thing about the All A but I trust his opinion on softball and agree with him on this.